Manx Electric Cars 4-9

This article details '''Car Nos. 4–9''' of the Manx Electric Railway on the Isle of Man.



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

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.