Douglas Bay Horse Tramway 2024

It is the oldest surviving Horse Tramway in Britain, and the only one to have operated continuously since its opening on 7th August 1876 with the exception of WW2, making it over 140 years of service. The tram fleet is made up of 26 tramcars. The 3ft gauge double track extends the full length of Douglas Promenade, a distance of 1.625 miles.

Contacts

Operator: Isle of Man Heritage Railways

Address: Strathallan Crescent Douglas Isle of Man IM2 4NR

  • Telephone: 01624 662 525
  • Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
  • Website: View website

Open Days & Times

Daily 28 Mar-14 Apr, 22 May-9 Jun. Wed-Sun & BHol 17 Apr-3 Nov. Also Tue 30 Jul-3 Sep. Visit website for more details.

Facilities

  • Souvenir Shop

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Discover more about the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, running along the seafront in Douglas, on the Isle of Man.

The horse trams are an iconic part of the of the Isle of Man. Started in 1876 by Thomas Lightfoot to take advantage of the booming tourist trade, the 3ft gauge horse tramway runs from the main depot at Derby Castle, along the Promenade to the Sea Terminal. The trams run and are operated by Isle of Man Transport as part of their Heritage Railway offering.

Many of the original fleet of cars are still in use today, and it is a popular tourist attraction and tramway of important historic value. It is the oldest surviving Horse Tramway in Britain, and the only one to have operated continuously since its opening (with the exception of World War 2). In South Australia, a similar system also exists. There are also other smaller horse-drawn systems operating around the world.

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