Owners and operators of heritage and modern coaches, buses and other commercial vehicles from the UK and Ireland have been invited to the Manx Heritage Transport Festival on the Isle of Man, which will be held between Tuesday 28 July and Sunday 2 August.
Organisers at the island’s transport operators Bus Vannin and Isle of Man Railways note how this year’s Manx Heritage Transport Festival will capture celebrations of 50 years since nationalisation of buses there, and 150 years of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway.
Bus-centred events will be prominent in addition to rail-based gatherings. The former will include a cavalcade of vehicles along Douglas promenade on the Saturday. Bus Vannin Director Ian Bates underlines how the six-day festival will have a significant bus element and that visitors with vehicles are welcome for any part of its duration.
At least one UK-based heritage bus is already committed, with 13 travellers to spread costs. For others that attend, there is scope for negotiation on possible favourable rates for ferry bookings.
On the Friday evening, the 50th anniversary of nationalised bus services will be celebrated at Jurby Transport Museum. That will see various activities and a parade of buses onto the airfield there for photographic opportunities.
Among those will be a pair of Wrightbus StreetDecks recently delivered to Bus Vannin that are in heritage liveries. One is in Douglas Corporation yellow and the other in Isle of Man Road Services red and cream (pictured). The StreetDecks will be among buses operating a pair of feeder services from Douglas for ticket holders.
Visiting vehicles are encouraged to join the Saturday cavalcade along Douglas promenade, which will run from Derby Castle to the War Memorial. A display will then be held in Douglas. On the Sunday, a vintage transport running day will be held at Jurby Transport Museum.
Mr Bates adds that visiting vehicles will be able to park securely on the island and make use of washing facilities as required courtesy of Bus Vannin. Mechanical support will also be available should it be needed. He adds that in addition to the published programme, other unadvertised surprises may be seen over the duration of the festival.
For more information, including on scope for preferential ferry rates, contact Liam Edwards via email.
