The Isle of Man is a mecca for the vintage transport enthusiast, with a steam railway, an electric railway and a horse tramway, all over 100 years old. Unfortunately, over half the route mileage of the 3 ft gauge steam railway was closed in 1968, but the line from Douglas to Port Erin still remains, as do the horse tramway and the electric railway. The steam railway was opened in 1873, and to mark the 125th anniversary a number of special events were organised in 1998. Of particular note, the original 1873 steam locomotive No.1 ‘Sutherland’, which had for many years been stored in the museum at Port Erin, was put back into steam, using the boiler from No.8 ‘Fenella’. The steam and electric railway are both of the same gauge (3 ft), and one of the major events of the celebrations was the parallel running of Sutherland with Tram No.1 on the electric railway from Laxey on 10th July. Tram No.1 is itself an antiquity, having been built for the opening of the electric railway in 1893, and with its sister No.2 is still used, mainly on special occasions.
Firstly, we see Sutherland, with the electric railway trailer car No.58, and Tram No.1 leaving the electric railway shed at Laxey, and Sutherland being prepared for the 3 runs. It then reverses the car into Laxey station prior to the 1 mile runs to Fairy Cottage up gradients as steep as 1 in 25. We then see the parallel run with Tram No.1 passing the electric railway sheds, climbing up towards South Cape, and finally rounding the bend over Preston’s Crossing and on towards Fairy Cottage. A unique sight – a 125 year old steam engine running alongside a 105 year old tram!

©Steam Library 2015