MER[23] - Motor No.34

No.7 pronounced No.34 aka "Maria" - has an interesting history.

Built in 1994 as a replica of the 1895 works car [No.7] for the 3' 6" gauge Snaefell Mountain Railway, intended as a historical attraction during the SMR's centenary celebrations, it saw limited use and was stored in 1998.
The MER had been searching for a works car [to replace Car 27?] for some time, so it was agreed to take over No.7 - Maria was moved to Derby Castle in 2003, for rebuilding, including re-gauging to 3ft, re-numbering and installing the diesel generator to enable independent operation.
It is now painted in the departmental high-visibility yellow and red livery.

It is unlikely to ever return to its original line, but holds the distinction of having worked on all four of the government-owned rail- and tram-ways.
[ie It worked over the Steam Railway on some short-hop journeys in 2010.
In 2019 it was seconded to the Horse Tramway to assist in that line's rebuilding ...]

{details extracted from ... manxelectricrailway.co.uk/loco-no-34-1995

I saw her in the Derby Castle MER Depot in August 2023. Sadly, she wasn't in use ...