History of the Manx Electric Railway Wagons

This history of the Manx Electric Railway Wagons is brief as a full history of the line and its rolling stock was described in the book written by Mike Goodwyn entitled 'MANX ELECTRIC' which was published in 1993. This page only covers wagons still known to exist in 2018.

 Goods Vans and Wagons

 Van No.3

Van No.3

Van No.3 was supplied in 1895 by G. F. Milnes as a 4-wheel van with short platforms for the goods traffic then carried by the railway and was the first item of covered stock acquired.

It was overhauled during the nationalisation period of 1957 - 58, and had both end platforms removed during Winter 1963 - 64.

In March 2015 it was moved to Laxey goods yard for restoration by the Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust.

© Manx Electric Railway Online.

 Van No.4

Van No.4

Van No.4 was supplied in 1895 by G. F. Milnes as a 4-wheel van with short platforms for the goods traffic then carried by the railway. It was rebuilt in 1993 as the Mail van.

© Gordon Bulmer

 Open Wagons Nos.8 and 10

Open Wagons Nos.8 and 10

Between 1896 and 1898 five 6-ton open wagons were supplied to the railway by G. F. Milnes. Nos.6, 7 and 9 have all been scrapped but Nos.8 and 10 have been restored.

© Andrew Scarffe

 Van No.11

Van No.11

Van No.11 was supplied by G. F. Milnes in 1899 as a box van and was used frequently for goods and parcel traffic throughout the system until it was withdrawn in the late 1990's.

In March 2015 it was moved to Laxey goods yard for restoration by the Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust, which commenced in October with the van stripped back to its bare frame.

© Manx Electric Railway Online

 Van No.12

Van No.12

Van No.12 was supplied by G. F. Milnes in 1899 as a box van. It was later fitted with a roof mounted platform for overhead line work.

In 2018 it was in Laxey goods yard for restoration by the Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust.

© Dave Martin

 Van No.16

Van No.16

Van No.16 was built in the Derby Castle Car Works in 1908 as a large Mail van but from 1977 was converted to a stores/overhead line van and has now been restored.

© Andrew Scarffe

 Van No.16

Freight Trailer No.26

Nos.10 - 13 were purchased in 1895, and were built without saloon glazing or clerestories, but were only used until 1903 after which they were stored before being converted to goods cars and finally demotored to become goods trailers.

No.11 was written off in 1925, No.12 in 1927 after becoming a livestock carrier and No.13 in 1935, leaving only No.10 which still exists as goods trailer No.26.

© Gordon Bulmer

 Permanent Way Wagons

 Tower Wagon No.1

Tower Wagon No.1

This tower wagon was originally supplied by G. F. Milnes as open wagon No.1 in 1894. In 1998 it was rebuilt as a new tower wagon but was semi retired into Derby Castle depot when trailer No 52 received its hydraulic scissor lift in 2014.

© Manx Electric Railway Online

 Dreadnought No.21

Dreadnought Stone Wagon No.21

Dreadnought No.21 was built by the Derby Castle Car Works in 1926 as a drop-side bogie wagon for carrying stone from Dhoon Quarry.

After a number of uses over the years, in 2017 it was converted to a flat wagon so it could carry long rails for track relaying.

© Manx Electric Railway Online

 Trailer No.45

Trailer No.45

1899 trailer No.45 had its body and the Ramsey end dash removed and has been used as a permanent way vehicle since at least 1947 carrying track panels, sleepers and ballast in bags for track repairs. It had the Douglas end dash panel removed in early 2018.

© Jon Wornham

 Trailer No.52

Trailer No.52

1893 trailer No.52 had the body and the Ramsey end dash removed about 1940 to be used as a permanent way trailer.

It became the dedicated overhead line trailer in 2013 -14 when it was fitted with a hydraulic scissor lift and able to carry a drum of overhead wire.

© Manx Electric Railway Online

© Gordon Bulmer 2024