THE pioneer electric tramway between Derby Castle, Douglas and Groudle Glen opened on September 7, 1893. It formed a testing ground for equipment later to be used on the Douglas & Laxey Coast tramline, a scheme which satisfied the demands for direct rail communication along the Island's undulating eastern seaboard, since the steam railway route to Ramsey, opened in 1879, followed a circuitous line, through St. John's and along the western coast.

On July 28 1894 the electric line to Laxey, then a major mining centre, was opened, and the undertaking came under the ownership of the IoM Tramways & Electric Power Co. Ltd., a syndicate which was later to acquire the Douglas promenade horse tramway, and also constructed the Upper Douglas cable tramway . In 1895 a nominally separate group planned and built a five-mile steep-gradient line from Laxey to the summit of Snaefell Mountain. This 3'-6" (1067mm)-gauge track fitted with a Fell patent rail, was completed to its terminus just 30ft below the 2,036ft summit in just six months.

The following years were occupied with the building of the fine ten mile line from Laxey to Ramsey; the first passenger Car reached Ballure, on the outskirts of the town on August 5 l898. The present terminus at Ramsey (Plaza) 17 miles from Douglas, was opened (in pouring rain) on July 22 1899.

Isle of Man businesses suffered as a result of the failure of Dumbell's Bank, a leading Island finance house, in 1904, including the IoM Tramways & Electric Power Co. Ltd., which declared bankruptcy. A new company, the Manx Electric Railway Co. Ltd. took over the electric tramway in November 1902, whilst the lines in Douglas were municipalised.

Through the years that followed, the MER became a vital Island institution, providing important and valued services, not only to passengers but also for freight and mail. The downturn in tourism in the 1950s, together with increasing costs and diminishing profits resulted in the company being unable to carry on but as a result of a campaign mounted by opponents of closure, the undertaking was taken over by the Isle of Man government in 1957. Almost twenty years later, with spiralling deficits as a result of a lamentable "consultancy" report on the line and its services produced by "Transmark" (which was nothing but a subsidiary of British Rail) the government decided to close the line on September 30 1975, with the Douglas-Laxey and Snaefell lines operating seasonally but with permanent closure of the Ramsey section. It quickly became evident, as in the case of the steam railway (which had also been 'Transmarked') half a railway produced twice the losses, and after the Island's General Election in November 1977, when the railways were a major issue, and precisely half the House of Keys was changed, both railways were restored, and have operated ever since.

For the full history of the MER see Manx Electric by A.M. Goodwyn, Published by Platform 5.


MER Timetables & Railway Events

Service updates, timetables and details of special events for the Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway, Isle of Man Railway and Douglas Bay Horse Tramway can be found HERE.

Manx Electric Railway Museum - Derby Castle Depot

The Manx Electric Railway’s Museum which features a number of historical artefacts, first opened its doors to the public on Sunday 1st June 2014. The museum which is is located inside the former Goods Shed at railway’s Derby Castle Depot, and is open from 12pm – 4.30pm on Sundays during the operati…

​Travelling with the Manx Electric Railway Motorman

Step aboard Winter Saloon car No.19 in 1995 with former MER Society Chairman - the late Mike Goodwyn. During the course of the full journey between Douglas and Ramsey, Mike provides a unique insight into the railway and its long and eventful history. It’s an eye opening experience comparing the sta…

Join the MERS !

Originally formed in 1973, the MANX ELECTRIC RAILWAY SOCIETY is a partly political organisation cha…

Manx Electric Railway

THE pioneer electric tramway between Derby Castle, Douglas and Groudle Glen opened on September 7,…

Snaefell Mountain Railway

The only vehicles that can reach the summit of the island’s highest peak and only mountain are the…

Douglas Tramways

The Douglas Bay Horse & Upper Douglas Cable Tramways.

DHMD Tramway

THE only Standard (4'-8½" 1435mm) tramway in the Island extended for four spectacular miles along t…

Isle of Man Railway

THE present 15.37-mile steam railway line from Douglas to Port Erin is the last remaining part of t…

Buses and Coaches

THE first motor char-a-bancs in the Island were operated by the Manx Electric Railway Co., which us…

Shipping

The shipping scene in and around the Isle of Man

Aviation

Air services to and from the Isle of Man

Other Manx Transport

Other Tramways, Railways and Transport Oddities

Contributors' Pages

A page designed for photographic contributions sent to the Manx Electric Railway Society website.

All About The Isle of Man

For quick though superficial reference to many of the aspects of the Island's history generally cov…

1993 Year of Railways: Lessons From History

SUMMARY Boosting income attributable to the Island’s heritage railways by attracting more visitors…

***POSTBOX***

The Manx Electric Railway Society welcomes letters and emails of interest to readers of Manx Transp…

Book Reviews

The following book reviews have previously been published in Manx Transport Review. The views expre…

Laxey Substation Project

The Preservation of a Unique Aspect of Laxey’s Industrial Heritage PROJECT PROPOSAL To preserve and…

MER Society Journal Index

Manx Electric Railway Society Journal Index MANN-TRAM & MANX TRANSPORT REVIEW ISSUES 1-100 FIFTY-YE…

Website Updates

The following pages have recently been added or updated. Railgrinding Takes Place on Douglas Promen…

Links

Isle of Man Visitor Information Manx Railways & Other Transport Manx Electric Railway Walks (Visit…

Heritage Railways Review

“A review of the Isle of Man’s heritage rail network has found that it is well run, has received ef…

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