Additional views of the Horse Tram 150 event. Some behind-the-scenes views of events at Derby Castle on the occasion of the Horse Tram 150 event. For a full report of the event itself, see our previous article "Douglas Bay Horse Tramway celebrates 150 years."
A video 'short' is to follow...
ABOVE: Station Master Davy Callister looks on as a first full tram load of cruise ship passengers destined for Laxey, Snaefell Summit returning for onward travel to The Bunglow. They had disembarked from the 82,000-ton, 2,000-guest vessel Zuiderdam, operated by Holland America Line. Passengers on the liner also had the option of travelling on the steam railway to Castletown.
ABOVE: Zuiderdam passengers queuing to join the 10:30 car to Laxey, as the Horse Tram celebrations begin alongside.
ABOVE: Zuiderdam has a capacity of 2,272 passengers and is the largest cruise ship to visit the Island this year. Zuiderdam has a capacity of 2,272, and remained anchored in Douglas until 6pm. Holland America Line has been a regular visitor to the Island in recent years. The vessel was launched in 2002, and has a crew of more than 800.
ABOVE: In a space that was once part of a short-lived temporary home for the horse trams during the demolition and reconstruction of the depot, three members of bus Vannin’s ‘heritage fleet’ were on show, alongside two temporary enclosures for four tram horses. The PD3 and the Regent V were in service carrying passengers during the recent Isle of Man Transport Anniversary event. Sadly, the Regent III (and the Road Services PD2) are not available for service pending amongst other things, attention to their bodywork.
ABOVE: Car No.32 and trailer No.50 spent much of the day in the Groudle siding, before a departure at about 15:20. Regrettably, the car, trailer, and its passengers were forced to return to Douglas shortly after, to transfer to a replacement tram and trailer.
ABOVE: Two ‘nutcracker’-style dolls stood guard at the entrance to the Horse Tram Depot, and..
...the children’s activities organised throughout the day.
ABOVE: G.F. Milnes 40-seat open "toastrack" built in 1902 No. 39 is almost complete following an extensive restoration having been saved for the line by the MERS in August 2016. It was one of six trams put up for auction by Douglas Corporation. (The sale of Cars 28, 33, 34, 37, 39, and 40 raised just £9,200 - minus auctioneers’ fees. Car No.39 fetched £1,800.)
ABOVE: Car No.39 seen on the 9th August 1976, when the Douglas Horse Tramway celebrated its first one hundred years. Fifty horses and twenty-one cars made their way along a packed promenade from the Sea Terminal to Derby Castle, an event witnessed by an estimated 30,000 spectators. (Photo: H. Ball)
ABOVE: Car No.32. It has been returned to its original condition as a ‘Sunshade’ tram, having had glazed bulkheads added in the 1960s (and roof-mounted advertising boards) removed. This tramcar, along with five similar trams delivered in 1896, were latterly known as ‘short bulkheads’ and for years were the mainstay of the promenade service given their combination of light weight, good capacity, and a roof.
ABOVE: The standard of the restoration is, as with other cars rebuilt recently, quite remarkable.
ABOVE: Not to be left out, the MER was also very busy - with passengers queuing at the booking office - added as part of the rebuilt horse tram depot. The ‘Praase’ catering trailer offered a choice of Manx potato-based snacks during the day.
ABOVE: A general view of the scene taken during the afternoon from the always-packed top deck of Car No.18. The Terminus Tavern offered 15% OFF all food and drink throughout the 150th Anniversary celebration day in exchange for the tram ticket purchased/travelled on 7 August 2026.
ABOVE: As well as the immaculately presented trams, the horses were all dressed up too. A tribute to the stables staff. Tours of the stables themselves were also available throughout the day.