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Arriving at MER Laxey shed by Wickham trolley and trains pass on the main line….

Some interesting shunting.  I do like cars converted for other uses like this trailer.  [Correction – this vehicle was built like this as a bogie van, for transport of parcels, milk, and interestingly, coffins.  It has just been restored by the MER supporters and this was its first trip out.]  Note the man holding the trolley pole in place during reverse shunting….

Inside the works, plenty of restoration work needed….

And some excellent restoration completed…..

The unusual double ended engineers motor…

Next post, MER Derby Castle.

The next few days posts finish off the Isle of Man travels of Allan and Ron, returning to three visits to the car sheds on the island.  Mainly photos, with the odd (sometimes very odd) comment!  

But we’ll first revisit ‘Caledonia’, on their trip to closed lines on the island.

And the beautifully maintained Foxdale station, on the short (and steep) branch to the mines there.

Today’s shed visit is to the Snaefell car shed at Laxey.  There’s some work going on maintaining the car bogies…

Permanent way stock….

Restoring car bodies….

And some odds and ends!

Next time, the electric main line at Laxey.

Starting with trains today….

Sitting in Port Erin Station this morning.

Waiting for a train….

And off to Douglas, waiting for the return trip to Port Erin….

And a mixture from various days of trams at Laxey and Douglas, plus a few horsey shots!

The holiday is coming to an end….

By train and bus to MER Derby Castle for shed tour. Now waiting to do round tour to Ramsey before steam Extravaganza and barbecue at Douglas Station. On ferry back to Liverpool tomorrow.

Just Allan’s pictures of the shed tour to come later in the week.

Lots of pictures today, though Saturday will still be two posts – trams today and trains tomorrow.

Sunny but now starting to rain. Took seasonal weekend bus to Peel and carried on to Laxey via Ramsey. Now waiting for tram cavalcade at Laxey.

Peel….

And here come the trams (in numerical, not chronological, order!)

Snaefell….

Engineers train….

I’ve been waiting for the picture of local produce!

Was up at Laxey today for the parade of trams. Found a nice place to watch….. the Mines Tavern.  Just about to start and you guessed it – the rain came down. So I went somewhere it was not raining…….

Another day, another adventure (I’ve slightly lost track of the days!!)

Overcast turning sunny. Made way to Laxey intending to carry on to Ramsey but due to improvement in weather and short queue decided to go up Snaefell following wet journey on Sunday. Returned to Douglas for horse tram cavalcade to find it was running around 30 mins late before taking train back to hotel.

Bungalow Station and the views….

Summit Station….

Back down the hill for the Horse Tram Cavalcade.  I’ll have 3/6 on the one with the sheepskin noseband!

And a bit later….

Leaving Douglas Station with the dining train. In the platform. Also the freight train that was running today.

And a couple of shed shots to finish….

More trains, trams and horses today!

Overcast turning sunny. Up to Laxey for visit to MER Shed. Then walked up to the Laxey Wheel and mine before returning to Douglas for horse tram ride before catching bus to hotel.

Lady Isabella wheel and surrounding area….

Allan comments…

Had a nice day out to Laxey car sead of the MER. (Manx Electric Railway).  Took the Wickham Trolly down to the shed. Some very interesting stock inside. No.23 was there awaiting its turn to get back on the rails. It shares trucks with No.33 which is covering the emergency overhead line train this week.  The Snaefell brought down to Laxey the two Wickhams used by air traffic and civil aviation to take equipment to their station at the summit.

Views from the Wickham Trolley from Laxey to the shed.

Back to Laxey…

And to Douglas Bay…

Do the local spotters collect horse numbers?????

Finally, double-headed at Port Erin.

Wednesday – the horsey bit! (Is this a class GG1?)

And you can’t keep the Dawes’ away from the sheds…..

“How am I supposed to read your watch with these ‘ere blinkers on?”

And off by tram to Groudle Glen.  I think Ron missed out on a career as a weather forecaster….

Overcast turning to heavy rain. Went up to Groudle Glen for ride on railway. Then did round trip to Ramsey before heading back to hotel.

Groudle Glen.  Any relation to Dingley Dell????

And on to Ramsey….

Got to Ramsey on this green tram.  As they were going about putting the trailer car on the other end, this tram had trouble with its brakes. They got it working after I left. It came back in service but without the trailer. What had gone wrong with one of its braking system, I don’t know.

And finally for today. back to Laxey.

Tuesday…..

Sunny. Up to Laxey for a visit to Snaefell. We visited the sheds of the Snaefell Railway. Was a good tour and leaned a lot about what was going on. They only have 4 working trams. Nos. 1, 2, 4 & 5. They are building/rebuilding no 6. This is a complete build with lots of updates, as you can see from the photo. The first set of photos is what was in the yard. There was nothing left in the shed. 

And now back from the visit for the return trip up to Ramsey.

Laxey

Snaefell Railway sheds.

After the shed tour we were sitting down for a drink. MET 34 showed up towing two open trailers. On a special.  Don’t know what happened north of Laxey? The next train in was terminated at Laxey. So we headed for the bus.  On the way through to Ramsey over an hour later it was spotted still working its way to Ramsey. 

On the other hand this vehicle started life on the Snaefell. But was regaled for the MET.

Snaefell trams outside Laxey.

Port Erin.

Mainly train remains today….

Spent the day on a tour of the closed lines on the IOM. Sunny. Left hotel early to catch the closed lines tour we had booked, which was basically Douglas-Peel-Ramsey-Douglas with 2 side trips.

The fine entrance to Douglas station….

Union Mills Station.  Home too of the much lamented N gauge loco manufacturer.

My favourite IOM loco – and the only 0-6-0T.  Caledonia at the site of WW1 internment camp.

Peel.

Kirk Michael viaduct and station.

Queens Pier Ramsey is being rebuilt and this train is just standing at start of 50 metre stretch.

Allan did manage to find another train running!

Curragh Wildlife Park – compare the market.com but no sign of the wombat.  (Meercat thinks – what are these strange creatures watching me for?  Are they edible??  Am I edible???)