Douglas Horse Trams
This is a horse-drawn tramway in Douglas on the Isle of Man. The route runs along the seafront promenade for approximately 1.6 miles (2.6 km), from a southern terminus at the Victoria Pier, adjacent to the Sea Terminal to a northern terminus at Derby Castle, the southern terminus of the Manx Electric Railway, where the workshops and sheds are also located.
The tramway was built and initially operated by Thomas Lightfoot, a retired civil engineer from the English city of Sheffield. His service was introduced in 1876 and the line has run every year since, except for a period during the Second World War.
In 1882, Lightfoot sold the line to Isle of Man Tramways Ltd, which came later to be known as Isle of Man Tramways & Electric Power Co. Ltd. (IoMT&EP) and also owned the Manx Electric Railway. The IoMT&EP went into liquidation in 1900 as a consequence of a banking collapse. The horse tramway was sold by the liquidator to Douglas Corporation, which took over the services in 1902.
Since 1927 the service has run in summer only and it remains in place as one of the most distinctive features of the island's tourist market. The tramway was owned and operated by the Douglas Borough Council, as successor to Douglas Corporation. In January 2016 douglas borough council annoced that they were no longer going to run the tramway because of a 2 million loss,then in march 2016 the Goverment anouced that they would run them for the 2016 season with a view to also run them in 2017 and 2018 but in August in 2016 it was anouced that 6 surplus to requriments horse trams would auctioned of by Douglas Corporation they were winter saloon 28,bulkhead cars 33,34,37 and open toastrack cars 39,40 with 37 bought by the Chief miniser Howard Quayle and 39 bought by the Manx Electric Railway Socity.
The tramway was built and initially operated by Thomas Lightfoot, a retired civil engineer from the English city of Sheffield. His service was introduced in 1876 and the line has run every year since, except for a period during the Second World War.
In 1882, Lightfoot sold the line to Isle of Man Tramways Ltd, which came later to be known as Isle of Man Tramways & Electric Power Co. Ltd. (IoMT&EP) and also owned the Manx Electric Railway. The IoMT&EP went into liquidation in 1900 as a consequence of a banking collapse. The horse tramway was sold by the liquidator to Douglas Corporation, which took over the services in 1902.
Since 1927 the service has run in summer only and it remains in place as one of the most distinctive features of the island's tourist market. The tramway was owned and operated by the Douglas Borough Council, as successor to Douglas Corporation. In January 2016 douglas borough council annoced that they were no longer going to run the tramway because of a 2 million loss,then in march 2016 the Goverment anouced that they would run them for the 2016 season with a view to also run them in 2017 and 2018 but in August in 2016 it was anouced that 6 surplus to requriments horse trams would auctioned of by Douglas Corporation they were winter saloon 28,bulkhead cars 33,34,37 and open toastrack cars 39,40 with 37 bought by the Chief miniser Howard Quayle and 39 bought by the Manx Electric Railway Socity.