Tramcar Fleet...
A total of fifty-one tramcars have operated on the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway since its opening in 1876. We are fortunate in that some twenty-five of those cars, in both original and converted form, have survived to the present day, although many in private ownership and some of those in very poor condition.
The Isle of Man Government (as owner / operator of the horse tramway since 2016) acquired thirteen historical tramcars for future service on the Tramway - a representative selection of design types and some with historical event association.
The day-to-day service fleet comprises 'Toastracks' nos. 21, 38 and 42, 'Saloons' nos. 1, 27 and 29, 'Sunshade' no.36, and 'Bulkheads' nos. 43 and 45.
The museum set comprises 'Toastrack' no.12, 'Double-decker' no.18, 'Sunshade' no.32 and 'Bulkhead' Royal Tram no.44.
The oldest surviving tramcar bought new for the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway is 'Toastrack' no. 11, built in 1886 by the Starbuck Car & Wagon Co of Birkenhead. It is currently stored at the Jurby Transport Museum and is in poor condition.
Surviving double-deckers nos. 14 and 18 were both acquired second hand in 1887, but actually were built in 1883 and therefore are the oldest two tramcars. No.14 is on display in the Manx Museum and remains in near original form, whereas no.18 is still in service having been converted into a single deck saloon in 1903 and then back to a double-decker in 1988!
Winter Saloon car no. 1 is a later replacement of the 1876 original and dates from 1913, built by G.C. Milnes, Voss & Co of Birkenhead.
The youngest surviving tramcar, albeit in very poor condition, is a more 'modern' all-weather convertible no.49, which was built in 1935 by Vulcan Motor & Engineering Co of Southport. It is privately owned and currently stored in Ramsey.
All the other remaining tramcars are centenarians, built between 1888 and 1911, making them by far the largest and most historic collection of original horse-drawn tramcars in the world.
Since the Horse Tramway operation was taken over by the Isle of Man Government in 2016, it has completed the refurbishment of Double-decker no.18 and the full restorations of Sunshade no.36, Long Toastrack no.42, Bulkhead no.45, Saloon no.27 and Saloon no.29.
Historic Tramcar Listing...
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Know Your Tramcar Design!
We've been referencing a number of different tramcar types on the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway. The 'Winter Saloons' and open-top 'Double-Deckers' are clear to spot, but how to tell a 'Toastrack', 'Canvas Roof', 'Long Toastrack', 'Sunshade', 'Bulkhead' and 'Convertible'!