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Douglas Bay Horse Tramway
Douglas Bay Horse Tramway
Raad Yiarn Cabbyl Vaie Ghoolish
	Roofed toastrack No. 35, Loch Promenade
Locale	Douglas, Isle of Man
Terminus	Derby Castle station / Villa Marina
Commercial operations
Built by	Thomas Lightfoot
Original gauge	3 ft (914 mm)
Preserved operations
Owned by	Isle of Man Government
Operated by	Isle of Man Railways
Stations	Various (hail & ride)
Length	1.6 miles (2.6 km)
7 August 1876	Official opening
2 January 1900	Takeover, Douglas Corporation
30 September 1927	Winter service terminated
28 September 1939	Closed for duration
1 May 1946	Seasonal services resumed
Preservation history
9 August 1956	80th Anniversary
7 August 1976	Centenary parade
7 August 2011	135th Anniversary
Headquarters	Banks Circus
Website
	www.rail.im
Route map
Route map

The Douglas Bay Horse Tramway (Manx: Raad Yiarn Cabbyl Vaie Ghoolish) on the Isle of Man runs along the seafront promenades of Douglas for approximately 1 mile (1.6 km), from the southern terminus at the Villa Marina, to Derby Castle station, the southern terminus of the Manx Electric Railway, where the workshops and sheds are located. It is a distinctive tourist attraction.

History

The tramway was built and initially operated by Thomas Lightfoot, a retired civil engineer from Sheffield. 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 the Second World War.^[1]

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 by the liquidator to Douglas Corporation in 1902. Since 1927 the tramway has run in summer only.^[1]

In 2014 it was announced by the Department of Infrastructure that during 2015 the horse trams would be temporarily suspended while resurfacing work on the promenade continued into its next phase, which runs from Regent Street to Strathallan. However, the plans were later revised, allowing regular horse tram operation to take place in 2015, 2016 and 2017.^[2]

In 2015 Douglas Corporation partnered with Isle of Man Transport to introduce the 'Ticketer' system as used across the Island's other public transport systems.^[3] On board a Ticketer hand-held unit connects with the island-wide contactless Go Cards and individual tickets can also be purchased.

Closure

Despite being the world's last remaining 19th century original horse-drawn passenger tramway and the second-oldest operational rail system on the island, the future of the tramway has been brought into question in recent years.^[4] In January 2016, Douglas Corporation announced that the tramway had run for the last time the previous September and that they had closed it as it was not financially viable. The tramway had made a loss of £263,000 in 2015.^[5]

Continuance

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.^[6]^[7] The operation of the tramway was taken over by the Isle of Man Heritage Railways division of the Department of Infrastructure and continued in the 2016, 2017^[8] and 2018 summer seasons.

Various plans were submitted by the Department of Infrastructure to rebuild the Douglas Promenades.^[9] In one version, the tramway would move from its location in the middle of the roadway to a new single line formation adjacent to the Promenade walkway. The plans received some criticism from a group of local residents who objected to the siting of the trams near to the walkway. However, in 2019, the tracks were relaid in their previous alignment along the centre of the road.^[10] Trams started running again on Friday 29 July 2022, between Strathallan tram depot and Broadway.^[11]

Description

The tramway is 3 ft (914 mm) narrow-gauge, double track throughout, running down the middle of the road. Service is provided by 23 tramcars and some 45 horses. There have been several types of tramcar, and at least one of each type has been retained. Most services are maintained by "closed toastracks", with winter saloons and open toastracks also in semi-regular service. In summer, trams are stabled outdoors overnight adjacent to the Terminus Tavern public house, and there is a purpose-built tramshed where they are stored in winter.

Map this section's coordinates in "List of Isle of Man railway lines and locations" using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

Point	Coordinates (Links to map resources)	OS Grid Ref	Notes
Derby Castle	54°10′02″N 4°27′40″W / 54.1671°N 4.4612°W / 54.1671; -4.4612 (Derby Castle)	SC39427738
Regency Hotel	54°09′58″N 4°27′55″W / 54.1660°N 4.4652°W / 54.1660; -4.4652 (Regency Hotel)	SC39157727
The Hydro	54°09′51″N 4°28′07″W / 54.1641°N 4.4685°W / 54.1641; -4.4685 (The Hydro)	SC38937707
The Palace Hotel	54°09′46″N 4°28′16″W / 54.1627°N 4.4710°W / 54.1627; -4.4710 (The Palace Hotel)	SC38767692
Castle Terrace	54°09′40″N 4°28′24″W / 54.1612°N 4.4733°W / 54.1612; -4.4733 (Castle Terrace)	SC38617675
The Esplanade	54°09′30″N 4°28′34″W / 54.1584°N 4.4760°W / 54.1584; -4.4760 (The Esplanade)	SC38427645
Gaiety Theatre	54°09′19″N 4°28′41″W / 54.1553°N 4.4780°W / 54.1553; -4.4780 (Gaiety Theatre)	SC38287611	(Currently closed)
Loch Promenade	54°09′05″N 4°28′40″W / 54.1515°N 4.4779°W / 54.1515; -4.4779 (Loch Promenade)	SC38277569	(Currently closed)
Regent Street	54°09′00″N 4°28′38″W / 54.1500°N 4.4771°W / 54.1500; -4.4771 (Regent Street)	SC38327552	(Currently closed)
Sea Terminal	54°08′57″N 4°28′31″W / 54.1491°N 4.4754°W / 54.1491; -4.4754 (Sea Terminal)	SC38427541	(Currently closed)

^[12] (All stops except the termini are request stops.)

Tramcars

Fleet

The remaining core of service trams represent a cross-section of various types of car used on the line over the years; notable exceptions from the current fleet are an umbrella car (one of which survives as a souvenir shop elsewhere) and a convertible car, although one of these survives in private ownership. This was the last of three cars from 1935 which were dubbed "tomato boxes" owing to their unconventional appearance. On 27 August 2016, after Douglas council took ownership, six trams were sold at auction, numbers 28, 33, 34, 37, 39 and 40. Trams notated as rebuilt are considered to be part of the "Heritage Fleet".

Key:	Service Fleet	Undergoing Rebuild	Rebuilt	Awaiting Rebuild

No.	Built	Builder	Layout	Seats	Livery	Adverts	Notes
1*	1913	G.F. Milnes-Voss & Co.	Enclosed Saloon	30	Red & Cream	Bushy's	*Replacement Vehicle
12	1888	Starbuck Car & Wagon	Open Toastrack	32	Blue & Gold	~	Ornamental Lamps
18	1883	Metro-Cammell	Double Decker	42	Maroon & Gold	Okell's	Single-Deck 1904, Double-Deck 1989
21	1890	George F. Milnes & Co.	Open Toastrack	40	Burgundy & White	Lamps	Rebuilt 2018 – 2019
27	1892	George F. Milnes & Co.	Enclosed Saloon	30	Prussian Blue & Cream	None Carried	Rebuilt 2017 – 2018
29	1892	George F. Milnes & Co.	Enclosed Saloon	30	Red, Black & Cream	None Carried	Rebuilt 2017 – 2019
32	1896	George F. Milnes & Co.	Sunshade	32	Red & White	~	Rebuild 2019–2024
36	1896	George F. Milnes & Co.	Roofed Toastrack	40	Red & White	Villa Marina	Rebuilt 2017 "Tram of the Year"
38	1902	George F. Milnes & Co.	Open Toastrack	40	Red & White	~	Scheduled For Rebuild
42	1905	George F. Milnes & Co.	Open Toastrack	40	Red & Varnish	Dragon's Castle	Rebuilt 2017 – 2018
43	1907	United Electric Car Co.	Roofed Toastrack	40	Red & White	Conister Bank
44	1907	United Electric Car Co.	Roofed Toastrack	40	Red, White & Blue	None Carried	Royal Tram (1964 & 1972)
45	1908	United Electric Car Co.	Roofed Toastrack	40	Red & White	Groudle	Rebuilt 2017 – 2018

Scrapped fleet

The tramway amassed at total of 50 cars, the final three arriving as late as 1935. Over the years several of these became surplus to requirements and were scrapped; many were stored in the former cable car depot at York Road, Douglas prior to its demolition to make way for a residential complex in 1990, others were dismantled being surplus to requirements over the years. Nos. 48 and 50 were purchased for possible use as wayside shelters on the Manx Electric Railway and were stored for a time at Derby Castle; the plan however never came to fruition and both vehicles were scrapped in 1982 leaving No.49 as the sole remaining example of this type of tramcar. No.46 was relocated to Nobles Park in Douglas in 1988 where it saw use as a shelter (memorably it carried a black and neon colour scheme latterly, promoting the Palace Lido); it was removed from the island and fully restored for museum display though later scrapped despite having been heavily reconditioned.

No.	Built	Builder	Layout	Seats	Scrap	Notes
1 (i)	1876	Starbuck Car & Wagon	Double Decker	36	1901	Converted From Single Deck 1884 – Later Replaced
2	1876	Starbuck Car & Wagon	Double Decker	36	1948	Not Used After World War II
3	1876	Starbuck Car & Wagon	Double Decker	36	1948	Not Used After World War II
4	1882	Metro-Cammell	Double Decker	34	1949	Not Used After World War II
5	1883	Starbuck Car & Wagon	Double Decker	34	1949	Not Used After World War II
6	1883	Starbuck Car & Wagon	Double Decker	34	1949	Not Used After World War II
7	1884	Starbuck Car & Wagon	Double Decker	42	1924
8	1884	Starbuck Car & Wagon	Double Decker	42	1949	Not Used After World War II
9	1884	Starbuck Car & Wagon	Open Toastrack	32	1952
10	1884	Starbuck Car & Wagon	Open Toastrack	40	1979	Spare Parts Retained
14	1887	Metro-Cammell	Double Decker	42	1908	Destroyed (Depot Rockslide)
15	1887	Metro-Cammell	Double Decker	42	1939	Purchased South Shields Tramways
16	1887	Metro-Cammell	Double Decker	42	1915	Purchased South Shields Tramways
17	1886	Metro-Cammell	Double Decker	48	1914	Ex-South Shields Tramways Converted Single Deck 1903
19	1889	George F. Milnes & Co.	Open Toastrack	32	1949	Withdrawn & Stored 1940
20	1889	George F. Milnes & Co.	Open Toastrack	32	1949	Withdrawn & Stored 1940
23	1891	George F. Milnes & Co.	Umbrella Car	33	1952	Retractable Canvas Roof 1908 Later Fixed Roof
24	1891	George F. Milnes & Co.	Umbrella Car	32	1952	Retractable Canvas Roof 1910, Later Fixed Roof
25	1891	George F. Milnes & Co.	Open Toastrack	32	1952
26	1891	George F. Milnes & Co.	Open Toastrack	32	1974
30	1894	George F. Milnes & Co.	Open Toastrack	32	1950
31	1894	George F. Milnes & Co.	Open Toastrack	32	1987	Advertising Car 1968–1975
35	1896	G.F. Milnes-Voss & Co	Sunshade	32	2022	Glazed Bulkheads 1966 Home of Rest For Old Horses
41	1905	George F. Milnes & Co.	Open Toastrack	40	1988	Spare Parts Retained
46	1909	George F. Milnes & Co.	Roofed Toastrack	40	1986	Sold to Birkenhead Tramway Museum 1990
48	1935	Vulcan Motor & Engineering	Convertible Saloon	27/34	1980	Sold – Manx Electric Railway 1978
50	1935	Vulcan Motor & Engineering	Convertible Saloon	27/34	1980	Sold – Manx Electric Railway 1978

Other tramcars

In addition to those cars remaining in the operational fleet, a number have survived and remained at other locations on the island; No. 14 spent several years at the Clapham Transport Museum until its closure, returning to the island in time for the centenary of the tramway in 1976; it entered the Manx Museum in 1991 where it remains today. No. 22 was converted into a souvenir shop used at Strathallan Crescent, it now resides at a transport museum in the north of the island where it fulfils the same role.

Key:	Undergoing Restoration	Auctioned Off	Privately Owned	On Display

No.	Built	Builder	Layout	Seats	Location	Notes
11	1886	Starbuck Car & Wagon	Open Toastrack	32	Wirral Museum	Withdrawn 1976, Moved Jurby-Wirral May 2021
14	1887	Starbuck Car & Wagon	Double Decker	42	Manx Museum	Audio/Visual Display, Renumbered 1908 Ex-13)
22	1890	G.F. Milnes & Co.	Umbrella Car	32	Jurby Museum	Former Tram Shop (Last Sunshade)
28	1892	G.F. Milnes & Co.	Enclosed Saloon	30	Off-Island	Sold Privately, August 2016 (£2,800)
33	1896	G.F. Milnes & Co.	Sunshade 1974 Bulkheads	32	On-Island	Sold Privately, August 2016 (£1,200)
34	1896	G.F. Milnes & Co.	Sunshade 1972 Bulkheads	32	Jurby Museum	Sold, August 2016 (£1,300) Motorised 2018
37	1896	G.F. Milnes & Co.	Sunshade 1972 Bulkheads	32	On-Island	Sold Privately, August 2016 (£1,100)
39	1902	Starbuck Car & Wagon	Toastrack Lengthened 1934	40	On-Island	Sold Privately 2016 (£1,800) M.E.R. Society
40	1902	G.F. Milnes & Co.	Toastrack Lengthened 1939	40	On-Island	Sold Privately, August 2016 (£1,000)
47	1911	G.F. Milnes & Co.	Bulkhead	40	Wirral Museum	Withdrawn 1976, Moved Jurby-Wirral May 2021
49	1935	Vulcan Motor & Engineering	Convertible Saloon	27/34	Ramsey	Withdrawn 1978 (Last of Kind) Privately Owned

References

Notes

^ ^a ^b "Isle of Man Guide – Transportation, Horse Drawn Trams". Maxima Systems. Retrieved 8 February 2008.
^ "Horse tram service back on track for 2015". Town of Douglas. 9 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
^ "Douglas Borough Council – Just the ticket: Council updates horse tram ticket management system".
^ "Douglas regeneration: £21m plans submitted for Manx capital". BBC News. 6 May 2015.
^ "Isle of Man horse tram service ends after 140 years". BBC News. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
^ "Isle of Man horse trams: More than 2,000 people sign petition to save service". BBC News Online. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
^ "Isle of Man horse trams: Committee to explore closure alternatives". BBC News Online. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
^ "Horse Trams". Retrieved 8 March 2017.
^ "Prom revamp application set to be submitted". Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
^ "Opposition to horse trams on Douglas walkway". Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
^ "Isle of Man's popular horse trams return after three years". BBC News. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
^ "Tram stop locations - Douglas Bay Horse Tramway". douglashorsetramway.im. Retrieved 23 January 2022.

Bibliography

Heavyside, Tom (2010). Douglas – Laxey – Ramsey: including the Groudle Glen Railway. Narrow Gauge Branch Lines series. Midhurst, West Sussex, UK: Middleton Press. ISBN 9781906008758.
Hendry, Robert (1993). Rails in the Isle of Man: A Colour Celebration, Midland Publishing Limited, ISBN 1-85780-009-5
Pearson, Keith (1999). Douglas Horse Tramway - A Millennium Year History, 1st Edition, Adam Gordon, ISBN 978-1-874422-25-9
Johnston, Norman. "Douglas Horse Trams in Colour." Omagh: Colourpoint Press, 1995. ISBN 9781898392101.