Manx Electric Cars 19-22

Manx Electric Cars 19-22
Car Nos. 19 – 22
Manufacturer G.F. Milnes & Co.
Built at Birkenhead
Constructed 1899
Number built 4
Number in service 4
Formation Closed Saloon
Capacity 48
Operator Manx Electric Railway
Depot(s) Derby Castle Depôt
Line(s) served Manx Electric Railway
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. 19–22 of the Manx Electric Railway on the Isle of Man.

These saloon cars form the fifth batch of power cars supplied and were delivered in 1899 in readiness for the completion of the final section of the line between Laxey Station and Ramsey Plaza. They all remain in service. The four vestibuled cars known as the Winter Saloons are the backbone of the fleet of the Manx Electric Railway on the Isle of Man; they are all still in regular service but car 22 was completely rebuilt following a fire at Derby Castle Depôt in 1992 and is now widely considered to be a replica car. They have appeared in a variety of liveries but suit the 1930s "house" style the best in many people's opinion and it is this guise that they are best known for carrying although they tend to cary several variations of this scheme. Car No. 22 was at one point re-painted in the plain red and cream livery of the island's buses in 1999 in line with management whim, but this ultimately proved unpopular and she now carries the usual livery. She was also one of the cars selected for re-paint in 1957 upon nationalisation, carrying an experimental green and white livery for some time. Cars 19 and 20 currently carry the 1950s "austere" livery, with 21 remaining in a hybrid colour scheme of recent years.

Gallery

  • MER Car 21, at Derby Castle Station

  • MER Car 21, inside view

  • MER Car 21, ceiling details

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. 

Sources


Stub icon This article about the Isle of Man is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.