Year of Railways - Subsequent Festivals

Subsequent Festivals

Following the success of the Year of Railways, the lines played host to similar events to celebrate other milestones in the histories of the islands railways.

• 1994 100 years of tram services to Laxey.
• 1995 The International Railway Festival marked the centenary of the Snaefell Mountain Railway.
• 1996 for the centenary of the Groudle Glen Railway,
• 1998 Steam 125 marked 125 years of the Isle of Man Steam Railway from Douglas to Peel.

There were also lower key events in 1997 and 1999 for the centenary of tram services to Ramsey, but despite their smaller presence they were well-attended by visitors.

From 1999 although events still took place annually they were held on a much smaller scale, usually taking place over a weekend in July or August each year with less "unique" events being held. They usually consisted of more straightforward events such as unusual tramcars in operation, double-headed trains, non-passenger vehicles in service. Events such as night photography, slide shows and such, were phased out.

From 2009 the event has been renamed as the "Manx Heritage Transport Festival", and it is intended to hold the event annually over the same period in future; namely, commencing on the Wednesday of the last week in July and continuing until the following Tuesday, with events on all railways, and some non-rail events such as vintage bus tours, boat trips, and the like.