Manx Electric Cars 4-9

Car Nos. 4 – 9
Car No. 6, Howstrake Head
Manufacturer	G.F. Milnes & Co., Birkenhead
Constructed	1894
Number built	6
Formation	Vestibuled Saloon
Capacity	36 (except Car 5: 32)
Operators	Isle Of Man Heritage Railways
Depots	Derby Castle Depôt
Specifications
Traction system	Four SEHC traction motors of 25 hp (19 kW)
Power output	100 hp (75 kW)
Electric system(s)	550 V DC
Current collector(s)	Overhead
Braking system(s)	Air
Track gauge	3 ft (914 mm)

Details

This was the second batch of cars delivered to the railway for its opening as far as Laxey Station in 1894. Referred to as "tunnel cars" because their seating was originally parallel to the sides with just one large passenger saloon, typical of early trams, as opposed to the more usual reversible seating common in tramcar layout.

Losses

All remaining cars are still in regular use today except for No.4 and No.8, both of which were destroyed by the Laxey Car Shed fire in 1930 together with several other items of stock; at times remaining class members have been temporarily re-numbered for photographic purposes during events to mimic these lost cars.

Illuminated Car

Giving rise to controversy among the M.E.R. faithful No.9 was selected to become the tramway's first illuminated car and has operated as such in this guise ever since, in a variety of styles; prior to this it was painted in the brown and cream scheme as it carried when delivered to the line, from 1979 for the centenary of electric traction celebrations and Millennium of Tynwald. Initially individual blubs, the illuminations were later changed to rope lights, and it currently has LED fittings.

Rebuild

While cars 5 and 6 have remained in regular traffic, Car No. 7 was relegated to permanent way duties for a number of years and was in very poor condition. In early 2010, this car was removed from the system and extensively rebuilt by an on-island contractor, returning in a deep blue colour scheme, believed to have been that originally carried by this class of car upon delivery. The refit also saw the removal of longitudinal bench seating and its replacement with reversible tramway-type seating

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Variants

Some cars were later modified; No.5, has flip-over seating fitted reducing capacity; No.6 had the original split-screen refitted to the drivers cabs following refurbishment in 1989 but this was said to impede visibility and removed again in 1994. No.6 carried a unique lettering detail on its sides from 1986 bearing the legend "Isle of Man Passenger Transport Board", this was removed during a later repaint.

More information No., Year ...

No.	Year	Builder	Type	Livery	Seats	Notes
No.4	1894	G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.	Unvestibuled Saloon	~	34	Lost, Laxey Shed Fire 1930
No.5	1894	G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.	Flip-Over Seats	Red, White & Teak	32	Traffic
No.6	1894	G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.	Unvestibuled Saloon	Red, White & Teak	34	Post-1902 Company Livery
No.7	1894	G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.	Flip-Over Seats	Prussian Blue, Cream & Teak	32	"Original" Livery Scheme
No.8	1894	G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.	Unvestibuled Saloon	~	34	Lost, Laxey Shed Fire 1930
No.9	1894	G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.	Unvestibuled Saloon	Red, White & Teak	34	Illuminated Car

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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