RMweb Gold papagolfjuliet Posted January 22, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 22, 2016 Just announced: http://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/end-of-the-line-for-the-horse-trams/ Evidently a wealthy and (ahem, allegedly) institutionally corrupt tax haven like the Isle of Man has to be extra specially careful with the ratepayers' money. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted January 22, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 22, 2016 Now that's a surprise and sad news. How they lose nearly half a million when they need minimal resources suggests a lot of other costs of the road etc are being dumped on the tramway. This certainly seemed to be the case when they looked at moving it over to widen the road. All the cost was dumped on the tramway rather than it being included in upgrading the highway and promenade! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Saunders Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 It is amazing what an good accountant can achieve just look at the Greek bid to join the Euro and Enron! Mark Saunders Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardbealach Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Sad to read about the closure of the Douglas Horse Trams - is there a final date yet of the last tram? Can't be much call for three foot gauge horse drawn trams in the preservation scene. How about moving it all over to Ireland and resurrecting the Fintona Tramway? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austrag Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Oh dear, I am pleased that five of us had a great time there last year. The twin boys had a great time riding along the tracks and got the card with all the horses name stamps and later got a certificate and hat from the tourist board. Although it cost a fortune in fares. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewartingram Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 I just hope that in the great preservation rush for the tramcars, the horses are not forgotten! Stewart Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhall Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 I have this horrible feeling 15th September last year... Jon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pendlerail Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/support-for-the-retention-of-the-douglas-bay-horse-tramway.htmlfor what it is worth, Douglas just won't be the same without them, looks like the cost of moving the tracks off the road is one cost too far? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgeconna Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 What a Disgrace. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium New Haven Neil Posted January 22, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 22, 2016 Indeed. Local opinion is sharply divided, 50/50. Oh, and we are not any more corrupt than the UK, and are not a tax haven, despite what that woman said the other night - funnily enough she failed to be elected as an MHK (MP) a few months ago...I wonder why.....Mec Vannin member, sort of the Manx National Front - nutters mostly. Sorry politics, I'm off...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austrag Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 Please sign the petition, you won't miss it until it has gone for ever. http://www.gopetitio...se-tramway.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold mikes rail Posted January 23, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 23, 2016 The cost of moving the track is down to government as part of rebuild of sea front road way there has been a mixed reaction to their plans on this, trams are run by local council not government. I do think it's a bit odd that having stated that they will run in 2016 only a few weeks back they now scrap them. A bit of politics may be behind some of this as not all the plan for the sea front rebuild was liked by Douglas council also they could be trying to push government into paying towards running costs as the"we should not pay for thing used by others on the island" is a regular theme of theirs. As Neil said its 50/50 on keep or scrap trams with locals. I do think it's a shame to see them go and from the tourist point it's one of the first things they see coming of the boat. One problem has been the high cost of fares "for length of journey " does put people of using it at times Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Legend Posted January 23, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 23, 2016 I would have thought its Douglass one distinct and identifiable feature. To do away with it seems folly . However I suppose tourists no longer visit in their droves and the island has moved on as tax haven and finance centre. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dava Posted January 23, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 23, 2016 Big mistake and sad loss to scrap this unique & historic service. The covered trams in particular are very historic examples. Always enjoyed visiting the stables & tramway tavern for a pint before riding the wonderful MER. Clip clop! Dava Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacific231G Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 Horses aren't cheap to operate but I can't believe the horse trams cost more to run than the Volks Railway in Brighton with all the electrical and mechanical maintenance that requires. Was there any attempt to find an alternative commercial or community operator? The way the council announced it did rather sound like they'd already made up their minds and then came up with the justification (bit like a lot of the Beeching closures) and I did wonder if this piece of heritage simply doesn't fit some ghastly image they've got of "The Future Douglas"? I have signed the petition Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim H Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 My gut feeling is that it's in the way of somebody's lucrative property deal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pendlerail Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 My gut feeling is that it's in the way of somebody's lucrative property deal. The problem is that it runs down a very busy road, and the plans to move it onto the promenade are probably expensive better to just scrap it now and not bother moving it. unless someone has plans for the depot or stables as well Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim H Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 Is that road really any busier than it was ten, twenty or thirty years ago? Still think a property developer has plans for the stables and depot sites, and this is the real reason. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pendlerail Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 Maybe not busier but the elf and safety brigade not liking pax getting off in the middle of the Rd, we did it last year and it was quite frightening at times Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium New Haven Neil Posted January 23, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 23, 2016 Oh yes it is busier! I'm sure the Strathallan stables/depot/suite will go to make way for yet more crap 'apratments', such is Douglas now. I could see the writing on the wall the moment the first proposals for the Prom rebuild came out. Douglas corpy have wanted rid of them for years, and the Government won't pay for them. Alan Bell would lose too much face with an election this September...oops politics, sorry. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold mikes rail Posted January 23, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 23, 2016 Dispite the location of the track been down the middle of the road no one has been run down if anything the trams help control the speed of the traffic. As for the stables "prime development site" is no doubt on certain people's minds as Neil said more crap apartments which I am sure half of will end up been rented by? Better not say any more or the mods will be knocking at the door! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim H Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 I presume they will start ripping up the tracks as soon as they possibly can to prevent the decision being reversed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium New Haven Neil Posted January 23, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 23, 2016 I had to laugh when someone was on the radio at lunchtime on Friday saying that it was dangerous for people to be getting on and off the trams in the middle of the road - yet the first scheme for the prom had no traffic control at all and drivers were supposed to just allow folk to walk across the road and 'respect' pedestrians. Modern planning? Don't make me laugh. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgeconna Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Singed the petition and Also E mailed Mr Christian expressing my disgust and wiping out this Venerable way of Transport after 140 odd years. I make use of the Horse Trams on the occasions I visited the Island, In fact it was one of the reasons that we visited. I was always impress by the way the Island has looked after its heritage (well for the most part) when compared to Ireland but this decision is beyond it really. Lets face it the IOM is not sitting in the MED and needs all the Attractions it has at the moment. Maybe an Banking interpretative center were the stables are, That would be a good draw eh If I ever go again I will look forward to the traffic speeding up and down the prom road. should be good fun or perhaps just stay away from Douglas altogether Heres David Christians email addy: Cllr.DChristian@douglas.gov.im Cheers George Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 Shades of the roadside tramway between Swansea and Mumbles- once these things have gone, in most cases, they're impossible to bring back, as the revival wouldn't have the grandfather rights and would have to conform to the latest exigensies. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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