MER Trailers
Lightweight trailers 34-39
These lightweight trailers were purchased in 1894 for the opening of the new part of the line between Groudle Glen and Laxey Station and were of lightweight construction; of the six supplied only two survive today, with 34,35,38 and 39 having been lost in the Laxey Car Sheds fire of 1930 and not replaced. Happily though No.36 and 37 remain today both being withdrawn 37 was recently withdrawn in 2009 with cracked axles and 36 was withdrawn in 1971.
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40,41,42 and 43
Trailers 40 and 41 where orignally lost in the laxey car shed fire of 1930t hese two trailers were supplied as replacements for those lost in the Laxey Car Sheds fire of 1930 but are of similar construction to the earlier trailers; they are the youngest rolling stock on the line. Trailers 42 and 43 are
Both still in service
44 - 48
Supplied by G.F. Milnes & Co., in 1899 each seating 44 passengers, these trailers all remain today with the exception of 45 which lost its body during the winter of 2003 and was converted into a flat wagon. The bodywork has however been retained for future use.
49 - 54
These lightweight trailers were the purchased for the opening to Groudle Glen in 1893 but only No. 51 remains in semi-regular service today. Of note is number 51 which was restored to original condition in 1989 including detailing of original fleet name on the end dash panels and lightweight roof. At this time the car was numbered 13 as it would originally have been; in 1893 when it arrived there were no power cars numbered past 3, and so the trailers took consecutive numbering sequence but owing to a subsequent re-think by the operators, trailers were re-numbered commencing after the last power car (33). So it was that the original number 13 was displayed until it reverted to its latter number 51 during management and policy changes in 2001. Also of note is trailer 52 which is fitted with a scissor lift for use with the wire crew.
55 and 56
There two trailers have provided part of the mainline running fleet for many years and rarely exited service, except for routine maintenance. However, in 1999 trailer 56 was removed from service and has since been converted into the line's only disabled access saloon featuring removable swivel seating, hydraulic wheelchair ramps and accommodation for carers; at this time the car was also fitted with a public address system for use with winter saloon No. 22 for commentary guided trips of the line. Although bearing little resemblance to its original configuration the trailer was painted into traditional "house" colours of red and cream and sees limited service on the line subject to demand. Prior to is conversion there was no provision for disabled passengers on the railway. 55 was last used in 1997 and has been stored ever since in 2012 it lost its truck and was mounted on sleepers in the bottom shed.
57 and 58These trailers are the line's only enclosed winter saloons, of similar design to their motorcar counterparts, they have received little use with the open crossbench trailers usually favoured. However, when the line celebrated its centenary in 1993 both these trailers were used in conjunction with a "steam on electric" series of events when Isle of Man Railway locomotive No. 4 Loch of 1874 carried passengers between Laxey Station and Dhoon Quarry Halt using these two cars. Since their use with these services one also carried passengers from Bungalow Station to the Snaefell Summit Station on the mountain railway behind Manx Northern Railway locomotive No.4 Caledonia in 1995 as part of the International Railway Festival in celebration of the centenary of the Snaefell Mountain Railway. Again in 1998 both cars were in use behind Isle of Man Railway locomotive No.1 Sutherland of 1873 between Laxey Station and Fairy Cottage Halt as part of the Steam 125 event. Since these times the trailers have been little used, usually for enthusiasts' excursions. Both cars currently carry a variation of the line's traditional "house" style livery but with bright red dash panels and "Isle Of Man Transport" transfers, unfitting of their historical nature. In july 2015 trailer 58 derailed at laxey and toppled on to its side suffering a lot of damage to its ramsey end bulkhead and seaside side it was then stored in laxey car shed until the end of October before being moved to Derby Castle car sheds for repair as of April 2016 it is still undergoing repair and is expected back out on the line in June 2016.
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Trailer 59
The smallest of the fleet and is often referred to as the royal saloon. It became known as the royal saloon/trailer after a visit to Royal Ramsey (so dubbed from the visit) by Queen Victoria and has since carried royalty on a few occasions. It remains rarely used in traffic and stored at Derby Castle Depôt after a number of years on display at the visitors' centre at the terminus. In march 2015 trailer 59 derailed at ballagawne crossing and has been stored awaiting tests.
Trailer 60
A one-off order dating from 1896, this trailer has chilled iron wheels making it unique among the fleet; when rounding tight radius curves of which there are many on the line, its wheels make a distinctive shrill ringing noise. It is presently painted in the short-lived 1957 nationalisation livery of green and white and usually hauled by similarly treated paddlebox car No. 16.
Trailers 61-62
These were the final trailers supplied to the tramway, apart from the replacement cars of 1930, these trailers are both stored due to craked axles