Why join the MERS?

  • Successfully campaigned for the reinstatement and re-opening of the Laxey – Ramsey section of the MER during 1975–77.
  • Successfully proposed and lobbied for the 1993 "Year of Railways", a series of events to mark the Centenary of the MER — a template for years to come.
  • Successfully stopped a new competing bus service, the 11B, "the biggest threat to the survival of the railway since the Ramsey line closure."
  • Successfully campaigned — including an online petition which attracted more than 2,000 signatures — for Tynwald to approve funding of the restoration of the Horse Tramway to the Sea Terminal. Tynwald's decision was later ignored by DoI officials who spent the money elsewhere. The campaign continues…
  • FULL access to 2000+ pages of Manx Transport material on the society website. Full members receive free copies of the 100+ page Society journal MANX TRANSPORT REVIEW.

Our Latest Print Publication

Manx Transport Review No.103 - Winter 2025/26

Full news roundup from the Manx Electric Railway, Douglas Horse Tramway, Snaefell Mountain Railway and other Island transport. Historical feature articles - Full Colour - 108 pages. Copies are distributed FREE to Full Members of the Manx Electric Railway Society upon publication – visit mers.org.im…

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View more of our printed publications

The MERS has a large back catalogue of publications dating back to 1973, covering all aspects of the Island's transport…

Membership Applications & Renewals


Full Annual Membership subscriptions (those paid by Cheque/Postal Order/Standing Order) became due for renewal on the 1st April 2026. Full and On-line subscriptions (paid via PayPal) fall due on the first and successive anniversaries of first joining the MERS. On-line payment for membership applications and renewals can be made via the links at the top of this page, or by Cheque/Postal Order/Standing Order by downloading a renewal form HERE. For all membership enquires and further information, please contact the MERS Membership Secretary at: [email protected]

Recently updated pages:

Manx Viking
Updated yesterday

Challenging the established Isle of Man Steam Packet on the Irish Sea during the late 1970's was the one ship operation of ManxLine - running between Douglas and Heysham, a port abandoned by Steam Packet a few years earlier. Significantly it also provided the Island with its first ro-ro service, wh…

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Newslines

Road, Rail, Sea and Air

Horse Tram 150 extra

Additional views of the Horse Tram 150 event. Some behind-the-scenes shots of events at Derby Castle on the occasion of the Horse Tram 150 event. For a full report of the event itself, see our previous article "Douglas Bay Horse Tramway celebrates 150 years." ABOVE: Station Master Davy Callister lo…

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NEWS…

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway celebrates 150 years

THE Douglas Bay Horse Tramway marked its 150th anniversary on Friday, 7th August. The anniversary celebration, took place just a week after another successful 'Manx Heritage Transport Festival' and less than four weeks since the historic visit by King Charles III. Events started at 10:00 with 'Meet…

50th Anniversary Day Friday, August 7, 2026

The Douglas Horse Tramway celebrates its official 150th Anniversary Day on Friday, August 7, 2026, featuring special celebratory cavalcades with double-decker tram no. 18, stable tours, live music, a birthday cake cutting ceremony, and family-friendly activities at Strathallan Tram Depot. The offic…

Horse Car Shop Returns to Douglas

Last surviving sunshade (aka 'umbrella') Car No. 22 of 1890 has been brought back to Douglas from the Jurby Transport Museum today in readiness for next week’s Heritage Transport Festival week. Meanwhile, Royal Tram No. 44 has been sent to Jurby as a replacement. Car 22 was spotted on the back of a…


TODAY's featured

PAGES

Cars 25 & 55 - Baldromma

From the vantage point of sister Paddlebox Car 26, 25 & Trailer 55 approach the signal controlled road crossing at Baldromma on a sunny 23rd July 1965. Both 25 & 55 carry white painted valance boards, a smart livery feature of this period. (Photo: C. Bond Collection)

Car 36 - Strathallan Depot

Rebuild complete, car 36 returned to use on the Horse Tramway at the start of the 2018. The car is pictured in the depot during April 2018. (Photo: M. Skehan)

Trailer 60 & Tunnel Car 6 - Derby Castle

To provide a matching trailer for green liveried Paddlebox Car 16, Trailer 60 was selected to undergo a repaint in 2000. As 60 retained a smart coat of genuine 1960s MER fleet livery, many argued that one of the one of the long term stored bulkhead trailers would have been a much more appropriate c…


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