Manx Electric Trailers 49-54

Trailer Nos. 49 – 54
Trailer No. 49, Derby Castle Terminus
Manufacturer	G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.
Built at	Cleveland Street Works, Birkenhead
Constructed	1893
Number built	6
Number in service	3
Number scrapped	1 (Body Only)
Formation	Toastrack
Capacity	44
Operators	Isle Of Man Transport
Depots	Derby Castle Depôt

This article details Trailer Nos. 49 – 54 of the Manx Electric Railway on the Isle of Man.

These lightweight trailers were the purchased for the opening to Groudle Glen in 1893 but only No. 49 remains in semi-regular service today. Of note also, 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. This trailer is also serviceable but the remaining class members are in storage, with 52 serving as a flatbed wagon. Traditionally this car was stripped of its seating and roofing each winter for use by permanent way crews, but this practice ceased in 1954 after which time the item has been a dedicating flatbed runner. It survives today and had a distinctive yellow-painted dash panel with standard painted fleet number, based at Laxey Car Sheds.

Key:	Departmental Use	In Storage	Rebuilt & Serviceable	Undergoing Rebuild

No.	Year	Builder	Livery	Seats	Location	Notes
No. 49	1893	G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.	Maroon & Teak	44	Derby Castle Depôt	In Service
No. 50	1893	G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.	Red, White & Teak	44	Laxey Car Sheds	Under Restoration
No. 51	1893	G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.	Maroon & White	44	Derby Castle Depôt	Restored 2018
No. 52	1893	G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.	Yellow (Dash Only)	44	Laxey Car Sheds	Flatbed Runner
No. 53	1893	G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.	Red, White & Teak	44	Derby Castle Depôt	Withdrawn 1977
No. 54	1893	G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.	Red and White	44	Derby Castle Depôt	Refurbishment complete 2019

References

• Mike Goodwyn (1993). Manx Electric. Platform Five. ISBN 978-1-872524-52-8.
• Keith Pearson (1992). 100 Years Of Manx Electric Railway. Leading Edge. ISBN 0-948135-38-7.
• Robert Hendry (1978). Manx Electric Album. Hillside Publishing. ISBN 0-9505933-0-3.
• Norman Jones (1994). Isle Of Man Tramways. Foxline Publishing. ISBN 1-870119-32-0.

Sources

• Manx Manx Electric Railway Fleetlist (2002) Manx Electric Railway Society
• Island Island Images: Manx Electric Railway Pages (2003) Jon Wornham
• Official Official Tourist Department Page (2009) Isle Of Man Heritage Railways