The Douglas Bay Horse Tramway
The tramway was built and initially operated by Thomas Lightfoot, a retired civil engineer. His service was introduced in 1876 between the bottom of what is now Summer Hill and the bottom of Broadway in the centre of today's promenade adjacent to the Villa Marina. In the earliest days the track was expanded, and passing loops and long crossovers added so that by 1891 the line ran double track the entire length of the promenade, much as it does today. From opening it has operated every year, except for a period during World War 2.
In 1882, Lightfoot sold the line to Isle of Man Tramways Ltd, later the Isle of Man Tramways & Electric Power Co. Ltd, which also owned the Manx Electric Railway. The company went into liquidation in 1900 as a consequence of a banking collapse. The tramway was sold to the Douglas Corporation (now Douglas Borough Council) in 1902. Since 1927 the tramway has run in summer only In January 2016, Douglas Borough Council confirmed that the tramway had run for the last time the previous September. After an online petition attracted more than 2,000 signatures, the House of Keys established a committee to look into ways of retaining the iconic horse trams. A press release from the Department of Infrastructure issued on march 24th 2016 indicated that the Isle of Man Heritage Railways division of that department would be operating the Horse Trams during the 2016 summer season.
In 1882, Lightfoot sold the line to Isle of Man Tramways Ltd, later the Isle of Man Tramways & Electric Power Co. Ltd, which also owned the Manx Electric Railway. The company went into liquidation in 1900 as a consequence of a banking collapse. The tramway was sold to the Douglas Corporation (now Douglas Borough Council) in 1902. Since 1927 the tramway has run in summer only In January 2016, Douglas Borough Council confirmed that the tramway had run for the last time the previous September. After an online petition attracted more than 2,000 signatures, the House of Keys established a committee to look into ways of retaining the iconic horse trams. A press release from the Department of Infrastructure issued on march 24th 2016 indicated that the Isle of Man Heritage Railways division of that department would be operating the Horse Trams during the 2016 summer season.
Winter car 1
Used in inclement weather.
Open toast rack 11
Stored in the back compound of jurby transport museum.
Open toast rack 12
Double Decker 18.
Open toast rack 21
Winter Car 27
Used in inclement weather.
Winter car 28
sold awating removeal
Winter car 29
Used in inclement weather.
Closed toast rack 32
in service
Closed toast rack 33
Closed toast rack 34
Not in service
Closed toast rack 36
Closed toast rack 37
Bought by the current chief minister of the isle of man Howard Qualyle
Open toast rack 38
in service
Open toast rack 39
Bought by the mers
Open toast rack 40
Not in service
Open toast rack 42.
Closed toast rack 43
Royal tram 44
Closed toast rack 45
In service
Closed toast rack car 47
Stored along with open toast rack 11 in the rear compound of jurby transport museum.
Tomato box car 49
Stored in Ramsey.