Year of Railways - Events

Events

Although 1993 was the centenary of the Manx Electric Railway, the events showcased all of the Islands railways and more with intensive activities during three periods. Each of the event periods commenced with "meet and greet" sessions held at Summerland where organisers, directors, staff and other influential people from the railways were on hand. As well as outlining the event timetables, there were slideshows, Questions and Answer sessions and general chat. The majority of the events were simple railway-based activities although the opportunity was also taken to do things a little different. They included:

• Parallel-running of the two original tramcars dating from the opening of the line; this usually took place prior to daily services to facilitate use of both running lines

• Use of a low loader to transfer No. 4 "Loch" of the Isle of Man Railway to Laxey where it ran a service pulling two MER trailers along a section to Dhoon Quarry

• Tram 9 decorated by engineers from Blackpool to become illuminated; it ran shuttles to Groudle where the Groudle Glen Railway put on evening services

• Tram Cavalcade at Laxey where every available tram, trailer, works vehicle and the steam engine performed a run by with a historic and trivia based commentary

• Photo trams and trains ran which would stop at preselected scenic locations so that the passengers could alight, photograph and proceed to the next location

• Chasing buses that shadowed special services to viewpoints and chased ahead to await the arrival of trains/trams, sometimes utilising vintage buses

• Special tram services were featured that included running commentaries about the views and attractions along the length of the routes with stopping places

• Floodlit evening photography and barbecues were held with staff creating shunting movements for the benefit of spectators, often with little-used rolling stock

• Guided tours around sheds and depots which would normally be closed to members of the public, both in the day and in conjunction with evening sessions

• Guided walks of the closed railway lines to Peel, Ramsey and Foxdale with connecting vintage buses and coaches between venues, and refreshments

• Slide and film shows with a "bring your own along" policy ensuring a varied mix of entertainments, also including raffles and other attractions

• Operation of the restored Upper Douglas Cable Car along the promenade at Douglas prior to the operation of usual horse tram services

• Cavalcade line-ups of the horse tram fleet outside the workshops at Derby Castle, including some rarely-used tramcars in service along the promenade

• The return of "Polar Bear" to the Groudle Glen Railway for a month-long visit, including double headed trains, freight trains, and the like

Organised by the staff and friends of the railways including local preservationist groups, and backed up by the island's Department of Tourism and Leisure, which own the railways, these events were hailed both on and off the island as a resounding success. Total visitor numbers for the events were estimated at 35,000, second only at attracting visitors behind the T.T. Races. The success of the year's events paved the way for a period of much interest in the island's railways over the next years, and this was reflected in the array of events between 1994 and 1998 culminating in the one hundred and twenty fifth anniversary of the railway.