The Douglas Bay Horse Tramway

You're not a vegan by any chance are you? How do you let animals just live most of them will end up as someone's dinner so not so well off as the Douglas horses who I understand are retired to the care of an equine charity so I wouldn't lose any more sleep over their welfare. No I don't think it would be a good idea to extend the electric tramway.

 

As someone who lives on the Island, volunteers for IoM Heritage Railways and pays (via my taxes) to subsidise the Douglas Bay Tramway could I introduce, hopefully, some sanity into this debate.
The horses are bred and trained by the tramway operators. They are extremely well cared for, only do 3 round trips per day, in the season and, as there are far more horses than are required they have plenty of 'days off' even at busy times. If you care to actually visit the Island you will see that the horses are actually keen to work and the car's handbrake is kept 'on' at the terminus to prevent Dobbin setting off on his own but woe betide any driver who tries to go past the stables on the 3rd run - horses can count it appears. The cars are not heavy and run on roller bearings - it is possible to push one. At the end of their working lives the horse are retired to live out their natural lives.
As regards extending the MER over the horse tram tracks and despite what some of our politicians say - "it ain't ever going to happen"! It was proposed early in the 20th century before there was alternative transport and planning restrictions but was chucked out because the overhead wires would spoil the view of the Promenade. Why would we need it now, anyway? Certainly there is little potential commuter traffic anywhere along the MER as most of the commuters come from the South and West. The argument that it would somehow 'tie together' the MER and IMR falls down because the key attraction of the Heritage Railways is their originality - change it too much and you are likely to put off visitors (and locals) who use them for that very reason. Apart from anything else there is no money in the pot for it.
Just my 2p worth.
Ray.

 

I understood that there was/is a 'tramway horse' breeding programme to ensure a supply of suitable animals

 

Perhaps you could send details of this programme to Southern? I understand they are currently seeking a new generation of drivers.

 

As mentioned above, there should be a justifiable need. There are loads of cases where animals do great work for humans. But no need for them to be dragging heavy loads around in this day and age.

 

This is a forum isn't? A place where we exchange and debate opinions. I'm happy for anyone and everyone to disagree with me, but I can't accept that I'm a Troll simply for posting something that you think is nonsense.

 

No.

I don't know the answer to this. It needs a shift in thinking and the world isn't ready for it yet.

I'm not. I'm sure they're well looked after.

 

There is very little drag from a lightweight roller bearing fitted tramcar running on steel rails - as I stated earlier a single human can push one on the level so a fully grown Shire or Suffolk Punch weighing the best part of a tonne has no trouble. Once the car is rolling the traces are slack for much of the time. I respectfully suggest that you come and see for yourself before posting your emotive bilge.
Ray.

 

I was on the point of congratulating you for your previous sane response, then you go say that. I have visited, and ridden on, the horse tramway. It was very nice, and the horses seemed quite happy. I'm not accusing anyone of abuse.
Apologies for upsetting everyone with my bilge. I'll let you all get back to your back-slapping.

 

Always ready to give someone a good slap!!

Tim, I can see that you have some genuine concern for our fellow creatures that co-habit with us on this tiny planet, but, I'm not sure that you have spent any time with said equine animals. Horses, bless them, can be real "characters" - just like those dastardly Fuman Beens - some are boring, others can be quite boisterous and energetic, one thing is that they have feelings - just like us - and can get very attached to their owner/rider/keeper, they can even get bored and depressed!!. One thing I do know, is that they like to do things, whether it is being ridden, pulling freshly chopped logs or even tramway carriages; just like you, being active keeps them ALIVE and HAPPY!!

Get yourself down to your local stables and make some real pertinent observations of equine culture, you never know, you might just be taken for a ride...

Cheers,

Alan

 

With regard to Tim and Ray's posts having visited the island and seen the horse tramway in action, the horses hardly seem like "beasts of burden" they are trotting along the prom with very little load on the bridle/harness.
If I remember correctly then it only requires 9lb pull per ton to move a load on rails along level ground so the horses have at max a 27lb pull for a fully loaded tram, better than 12st plus, sat on their backs if they were being riden.

 

Tim, despite posting what I hoped was a rational reassurance that the tram horses were well looked after you posted "But no need for them to be dragging heavy loads around in this day and age" which was why you received the response you did. I admit I could have phrased it better. What I do not understand is that you now say that you have ridden on the horse trams and that the horses seemed quite happy - so what was the fuss all about? Rhetorical question.
Ray.

 

Ok, Ray, no offence intended or taken.

Ever since I first visited the IOM (in about 1966 I think) I always had this fantasy about linking the MER to the IOMSR, because the IOM is a place that you generally visit without your car, and a joined-up system is so much more attractive. It's a fantasy and nothing more. As you say, it's not going to happen anytime soon.

I fully appreciate that these horses are well looked after, and as Alan suggests, are quite fulfilled. I have seen too many other examples in my life of animals being cruelly exploited for the entertainment of human beings, and maybe this makes me uncomfortable when I don't need to be.

It's certainly good to have some reassuring responses from people who know horses.

 

Any further news?

 

It was debated in the Manx parliament yesterday (Tynwald) and the final decision appears to be a double track from Summerland to the war memorial/Seftom hotel and single track the rest of the way. I did not listen to the debate and the full report is not yet published so I do not know where they intend to run the single track. i.e. the middle or the side of the road.

Just because they lay the single track does not mean it will be used apart from the odd special occasion as the relevant department was pretty keen to only run between Summer land and the war memorial. That they may still happen. I presume they are also relaying so that the tracks could in future take electric trams as that again seems the pie in the sky dream.

Overall good news if you are a supporter of the horse trams as if the infrastructure is in place what this or a future Government decide it is always easy to run the whole length if they want to. Once the rails had gone I could not see they would ever be relaid

 

As in 2016 the Douglas horse trams will be operated by IoM Heritage Railways again this year and services will commence on Sat 8th April finishing on Sun. 5th Nov. although they will not operate every day in the 'shoulder season'. The really good news is that the tramway will still be operating over it's full length so please come and help grow the ridership even more than last year.
Ray.

 

A reasonably informative piece on BBC Countryfile this evening. Will post the link when it's over.

Cheers,

Alan

 

Manx Radio have, today, announced that Tynwald have approved the reconstruction of Douglas promenade and it will include the retention of double track for the entire route. Reconstruction is expected to commence in Sept 2018.
Don't forget that the 2017 Heritage Transport Festival is just a week away - there's still time to come over and join us!
Ray.

 

Hi Ray, I wondered if you could give us an update on the Horse trams? I understand there is a new depot now? What happened with the stables?

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

 

From the webcams, they seem to be still going, but keep on finding more ooo-nasties under the prom