A carriage which once ran on the island’s northern steam railway has returned to Douglas.

Manx Northern Railway coach number six, which became Isle of Man Railway coach number 45, was craned onto the tracks this week.

Held in private ownership, the carriage’s arrival was a surprise for railway enthusiasts.

The carriage, which has been stored in the north of the island along with a locomotive that is also privately owned, has been restored to its current condition.

Railway volunteer Mike Buttell told the Manx Independent the history of the carriage which was delivered new to the island in 1879.

Mr Buttell said it is a third-class carriage with guards/brake compartment that was built by Swansea Carriage and Wagon Company, which supplied all of the original MNR carriages for the opening of the line.

Restored privately to varnished teak finish as supplied new, this finish was quickly abandoned by the MNR for painted purple lake and off white as this was easier to keep presentable.

He added: ’One of only a handful of survivors, another coach body remains on island at Douglas Station while one is at the Southwold Railway and two more are part of the Rampton Trust Collection in the UK.

’The unusual six-wheel arrangement known as the "Cleminson" system, used three sets of independent trucks for the wheels. Passenger accommodation would have originally been bare wooden seats, lit in the evenings by oil lamps placed into holders through the roof.’

The carriage was moved with the assistance of Isle of Man Heavy Crane Services Ltd which picked it up onto a flatbed truck in the north of the island before travelling to Douglas and lowering it onto the rails.

While the carriage ran on IMR, it is unlikely to have often travelled to Douglas, but given its decades away from the line, the current station bares little resemblance to its last trip.

It is believed the carriage may be heading to the railway museum in Port Erin, although nothing has yet been confirmed.