2026 Manx Heritage Transport Festival
2026 Manx Heritage Transport Festival
Tuesday 28th July : Heritage Bus From Douglas
1949-built Leyland Titan PD2 carrying its Isle of Man Road Services livery will operate between Douglas Station and Derby Castle via the South Quay and promenades throughout the day with the first departure at 8.10am heading to Derby Castle electric railway in time for a parallel run. The bus will depart from Douglas Station at fifteen minutes past the hour from 10.15am to 3.15pm with the first departure from Derby Castle at 10.40am then at forty past the hour until 3.40pm. Request stops at designated bus stops along the route are permitted for pick up and drop off. Standard bus fares apply on shuttle services throughout the day. Go Explore cards not accepted, and concessionary travel will only apply to children aged 5-15 (children under four travel free with full fare-paying adults. Go Silver card holders will receive half fares. Go Saver bus cards may also be used on all heritage bus shuttles and services throughout the festival.
Wednesday 29th July : Supporters’ Association Headboards
Stalwart member of the premier preservation group on the island, David Archer has kindly supplied this year’s selection of commemorative headboards to the Supporters’ Association as part of their sixtieth anniversary celebrations. This year we will include specially commissioned headboards in memory of former operations manager Graham Warhurst, long-time secretary and chairman Tony Beard, board member Alastair Lamberton and former president of the group and railway manager Max Crookall. The new headboards will feature on service trains throughout the day with the standard “R” timetable in place as advertised. Standard train fares will apply and Go cards accepted.
Wednesday 29th July : Supporters’ Diamond Jubilee Train
Taking members and friends old and new to our own Annual General Meeting which will be held in the Railway Museum adjacent to Port Erin Station for the first time ever, the train will make its departure from Douglas Station at 7.00pm and return from Port Erin Station at 9.30pm and will be staffed voluntarily by members with a price of £20.00, all funds from which will go towards our ongoing restoration of vintage carriage F.6, updtes on this will be given during the meeting. Everyone is welcome and those wishing to reserve seats should email The Secretary in advance, or payment can be made on arrival for the train. Please visit www.iomsrsa.org for full details of this extra special train, which may be travelled on without attending their meeting.
Thursday 30th July : Saloons In Traffic
Normally exclusively reserved for the ever popular dining train excursions, today the Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co., saloons dating from 1905 will be in regular traffic on special timetabled services. These will be departing Douglas Station for Port Erin at 10.25am on a special train. At 11.50am the train will depart Port Erin as far as Castletown Station, returning from there back to Port Erin at 1.00pm. The final journey for the saloons will depart Port Erin at 2.45pm back to the capital. As ever, standard train fares will apply with Go Explore cards accepted but these will incur a £5.00 surcharge payable on the day. Once purchased this will cover travel on the saloon carriages throughout the day.
Thursday 30th July :Closed Lines Bus Tour (North Line)
Our bus, which will be one of the latest additions to the fleet (No.316) painted in Isle of Man Road Services livery leaves Douglas Station at 9.30am with a commentary along the way. Highlights include the Ballaugh Station goods shed and Sulby Glen Station. Guides from the railway volunteers will accompany the tour. Meet at Douglas Station at 9.15am and returns by 4.30pm. This tour includes several walking sections that will not be suitable to those with limited mobility. A packed lunch is advisable. £30.00. To book online visit www.rail.im or call the Welcome Centre on +44 (0) 1624 662525.
Thursday 30th July : Project Display At Port Erin
Representatives of the Supporters’ Association will be on hand and hosting a display the various items of rolling stock that they have been involved in restoring over the last few years. The display will include previous major projects including cosmetically restored No.5 Mona in spring green, No.6 Peveril in post-war red and No.9 Douglas in the original dark green livery. Also freight stock including van G.1, wagons H.1 and M.78 and much more. On display from 10.00am until 4.00pm. Everyone is welcome.
Thursday 30th July : Transport Festival Pie & Mash
Friday 31st July :Dining Train With Quiz Night
Saturday 1st August : Summertime Gala Dining Train
Departs Douglas 7.00pm to Castletown Station and returns to Douglas Station by 10.30pm at the latest; tickets can be booked via e-mail to Anne Fargher on steamdining@gov.im or call her on +44 (0) 1624 697457 during the usual hours, if busy please leave a message
Sunday 2nd August :Double Header Day
A selection of double-headed and banked trains will be in service, the first being the 9.50am departure from Douglas Station where two locomotives will double head as far as Castletown Station to commence the day. The second locomotive be detached at Castletown Station and will join the rear of the 10.27am departure back to the capital as a banked train. The 11.50am from Douglas Station will operate as a second double header, all the way through to Port Erin Station. The final (4.00pm) departure from Port Erin to Douglas will also be a banked train. The day will present numerous photographic opportunities with many combinations. Standard train fares apply. Go cards accepted.
Sunday 2nd August : Workshop & Signal Box Open
Member of the Supporters’ Association will be offering guided tours of the workshops, steam sheds and signal box to enable visitors to get a glimpse behind the scenes to see how the islands unique railways are maintained. Tours start: 10.00am, 12.00pm, 2.00pm and 4.00pm (fifteen persons per tour). Please wait at Douglas Station for your tour to start. A guide will come to collect you. £12.00 each. to book online visit www.rail.im or call the Welcome Centre on +44(1) 624 662525.
Throughout The Week : Foxdale Branch 140th Anniversary
Foxdale Coach F.39 will feature on service trains throughout the week; this carriage was delivered to the Manx Northern Railway in 1886 from Oldbury Carriage & Wagon Co., and originally numbered M.N.Ry. No.17. Standard train fares apply. Go Travel cards accepted
Newly restored carriage F.37 will feature on service trains throughout the week. Delivered to the Manx Northern Railway in 1899 from Hurst-Nelson of Motherwell and numbered M.N.Ry No.16. Standard train fares apply. Go Travel cards accepted