Manx Electric Railway Cars
Power Cars
 
This isn't meant to be a history of the MER cars, just a collection of photographs that I have taken of each car from 1990 until the present day,
showing some of the changes to liveries over time. Pictures from the 1990s are scanned from prints or slides and I don't have exact dates.
Many thanks to the Manx Electric Railway Society for historical information on the cars, see their website for more information.
 
 Back to Manx Railways
 
Cars No. 1 - 3
Built by G.F. Milnes and delivered with six trailers for the line's initial opening from Derby Castle to Groudle in 1893
 
No. 1
In service
1990s
2000
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2011
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
 2018

No. 2
In service
1990s
2000
2002
2003
2004
2005
2007
2008
2011
2012
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018

No. 3
Destroyed in Laxey Depot Fire - 1930
 

 
Cars No. 4 - 9  The 'Tunnel Cars'
Built by G.F Milnes and delivered in 1894
 
No. 4
Destroyed in Laxey Depot Fire - 1930

No. 5
In service
1993
2000
2001
2002
2005
2007
2009
2010
2013
2015
2016
2017
2018

No. 6
In service
1990s
2000
2001
2002
2003
2006
2007
2008
2010
2011
2013
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2017
2018

No. 7
Was 'works car' for some years but restored in 2010 and in service.
1990s
2000
2004
2005
2006
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018

No. 8
Destroyed in Laxey Depot Fire - 1930

No. 9
Fitted with illuminations in 1993. In service
1990
1993
2001
2003
2004
2004
2004
2005
2006
2009
2011
2012
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
 

 
Cars No. 10 - 13
Built by G. F. Milnes and delivered in 1895. Similar design to the Snaefell cars delivered at the same time and also delivered with unglazed windows. Taken out of passenger service in the early 1900s.
 
No. 10
Converted to unpowered freight car No 26, currently in storage.
1993
2006

No. 11
Scrapped

No. 12
Converted to powered cattle car, scrapped

No. 13
Scrapped

 
Cars No. 14 - 18
Built by G. F. Milnes and delivered in 1898.  Open crossbench cars. 'Ratchet Cars' i.e. not fitted with air brakes apart from No 16 which was so equipped sometime between 1902 -04 when it also aquired new trucks.
 
No. 14
Out of use for many years, but restored to service in 2018. Retains 'Ratchet Car' configuration.
2006
2017
2018
2018

No. 15
In Storage.
1993
2006

No. 16
'Paddle Box' appearance due to new trucks fitted in the early 1900s. In service.
2001
2002
2004
2005
2011
2014
2015
2016
2017
2017
2018
 

No. 17
In Storage
1993
2018

No. 18
In storage
1993
2016
 

 
Cars No. 19 - 21  The 'Winter Saloons'
Built by G. F. Milnes and delivered 1899.  Delivered with ratchet brakes they were re-equipped during 1904 with the air brake equipment from Cars 28 - 31.  All currently in service and form the backbone of the operational fleet.
 
No. 19
1990s
2001
2002
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018

No. 20
1990s
2000
2001
2002
2005
2006
2007
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018

No. 21
1990s
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2010
2011
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2017
2017
2018

No. 22
Car No 22 has a slightly different history from the other 'Winter Saloons'.  Originally delivered in 1899, in 1990 it was all but destroyed in a fire at Derby Castle Depot.  Only the underframe and trucks survived but a new body was constructed locally and No 22 returned to service in 1992.
1990s
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2011
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
 

 
No. 23  Locomotive
 Constructed by the Isle of Man Tramways & Electric Power Co 1900, rebuilt into its current form in 1925.
In storage.
 
1993
1993
1993
2006
2011

 
Cars No. 24 - 27
Built by G. F. Milnes as trailer cars, but converted to crossbench motor cars in the early 1900s.   Called the 'Paddleboxes' after the steps in the running boards needed to clear the new Brush trucks fitted.
 
No. 24
Destroyed in Laxey Depot Fire - 1930

No. 25
Sorry, I don't seem to have a picture of Car No 25.  In storage.

No. 26
In storage.
2003
2006
2007
2008
2011

No. 27
Used as the works car for many years and had a makeshift cab fitted.  In storage.
1990s
1993
2001
2011
 

 
Cars No. 28 - 31
Built by the Electric Railway & Tramway Carriage Works 1904.  Crossbench open cars, their trucks and air brake equipment were moved to the 'Winter Saloons' Nos 19 -22 in the early 1900s. All in storage
 
No. 28
2006
2011

No. 29
2006

No. 30
2007

No. 31
2011
 

 
Cars No. 32 - 33
Open crossbench cars built by the United Electric Car Company 1906 and the last new power cars delivered to the railway.  Both in service
 
No. 32
1990s
2005
2008
2009
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2017
2018

No. 33
1990s
2001
2002
2004
2006
2011
2011
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2017
2018
 

 
No. 34  Locomotive
Built by the Manx Electric Railway 2004
 
2004
2005
2009
2009
2010
2010
2010
2011
2011
 
 
Island Images