Although we are called the Manx Electric Railway Society, our brief extends to doing all we can to fight for all of the unique tramways of the Isle of Man including the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway which has miraculously survived since 1876 and comprises a double track route along the whole length of Douglas Promenades, stables and depot.

Last year Douglas Council decided to abandon the horse tramway and a department of the Isle of Man Government took it over. Our Society fought a campaign to save the line and the Manx Parliament, Tynwald voted to do just that.

Following an election in which the vast majority of the elected members had put themselves forward as being in favour of the horse tramway, a move is now afoot which will destroy the line; it is proposed to cut back the route and to abandon the unique tram sheds and stables.

The new proposals will destroy the horse tramway utterly, leaving a rump fleet to venture forth from time to time from a steel box at one end of the promenade as a "novelty ride" along an over-engineered modern light railway, terminating in a new "Cultural Quarter" of doubtful taste.

This must be stopped and the way to stop it is through planning opposition (the whole of the promenade is a Conservation Area) and through the courts. The Manx Electric Railway Society is a registered charity in the Isle of Man and asks you to send us money for the following purposes;

1. To fight planning applications which threaten the character of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway.

2. To engage in legal action in the Manx Courts (and beyond) to stop this horrible development.

3. (If we succeed) The balance of any funds raised through this site to be distributed for the restoration of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, its buildings and the trams that have run on it.

Only if we have the means to litigate this matter to the full will our opposition be taken seriously so please help us!