The Douglas Bay Tramway

The horse trams are a common sight on the promenade during the summer months. Started in 1876 by Thomas Lightfoot to take advantage of the booming tourist trade, the 3ft gauge tramway today is owned and operated by Douglas Corporation. It runs from the main depot at Derby Castle, along the Promenade to the Sea Terminal. The trams run daily from mid - May until the end of September, with many of the original fleet of cars still in use today, and 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 II). In South Australia, a similar system also exists. There are also other smaller horse drawn systems operating around the world. For more information