This page details the rolling stock on the Manx Electric Railway on the Isle of Man, which is unique insofar as the railway still operates with its original tramcars and trailers, all of which are over one hundred years old, the latest dating from 1906. Save for a fire in 1930 in which four cars and seven trailers were lost,Between the Wars 1920s-1930sManx Electric Railway Online all of the line's original rolling stock remains extant, though many items have been out of use for a number of years, largely due to the decrease in tourism on the island over the last thirty years. Despite this, members of each class are still represented on site today, though not all are in original form or in regular use.
Motors
A total of 33 motor cars were provided to the railway from its inception in 1893 (the last was delivered in 1906), and most of these survive today except where noted below. These tramcars are in a variety of styles, ranging from closed saloons to open toastracks, and were delivered in batches from various manufacturers. Today the serviceable fleet appear in a variety of historical livery styles. There are presently a total of fourteen working cars. Notable among these are their original two, which hold the Guinness World Record as the oldest operational tramcars still in regular use on their original line. Also of note are Winter Saloon No. 22, which was rebuilt after a fire in 1991, and works car No. 34, which began life as a replica works vehicle for the Snaefell Mountain Railway. Key:In ServiceIn StorageUndergoing RebuildScrapped No.YearBuilderTypeLiverySeatsNotes11893G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Unvestibuled SaloonMaroon & Ivory34Original Colourscheme21893G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Unvestibuled SaloonMaroon & Ivory34Original Colourscheme31893G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Unvestibuled SaloonRed, White & Teak34Lost, Laxey Shed Fire 193041894G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Tunnel CarRed, White & Teak36Lost, Laxey Shed Fire 193051894G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Tunnel CarRed, White & Teak32Early 1970s Livery61894G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Tunnel Car~36Undergoing bodywork overhaul71894G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Tunnel Car Blue, White & Teak32"Original" Livery Scheme81894G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Tunnel CarRed, White & Teak36Lost, Laxey Shed Fire 193091894G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Tunnel CarRed, White & Teak36Repainted 2023/4101895G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Vestibuled SaloonFreight Grey48Used for special trips111895G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Vestibuled SaloonBlue, Teak & Grey~Scrapped in 1926121895G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Vestibuled SaloonBlue, Teak & Grey~Scrapped in 1927131895G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Vestibuled SaloonFreight Grey~Scrapped in 1957141898G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchMaroon & White56Used for special events151898G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchRed & White56Stored, partly stripped161898G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchRed & White56Used in summer and special events171898G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchRed & White56Stored, heavily stripped181898G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchRed & White56Stored, unmaintained191899G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Closed SaloonCream & Teak48Rarely out of traffic201899G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Closed SaloonRed, White & Teak48Part of general running fleet Car No.20Manx Electric Railway Online 211899G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Closed SaloonRed, White & Teak48Regularly runs 10,000+ miles per year221899G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Closed SaloonRed, White & Teak48Used throughout the year231900I.o.M.T. & E.P. Co.Centre-Cab LocomotiveGreen & Freight Grey24Stored in Laxey Car Shed241898G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open PaddleboxRed, White & Teak56Lost, Laxey Shed Fire 1930251898G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open PaddleboxWhite Undercoat56Stored, Laxey Car Sheds261898G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open PaddleboxRed & White56Stored, Laxey Car Shed271898G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open PaddleboxRed & White with Wasp Stripes36Stored, Laxey Car Shed281904E.R.T.C. Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchRed & White56Stored, Laxey Car Shed291904E.R.T.C. Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchRed & White56Undergoing restoration301904E.R.T.C. Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchRed & White56Stored, Laxey Car Shed311904E.R.T.C. Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchRed & White56Stored, Laxey Car Sheds321906United Electric Car Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchNationalised Green56Part of general running fleet331906United Electric Car Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchMaroon & White56Undergoing overhaul34*1994/5Manx Electric RailwayWorks Car (Two Cabs/Open Wagon)GreyN/ADepartmental use only,Locomotive No.34Manx Electric Railway Online in regular use*No.7 as of 2025
Trailers
The ages of the trailer cars are similar to the power cars: they were delivered in batches between 1893 and 1903, with further examples in 1930 replacing stock lost in the shed fire at Laxey that year. The majority of the trailers are of the toastrack style, and there are four saloons (one of which is a rebuilt toastrack converted for disabled access passengers)Trailer No.56Manx electric railway. A total of twenty-one of these trailers are available and in regular use, each carrying a variety of livery styles to match their power cars when possible. Some have had their bodies removed for departmental use over the yearsTrailer No.45Manx electric railway Trailer No.52 Manx electric railway, while others have been restored to their original condition, carrying original fleet numbers where full restorations have been completed: for instance No.36 now carries the original No.19 number complete with curtains. Early examples were not provided with a roof when built, but roofs were quickly added, as they proved to be practical necessities. Key:In ServiceIn StorageUndergoing RebuildScrapped No.YearBuilderTypeLiverySeatsNotes341894G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open 'Lightweight'Red & Brown44Lost, Laxey Shed Fire 1930351894G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open 'Lightweight'Red & Brown44Lost, Laxey Shed Fire 193036*1894G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open 'Lightweight'Maroon & Teak44*Currently serves as Trailer No.19371894G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open 'Lightweight'Red & White44Overhauled in 2019381894G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open 'Lightweight'Red & Brown44Lost, Laxey Shed Fire 1930391894G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open 'Lightweight'Red & Brown44Lost, Laxey Shed Fire 1930401930G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchRed, White & Teak44Replacement for fire victim411930G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchRed, White & Teak44 Replacement for fire victim421903G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchIvory, White & Teak44Part of the general service fleet431903G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchRed, White & Teak44Less favourable due to heavier weightMER Car No.43 Manx Electric Railway Online441930English Electric Co.Open CrossbenchRed, White & Teak44Replacement for fire victim451899G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Stripped Down to Flatbed WagonYellow & BlackN/AScrapped in 2021 Trailer No.45 Manx Electric Railway Online461899G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open Crossbench~44Undergoing restoration471899G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchRed, White & Teak44Returned to service in March 2025481899G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchRed, White & Teak44Returned to service in March 2025491893G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open 'Lightweight'Maroon & Cream44Returned to service in 2019501893G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open 'Lightweight'Nationalised Green & White44Returned to service in 2025511893G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open 'Lightweight'Maroon & Teak44Occasional appearances, though regularly at enthusiast events521898G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Flatbed with scissor liftYellow & BlackN/AUsed for overhead line maintenance531893G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open 'Lightweight'Red, White & Teak44Stored, Derby Castle Car Shed541893G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open 'Lightweight'Red & White44Returned to service in 2019551904E.R.T.C. Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchRed, White & Teak44Stored, Derby Castle Bottom Shed561904E.R.T.C. Co., Ltd.Multi-SaloonRed, White & Teak12Varying with wheelchair passengers.Disabled access trailer571904United Electric Car Co., Ltd.Closed SaloonRed, White & Teak32Repainted in 2019581904United Electric Car Co., Ltd.Closed SaloonRed, White & Teak32Full overhaul & repair in 2015, returned to traffic in 2016591895G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Enclosed 'Special Saloon'Blue & Ivory18In regular use601896G.F. Milnes & Co., Ltd.Open 'Lightweight'Red & White44Appears rarely or when additional capacity is required611906United Electric Car Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchRed, White & Teak44Overhauled in 2016/17621906United Electric Car Co., Ltd.Open CrossbenchNationalised Green44Livery matches Car No.32
Others
Bertie A contractors' locomotive used when relays were being undertaken. Since moved to UK.RMS Locotec – H048 ‘Bertie’ Manx Electric Railway Online
Bungle & Zippy Hired second-hand from Bord na Móna in 2008 and refurbished on-island for further use on the railway. Since returned to UK.Bord Na Móna – Bungle Manx Electric Railway Online Bord Na Móna – Zippy Manx Electric Railway Online
Bonner Wagons Road-rail dual purpose wagons dating from the earliest days of the line. None of these are extant today.Bonner Road Rail Wagons Manx Electric Railway Online
Aachen 1010 A Talbot/Kiepe bogie car from Aachen's series 1001-1011, built in 1956-1957 and retired in 1974. It was bought for use but never converted, and spent much of its life as a storage car at the railway's depot.Aachen No.1010 Manx Electric Railway Online
Lisbon 360 A Brill-Stephenson 1907 bogie car in Lisbon's unusual track gauge of , bought for conversion to Manx Electric Railway’s almost identical gauge. The conversion was never implemented due to clearance difficulties; it was used as a passenger waiting shelter for a spell; vehicle now in off-site storage on the island.“Lisbon No.360” Manx Electric Railway Online
Dreadnought Trailers Bogie open wagons with removable sides used for a variety of non-passenger purposes, but particularly associated with stone traffic from Dhoon Quarry, now all scrapped. General 12 ton capacity bogie vehicles. Wagon No.24 (1904)manx Electric Railway Online Wagon No.25 (1904) Manx Electric Railway Online
Four Wheel Goods Vehicles From 1894 onwards the Douglas and Laxey Electric Tramway and its successors operated a fleet of small four wheel goods wagons, mainly of 5 ton and 6 ton capacity. There were a total of ten opens and eight vans built by Milnes, Milnes Voss, and the MERCo between 1894 and 1912. Some of the vans were painted red and used for mail traffic.Wagons Manx Electric Railway Online
See also Heritage railways in the Isle of Man Transport on the Isle of Man Manx Electric Railway
References
da:Manx Electric Railway de:Manx Electric Railway fr:Chemin de fer électrique mannois sv:Manx elektriska järnväg