Not a US operation, but a significant, and rather sudden, closure of this 140 year old seafront horse car service on the Isle of Man was announced yesterday....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe- ... n-35380961

It has come as a shock all round, but at least the cars themselves will all be preserved by the look of it.



The Isle of Man is situated in the Irish Sea betwen England and Ireland, just in case you can't place it on the map!
It's not part of the UK either, though the Queen is the Head of State. Despite being a "Tax Haven", the island appears to be having money problems at the moment, so it is hoped that these problems don't affect the Islands narrow gauge steam railway and the Douglas-Ramsey electric interurban as well.

Following an Emergency motion at the Islands Parliament, a Committee is to be set up to investigate the options........

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe- ... n-35411096

A US operation related to Isle of Man is the Star of India, the oldest operational merchant ship in the world. The iron-hulled ship, originally named Euterpe, was build in Ramsey. Isle of Man, in 1864. She is now home-ported at the Maritime Museum of San Diego.

Looks like things might be happening to save the operation...

http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/new ... more-13748

Will be interesting to see how this develops, but, as it states in the piece linked to above - why didn't sensible discussions take place before the Town Council made the announcement about closure a week ago?