Footage from across the Isle of Man Transport Year of Railways 2023, Summer Manx Heritage Transport Festival, run from 23rd to 30th July 2023.
2023 sees celebrate two remarkable milestones, the Isle of Man Steam Railway celebrates its 150th anniversary and The Manx Electric Railway celebrates its 130th anniversary.
Sunday 23rd July 2023:
The event started with a parallel run of G.F. Milnes Cars No. 1 & 2 from Derby Castle to Groudle. Much of the day was very wet, Fenella was on display at Peel in partnership with the Manx Transport Heritage Museum, while Manx Northern Railway No. 4 Caledonia was on display at Knockaloe Visitor Centre. In the evening the weather improved and Fenella had been returned to the Steam Railway, while the locomotive was out of traffic, it was dragged on a special passenger train by Loch from Douglas to Port Erin and return, with a Welcome Photographic Evening taking place at Port Erin with 5 of the Railway's Beyer, Peacock 2-4-0Ts on display, including recently cosmetically restored Mona.
Monday 24th July 2023:
G.F. Milnes Crossbench Cars No. 14 & 16 of 1898 took part in the mornings parallel run to Groudle. A Closed Lines Bus Tour was run, including a stop at the Curraghs Wildlife Park were the Orchid Line Miniature Railway was running specials for tour participants. Manx Electric Railway No. 34 Maria ran shuttles from Laxey to Dhoon Quarry, while MER Car 14 ran a special with Mail Van No. 4.
Tuesday 25th July 2023:
Two double headers ran on the steam railway with the 9:50 and 11:50am trains double headed out of Douglas, while in the evening Loch ran a special mixed train photographic charter to Santon.
Wednesday 26th July 2023:
The days parallel run featured 1970s liveried Cars No. 5 & 20, seen leaving Derby Castle. Douglas Bay Horse Tramway Double Decker Car 18 was in use throughout the day along the promenade. A three train passenger service was ran on the Steam Railway with No. 4 Loch hauling the saloon carriages in the extra path (a rare use of the saloons on passenger services), No. 11 Maitland and No. 13 Kissack. A wet evening saw Loch in photo charter action again this time restricted around Douglas station, with a Manx Northern themed train with the Cleminson Coach. Caledonia had been scheduled for this working, along with Tuesday's, but returned from Knockaloe with broken springs.
Thursday 27th July 2023:
The final parallel run of the week was an oldest and newest affair with Cars No. 1 & 34 Maria. Boat Trains were recreated with 11 coach trains running with Loch and Maitland, firstly double headed and then banked. At Laxey Wickham No. 22 was running shuttles to the car sheds. Also at Laxey two Wickham National Air Transport Services cars were on display. In the evening and in lovely light a Double Headed Pie and Mash Train ran.
Friday 28th July 2023:
No. 4 Loch hauled a full length mixed passenger and goods train from Douglas to Port Erin. In the afternoon 5 horses and tramcars parade down the promenade on the Douglas Bay Horse Tramways Cavalcade. In the evening MER No. 34 ran a special 'Powering the Manx Electric Railway' train from Douglas to Ramsey, stopping at each current and former power sub-stations.
Saturday 29th July 2023:
On Saturday a grand cavalcade of Trams was held at Laxey, were the Great Laxey Mines Steam Railway was also operating.
Sunday 30th July 2023:
The Groudle Glen Railway ran a gala during the day with 7 locomotives in operation including original locomotive Sea Lion, often paired with the lines original carriages. In the evening the weather turned for the worst for the grand finale at Douglas station with the Steam Extravaganza.
This is an updated version of this video, the original was missing the final couple of minutes.
www.preservedrailway.co.uk
(C) Lee Andrew Davies 2023