| CURRENT STATUS AND LOCATION | YEAR LAST OPERATED | LIVERY |
| In Service | In Service | D&LCET Maroon/Ivory |
History:
Car No.1 was the first item of rolling stock supplied by G.F Milnes in 1893 for the Douglas and Laxey Coast Electric Tramway, entering service during September of that year. After performing regular duties for the next decade, it was re-equipped with more updated equipment as part of the fleetwide programme, with air braking fitted along with better riding bogies in July 1903.
Repainted in the full ‘The Manx Electric Railway Co Ltd’ company livery, No.1 performed as part of the active fleet until regular deployment with the Permanent Way department in the 1940s, whereupon it received a utility Maroon and White livery. From then on, No.1 spent most of the calendar year with the Permanent Way Department, returning to passenger service during the Summer as required!
The car received the short lived Nationalised Green livery in 1958, quickly reverting to the previously carried un-lettered Red and Teak in Summer 1961. In 1970, the car was further modified for it’s regular off-season duties, with the fitting of end windscreens, to better protect the motorman during the harsher weather.
In Winter 1978 No.1 was given a reprieve, and was withdrawn for a full overhaul. It re-debuted in May 1979 for the Centenary of Electric Traction/Millennium of Tynwald Celebrations, in Douglas & Laxey Coast Electric Tramway Maroon and Cream, which was an approximation of the original livery carried. It carried variations of this paintwork until August 2004, where it was repainted into the more conventional fleet livery of Red. White and Teak, but still with the Douglas and Laxey lettering.
In October 2010, No.1 was withdrawn from service and underwent a full overhaul to it’s trucks at Derby Castle Car Sheds, which took place during the Autumn/Winter of 2011. During June 2012, it carried the Olympic Torch from Derby Castle to Laxey as part of the Manx Olympic Torch procession.
For the 2022 season, No.1 was returned to its original 1893 colourscheme to match Car 2, which had been repainted the previous year. The pioneer car of the M.E.R is now a common sight for enthusiast specials and occassionally timetabled service during the summer.
The car holds a place in the Guinness Book of Records as being the Oldest Operational Electric Tramcar in the World, still operating on it’s original line.
Click or Tap Below for Further Info:
Technical Data
Built: G.F Milnes, Birkenhead
Delivered to M.E.R: Spring 1893
Length: 34’9″ (10.59m)
Width: 6’6″ (1.98m)
Height: 11’0″ (3.35m)
Conductors:
1893-1898: Bow Collectors
1898-Current: Trolley Pole
Trucks:
1893 – July/August 1903: Milnes Series 3 (Milnes Frames)July/August 1903 – Current: Brush Type ‘D’ (Repainted Red Spring 1979-July 2004)
2011-Current: Brush Type ‘D’ Nos 984 and 991
Traction Motors:
1893 – July/August 1903: 2x Mather and Platt 25hp
1902 – Current: 4 x SEHC (Societe l’Electricite et l’Hydraulique) 25hp
Controllers:
1893 – July/August 1903: Mather and Platt
July/August 1903 – October 1947: General Electric K11 units
October 1947 – Current: General Electric K12 units
Braking:
1893-July/August 1903 – Handbrake only
July/August 1903 – Air Braking
Application Valves:
1893-July/August 1903: None
July/August 1903-1950s: Christensen
1950s-Current: Westinghouse No.7
Motor Compressor:
1893-July/August 1903: None
July/August 1903-1959: Christensen
1959 – Current: Maley and Taunton (ex-Sheffield City Transport)
Automatic Governor:
1893-July/August 1903: None
July/August 1903-1950s: Christensen
1950s-Current: Maley and Taunton Ltd, Wolverhampton
Cylinder:
1893-July/August 1903: None
July/August 1903-1950s: Christensen
1950s-Current: Westinghouse
Seating Style:
1893-Current: Longitudinal wooden benches
Seating Capacity:
1893-Current: 34
Exterior:
Winter/Spring 1969, 1970-1978: Fitted with End Windscreens for use in Winter
September-November 2013: Fitted with ‘120 Years of the M.E.R’ plaques on north-end platform door
Overhauls/Attention:
1936
1978-1979
Autumn 2011-Spring 2012
Winter 2015/16: Suspension repairs on Ramsey-end Truck, partial repaint
Liveries/Repaints:
| Dates Carried | Livery | Notes | Image |
| 1893-1903 | Red/Blue/Teak with Blue ‘Douglas & Laxey Coast Electric Tramway.’ lettering | ||
| 1903-1944 | Red/White/Teak with ‘The Manx Electric Railway Co. Ltd.’ lettering. | Repainted 1925, 1931 |  |
| 1944-1958 | Red/White/Teak with no lettering. |  | |
| 1958-Summer 1961 | Green/White with ‘Manx Electric Railway.’ lettering. |  | |
| Summer 1961-Winter 1978 | Red/White/Teak with no lettering. |  | |
| Winter 1978-Winter 1992 | Maroon/Cream/Teak with ‘Douglas & Laxey Coast Electric Tramway.’ lettering. |  | |
| Winter 1992-Summer 2004 | Maroon/Cream/Teak with ‘Douglas & Laxey Coast Electric Tramway.’ lettering. | Repainted Winter 1995/96 |  |
| Summer 2004-Current | Red/White/Teak with ‘Douglas & Laxey Coast Electric Tramway.’ lettering. |  |
Additional Information:
Manx Electric Railway Online 