A passing place on the Volks Electric Railway, Brighton in the 1930s
Volk's Electric Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway that runs along a length of the seafront of the English seaside resort of Brighton. It was built by Magnus Volk, the first section being completed in August 1883, and is the oldest operating electric railway in the world. In 1883 Magnus Volk opened a short, 2 ft (610 mm) electric railway running for 1⁄4 mile (402 m) between Swimming Arch (opposite the main entrance to Brighton Aquarium, and adjacent to the site of the future Palace Pier) and Chain Pier. Electrical power at 50 V DC was supplied to the small car using the two running rails. In 1884 the line was extended a further ½ mile beyond the Chain Pier to Paston Place (now known as Halfway), and regauged to 2 ft 8 1⁄2 in (825 mm). The electrical supply was increased to 160 V DC and the power plant was installed in the arch built into the cliff face at Paston Place. In 1886 an off-set third rail was added to minimise current leakage. In 1896 the unusual Brighton and Rottingdean Seashore Electric Railway was built by Volk. Due to problems concerning the construction of lengthened groynes to the east of Paston Place this fascinating railway closed in 1901, although it was not finally dismantled until 1910. Following the closure Volk's original electric railway was extended from Paston Place (today's Halfway) to Black Rock. Paston Place was also the home of Volk's Seaplane Station, which was used by Volk's son George Herbert Volk. In 1930 the line was cut back 200 yards from Palace Pier to its present terminus, still known as Aquarium. In 1935 a lido was built at Black Rock, and in the line was shortened by around 200 yards (183 m) to accommodate it. In 1937 a new Black Rock station was opened at the end of the shortened line.
Size: 3384px × 2247px
Location: Brighton, Sussex, UK
Photo credit: © Digbydachshund / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: brighton, electric, railway, seashore, transport, volks
