On January 29, 2019, Isle of Man Post unveiled the third stamp issue in the "All Aboard, Please: Manx Buses" series.

The first and second issues of this series were created in 1999 and 2015, respectively. The stamps in the new series feature vintage buses from the Douglas Corporation and Road Services fleets, spanning from the 1950s to 1976, when the two bus companies were nationalized and merged under government control to form National Transport for the Isle of Man.

Richard Davies, a renowned author and historian who has published seven books on the history of the Isle of Man and its buses, played an active role in the project. When not researching, Richard Davies restores and exhibits his vintage buses at transport events in the UK and Ireland. English artist Peter Hearsey, known for his numerous paintings of vintage cars and motor racing, was commissioned to bring the idea to life. Hearsey worked on the first "All Aboard Please!" issue and was delighted to return to this theme.

The first two stamps in the series depict Leyland Titan PD2 and AEC Regent V double-decker buses, followed by AEC Reliance, Leyland Leopard, Leyland National, and Bedford YRQ single-decker buses—all of which transported islanders from the 1950s to the 1970s.

The 1.25 pound stamp, in addition to the comical yellow bus number 32, depicts a horse-drawn tram against the backdrop of the ornate Maritime Station building. This isn't the artist's imagination—it's a carriage from the famous horse-drawn tram in Douglas.

Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man, still has a single horse-drawn tram line, serving as public transportation for the city. The Douglas Horse Tramway is one of the city's most striking landmarks. It began operating in 1876 and continues to operate to this day, with the only period of non-operation occurring during World War II.

The single horse-drawn tram line is 1.6 miles (2.8 km) long. The tram line runs along the seafront promenade, from its southern terminus at Victoria Pier past the Sea Terminal to its northern terminus at Derby Castle.

The line's rolling stock consists of 23 carriages and 45 horses. To ease the workload of the horses, the carriages are equipped with roller bearings. Since 1927, the tram has operated only in the summer, from May to September. Most of the carriages are open, but there is also at least one closed carriage with an open upper deck.

The tram attracts many tourists, who can also visit the tram stables, which operates as a museum. A single tram ride ticket is included in the price of a visit to the stables.

The 2019 issue is far from the first to feature Douglas horse-drawn trams. In 1976, the Isle of Man Post issued a four-stamp series to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Douglas Horse Tramway; I'm sure collectors remember this series well. Horse-drawn trams also appeared on definitive stamp issues in 1973, 1975, 1988, and 1992.