Isle of Man - weekend break

Narrow Gauge Index

The picture on the left is of a tram at the summit. The railing are to protect you from an unusual point lever to an unusual set of points or rather point. For a closer look see IOM track oddities page


While the line to the summit is similar track standards to the Manx trams, the slower speed and magnificent views makes the line a much more pleasant and memorable experience. Interestingly the up line is on the right and no one could explain why, just an historical thing suggested the guard.

 

 
Above: Taken from the top of the Laxey Wheel (water wheel) view of a tram and the depot.   Above: Looking down towards Laxey from the summit. The black line in the hill side is the course of the railway.
Upon return to Laxey we changed back on to the MER (Manx Electric Railway) and continued our journey to Ramsey. This section of the line is the most breath taking. At one point the line clings to the rock face with what feels like hundreds of feet above the see (over 600‘ actually). The line also climbs and descends an amazing amount as it cuts inland to get to Ramsey.
Instead of running around its trailer the railway use an interesting manoeuvre which we also saw repeated at Laxey. The tram pushes its trailer back up the line. It is detached and the brakes applied. The Tram then goes back down the line then reverses a cross points on to the up line.
The brake is then released on the trailer and it is allowed to roll down the line. Once it clears the points the tram them reverses and couples up to the trailer. Although this sounds messy it does save the need for an extra set of points.
Left: similar principle to our new points levers these are trailable.

Right Interior of one of the open cars..

Links

http://www.tramway.com/iom/mer.html - virtual tour of both tramways

Manx Electric Railway Society - good archives and articles

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