Milnes Ratchet Cars 14, 15, 17, 18

The Ratchet cars were often used on works duties during the Winter. Here 14 is seen at Dreemskerry in the company of the MER's Tower Waggon, stabled on the former siding which once served the quarry, which was lifted in the 1980's. 14's controllers are sheeted to protect them from the elements. Photo : R. Dodge

Laxey Car Sheds has recently been cleared of all 7 of the long disused Ratchet Cars, some of which have been stored out of service there for almost 35 years. With the exception of Car 30 which has been transfered to Ramsey Depot for further storage, all other cars have been towed to Douglas for onward transportation to the former Homefield Bus Works. The future Laxey Sheds is shrouded in doubt due to it's structural condition and more than likely faces demolition. Car 14 last saw passenger service in the late 1970s and has been stored unserviceable since 1982 following a spell on Poles & Wires duties. Car 14 was towed to Derby Castle works on 29th April 2002 and is shown here stored in the Top Sheds prior to transfer to Homefield. 14 suffered damage to it's Douglas end dash panel in 1997 when it was hit by sister car 17 during the shunting of withdrawn stock at Laxey Car Sheds. Photo: R. Dodge

Cars 15 and 30 pictured during a period of outside storage on Laxey Car Sheds headshunt on 29th October 1997. Neither car has turned a wheel in passenger service since the 1970s (Photo A. Spencer)

Car 15 is shown here in Derby Castle Yard during May 2002 following it's transfer from storage at Laxey Car Sheds. Shortly after this photo was taken, 15 was taken by low loader for further storage at the former Homefield Bus Works. After withdrawal from passenger service, 15 was often to be seen on the Groudle Siding at Derby Castle Station in use as a mobile advertising hoarding for the M.E.R. Photo: R.Dodge.

Car 17 running single motor at Onchan Head, heading for Groudle on a journey from Derby Castle in the Summer of 1966. Photo: A.D.Packer

Car 18 was the last of the 14-18 batch to remain serviceable, currently it is stored out of use at Laxey Car Sheds. 18 is shown here at Ramsey Shed, unusual territorry for a Ratchet Car as trips North of Laxey by this class were and still are very rare. (Photo A. Spencer)

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