November 1st marked the end of the regular 2026 service for the MER, with day two of what was billed as “End of Season Weekend 31 October & 1 November 2026”.
What could have been simply the last day of the 2026 timetable and the start of winter hibernation for the Island’s trams and trains, was in fact an ambitious programme of events – especially given the time of year – reminiscent in some ways of the "Year of Railways 1993 and great credit to those behind a move to meaningfully extend and promote the season beyond the end of British Summer Time.
Despite the short days and potential for inclement weather (in the event the sun shone - see ABOVE) we saw the following advertised:
Saturday 31 October
- Steam Railway – Driver for £20 at Douglas Station
- Manx Electric Railway – 1893 & 1894 Cars in Service & Lost Car Recreations
- Horse Tramway – Hop Tu Naa Tram & Stable Tours
- House of Mannanan – ‘A Bus Service' Exhibition
- Groudle Glen Railway – Hop-Tu-Naa Trains
- Great Laxey Mine Railway – Hop-Tu-Naa Trains
ABOVE: ‘A Bus Service' Exhibition' at the House of Manannan features this array of bus seats etc, a sort of bus driver-trainer experience.
(In the background, the ill-fated 'bendy-bus'. and Laxey flood vicim Dennis perhaps act as a warning as to what can - and did - go wrong.)
Sunday 1 November:
- Steam Railway – Manx Northern Train – which included the recently restored ex-MNR F37 (recommended)
- Manx Electric Railway – Parallel Run from Ramsey
- Jurby Transport Museum – Ramsey Vintage Bus Running Day
- Queens Pier Ramsey – Open Day
- Horse Tramway – Double Deck Tram 18, Two Horses & Stable Tours
- Snaefell Mountain Railway – Wagon Display at Laxey
- House of Mannanan – ‘A Bus Service' Exhibition Groudle
- Glen Railway – Hop-Tu-Naa Trains
- Great Laxey Mine Railway – Hop-Tu-Naa Trains
ABOVE: Seen in Laxey, November 1st 2026, as part of the 'wagon display', a former Snaefell car truck now a weed killer sprayer. The white stencilled lettering "TREV'S TANKER" on the side of the chassis is a nod by the line's engineering and maintenance crew to a member of the team.
ABOVE: Horse Car 27 showing the remains of yesterday's of Hop-Tu-Naa. November 1st 2026.
ABOVE: Car 36 in the Strathallan depot, November 1st 2026.
Today was not the end of events in 2026, as we still have the following to look forward to:
Sat 21st / Sun 22nd November 2026
- Laxey Village Christmas Market Trams
A special weekend of festive trams operating between Douglas and Laxey, for the festive village markets -
FroZEN at the Glen – Festive Trams to Dhoon Glen
December 2026
- All Aboard the Magic Tram to Santa’s Grotto at Zen at the Glen, departing from Laxey Station!
Operating on regular days throughout December.
- Tinsel Trams to Groudle Glen
“Don’t battle to find a parking space… catch the Tinsel Tram to the Groudle Glen Railway Santa Trains to start your family’s festive day out in a magical way.” Operating on regular days throughout December.
2027 promises another Manx Heritage Transport Festival, Tuesday 27th July – Sunday 1st August 2027: “Six days of action-packed events across the Island’s vintage railways, tramways and heritage buses.”
2026 has been a memorable year for the Isle of Man’s heritage transport, not least because of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway celebrating its 150th anniversary.
The season ran from 17 March to 1 November, with the successful Manx Heritage Transport Festival, from 28 July to 2 August, a major attraction.
His Majesty King Charles III visited on 14 July, unveiling a commemorative plaque at Strathallan Depot and taking a short journey aboard Tram No. 18.
Meanwhile, on the Horse Tramway, one of the highlights was the restoration return and regular appearances in service of the aforementioned double-decker Horse Tram No. 18 (BELOW)
2026 also saw Tynwald (at last) allocating £2.5 million towards the proposed reinstatement of the track between Broadway and the Sea Terminal.
In the event a forthcoming tender process is successful and suitable contractors can be found, the aim is to restore the full promenade horse car service for the summer of 2028.