Manx Electric Cars 19-22

This article details Car Nos. 19–22 of the Manx Electric Railway on the Isle of Man.

Car Nos. 19 – 22
ManufacturerG.F. Milnes & Co.
Built atBirkenhead
Constructed1899
Number built4
Number in service4
FormationClosed Saloon
Capacity48
Operator(s)Manx Electric Railway
Depot(s)Derby Castle Depôt
Line(s) servedManx Electric Railway
Specifications
Traction systemFour SEHC traction motors of 25 hp (19 kW)
Power output100 hp (75 kW)
Electric system(s)550 V DC
Current collection methodOverhead
Braking system(s)Air
Track gauge3 ft (914 mm)

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.

  • 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 978-1-872524-52-8.
  • Keith Pearson (1992). 100 Years Of Manx Electric Railway. Leading Edge. ISBN 0-948135-38-7.
  • Robert Hendry (1978). Manx Electric Album. Hillside Publishing. ISBN 0-9505933-0-3.
  • Norman Jones (1994). Isle Of Man Tramways. Foxline Publishing. ISBN 1-870119-32-0.

Sources


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