The Great Laxey Mine Railway has announced the gifting of two historically significant pieces of former Manx Electric Railway (MER) rolling stock.
They were gifted by the Three Foot Gauge Railway Society, previously known as the Isle of Man Railway Society.
MER locomotive number 23 and freight trailer 26, were originally acquired by the society in 1978 when Isle of Man Railways sought to dispose of them.
A GLMR spokesperson said: “The directors of the GLMR are delighted to be entrusted with the ownership of 23 and 26 and will ensure that the future of these unique trams is secured for generations yet to come.”
Distinctive
Locomotive 23, built in 1900, was damaged in an accident and rebuilt in 1925 as a distinctive centre-cab engine.
It last operated in 1944 before being preserved and restored for temporary use in 1983, 1984, and 1993—the MER’s centenary year. In 1992, it was named Dr R Preston Hendry in honour of the society’s late chairman.
Freight trailer 26, originally passenger tram 10 built in 1895, was converted in 1918 and ran until 1944. It was displayed in Ramsey’s former Railway Museum and featured in the MER’s 1993 centenary cavalcade.
Recently, volunteers from GLMR and Isle of Man Railways restored it for the 2023 Manx Heritage Transport Festival.
The GLMR has a strong record of restoring MER stock, including mail van 11 (1898) and trailer 50 (1893), the latter set to return to service at the July 2025 festival.
The GLMR, based at Laxey’s Valley Gardens, is operated entirely by volunteers under the Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust.
The society added: “We thank the directors of the Society for their consideration and generosity.”
Find out more about the railway and its operating hours here.
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