Manx Electric Cars 1-3

Manx Electric Cars 1-3
Car Nos. 1 – 3

Car No.2, Derby Castle Terminus
Manufacturer G.F. Milnes & Co.
Built at Birkenhead
Constructed 1893
Number built 3
Number in service 2
Number scrapped 1 (lost in fire)
Formation Unvestibuled Saloon
Capacity 34
Operator Isle Of Man Heritage Railways
Depot(s) Derby Castle Depôt
Specifications
Traction system Four SEHC traction motors of 25 hp (19 kW)
Power output 100 hp (75 kW)
Electric system(s) 550 V DC
Current collection method Overhead
Braking system(s) Air
Gauge 3 ft  (914 mm)

This article details Car Nos. 1–3 of the Manx Electric Railway on the Isle of Man.

These tramcars were original trio of tramcars supplied for the opening in 1893. The two remaining cars hold a joint entry in the Guinness book of records as the oldest fully operational tramcars in the world that still operate on their original running lines. No. 3 was destroyed by fire at Laxey Car Sheds in 1930 but the other two remain in service having survived the austerity years of the line as works cars when they had been relegated to permanent way hacks for many years. The historical precedence of these vehicles was however acknowledged and in 1979, when the island celebrated the millennium of its Tynwald parliament, they were restored to original condition, proving the stars of the show at the line's centenary celebrations. Subsequently, car 2 was partly repainted blue (with some historical precedent as it is believed cars may have originally been deep blue but lack of colour photography from the time cannot clarify this) but both cars are now in a variation of the 1930s "house" style and remain in service.

References

  • Mike Goodwyn (1993). Manx Electric. Platform Five. ISBN 9781872524528. 
  • Keith Pearson (1992). 100 Years Of Manx Electric Railway. Leading Edge. ISBN 0948135387. 
  • Robert Hendry (1978). Manx Electric Album. Hillside Publishing. ISBN 0950593303. 
  • Norman Jones (1994). Isle Of Man Tramways. Foxline Publishing. ISBN 1-870119-32-0. 

Also

Sources


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