More passengers on board the runaway tram have given their account of the terrifying descent from the mountain.

Manx-born Victoria Smith, who now lives in Oxfordshire, was with her husband Lee and four-year-old son Cameron when the drama unfurled.

She said: ’Shortly after leaving the top of the mountain the carriage appeared to be gaining in speed. My husband asked me whether the tram was supposed to be going this fast.

’The carriage was accelerating and rattling around on the track. It soon became apparent that the tram was unable to slow down. I turned to look at the brakesman who, along with another person, was trying to engage some sort of brake.

’At this point there was a lady and girl who were crying, and people were becoming increasingly anxious and scared. I scooped my son into my arms and told my husband to "not dare let me go".

’At this point we hurtled across the road at the Bungalow, luckily with nothing on the road. I couldn’t guess what speed we were going but it would have been fatal if there had been any oncoming traffic.

’A short descent further and we came to a stop, just before the right hand bend down the mountain. We realised at this point in another few feet we would have derailed.’

Mrs Smith believes that the emergency brake procedure was ’futile’ and it was only because electric power was restored that they were able to stop before a disaster occurred.

She said: ’There was a point that I thought if I cocooned my son in my arms he might survive. I can honestly state that this was the most terrifying experience.

’The driver appeared from the front of the tram physically shaking, out of breath and visibly scared. He said, "I’m so sorry, I don’t know what happened there. It lost power, is everyone all right?" The passengers cheered and clapped with sheer relief.’

Graham Long, of York, was with his 95-year-old father on the tram.

He believes the tram came perilously close derailing with very significant loss of life.

Mr Long has written to public transport director Ian Longworth calling for services to be suspended until the reasons for the incident have been established.

He said: ’There was nearly a catastrophic accident. In my view there needs to be a full investigation and the service should be suspended until the full circumstances of the incident are clear.

’The tram began to pick up speed perhaps half way to Bungalow station. To be clear, this was not caused by a momentary loss of power as the tram continued to pick up speed.

’The emergency braking system either was not applied or failed above Bungalow station - at best there may have been a reduced rate of acceleration; there was certainly no deceleration at this stage.

’It is also not the case that the absence of the central rail across the mountain road was the cause of the tram picking up speed - whilst it did continue to accelerate, it was already going alarmingly fast before the road.

’By the time the tram failed to stop at the station and shot across the road it was completely out of control and shaking from side to side. At this point the guard shouted "brace, brace".

’It was only below the road that the tram eventually began to slow and was brought to a halt.’

Mr Long said the passengers were only saved through the joint efforts of the guard and a passenger who happened to be travelling with the guard because the tram was full.

’It may be the case that one person would not have been able to hold the brake given the speed that had been reached,’ he added.

’When we stopped the shocked and visibly shaken driver emerged and told us that both the motor and brakes had failed and that he had never known it happen before. He apologised and appealed for calm.’

American Dianne Polaski, who now lives in Germany, believes she may be suffering from post traumatic stress following the ordeal. She was travelling alone on the tram.

Dianne, who is retired after working for the US Army in Germany for 20 years, said: ’I was thinking if we had died what a mess it would have been for authorities trying to figure out where I was staying on the Isle of Man, where I came from, next of kin, etc.’

She added: ’It was a very terrifying experience. We were jostled about with great force and all we could do was hold on to the back of the seat in front of us. I was thinking it was like an airplane going down. There was nothing we could do.

’I’m surprised that no one was seriously hurt. Talking with others who were also on the tram, we all thought we could have died - gone off the track and rolled.

’The tram was totally full and there were children and a couple of dogs on board. It could easily have been the end for all of us.’