Brighton East Seafront: images on the beach (A)
Volk’s Electric Railway
James Gray: Volks Electric Railway car approaching the Chain Pier from the west. At the Aquarium Terminus the rails were at roughly pavement level, but 100 yards west of the Pier the line dropped at an incline of 1 in 14 to enable the cars to pass underneath. jgc_05_124
James Gray: The railway track, raised up on piles, is seen descending the slope to take the car underneath the Chain Pier. In its then early days the line was aptly described as the “over the sea” railway. Note the depth of the exposed sea wall before groyning built up the beach. Photograph taken about 1890. Additional Information: Advertisement for Mr Henry Clark’s Grand Variety Company at the Aquarium. jgc_05_142
James Gray: Two photographs of unknown dates, although this one was doubtless taken during the early 1890s, because of the slope down of Volk’s Railway to go under the Chain Pier. jgc_05_145
James Gray: Two photographs [jgc_05_142 and 143] giving the reverse view of the track to that seen in the previous photograph. Probably taken a few years later because an electric lamp is seen as well as the pavement gas lamp. jgc_05_143
James Gray: This photograph must be one of the last taken before the front and beach was wired off for most of the 1939-1945 War. The soldier was about to take a trip on Volk’s Railway in Spring 1940. jgc_05_162
James Gray: Enlarged photograph of the opening of Volk’s Electric Railway 4 August 1883. Magnus Volk died 54 years later in 1937 and the Railway passed into the control of Brighton Corporation on 1 April 1940. jgc_05_141
James Gray: Opening ceremony of Volk’s Electric Railway, 3 August 1883. This was the first public electric railway in England and at first it extended only about 400 yards from the Aquarium to the Old Chain Pier. Soon afterwards it was extended to Paston Place and in 1901, after the abandonment of the ‘Daddy Longlegs’ from there to Black Rock. jgc_05_165
James Gray: Electric Car approaching the Aquarium terminus. Period about 1910. Note the horse wagonette. jgc_05_166
2021: The James Gray image shows the view from the central platform of the original western terminus of the Electric Railway looking east towards the terminus buildings opposite Paston Place.
James Gray: The original terminus at the Aquarium end of the line. The station was, of course, here before the Palace Pier was built. The terminus was moved to its present location in October 1929, to permit the promenade being widened. jgc_05_167
2021: Gray’s undated image shows the view looking west from the site of the original (1883) terminus. In February 2021 the Palace Pier was closed, due to another coronavirus lockdown. (Photographer: David Sears)
James Gray: Volk’s Railway car emerging from under the Chain Pier and climbing the 1 in 14 gradient to regain the level. The chains of the Pier can be seen passing on either side of the verandah over Snelling’s Bazaar. Above, the squat building housed the Camera Obscura. jgc_05_168
2021: Gray’s image probably dates from the 1890s and shows one of the original cars of the Volk’s Electric Railway. It is hard to replicate today.
James Gray: Yet another of the many postcards of the Railway Line, near the Aquarium terminus. It is postmarked 1914 but the photograph was doubtless taken a year or two earlier. Additional Information: Postcard sent to Miss Ethel Fearn, 11A Newton Rd, Cricklewood. From Connie at 1 Camden Terrace, Gloucester Road, Brighton. jgc_05_169
James Gray: Photographs [see also jgc_06_135] of the period 1901-14, showing the Terminus and the station at Paston Place. jgc_06_134
2021: This photograph shows the terminus and station opposite Paston Place, taken from the steps leading from Madeira Drive up to Marine Parade. The Banjo Groyne, once well above water level, is now all but buried in the gravel. (Photographer: David Sears)
James Gray: The Electric Railway Terminus. jgc_06_135
2021: In February 2021, the pier and the railway were both closed due to the coronavirus lockdown but this has not stopped young families enjoying the sunshine. (Photographer: David Sears)
James Gray: Electric car crossing the beach adjoining at Banjo Groyne, October 1919. This was one of the two saloon cars that were built in 1884. They were solidly built in mahogany and were still running until 1940 when the railway was closed for the [Second World] War. They were scrapped in 1948. jgc_06_136
James Gray: Car approaching Banjo Groyne and Paston Place station. At this stage the line was carried on piles across the open beach and, at high tide, it ran over the sea which at times reached to the wooden retaining wall. Contrast these views with the two taken many years later [see jgc_06_140 and 141 below]. jgc_06_137
James Gray: Electric Railway Banjo Groyne and Station. jgc_06_138
2021: The railway sheds have been enlarged and are in good repair. As in so many photographs taken in 2020-21, those enjoying the sunshine are also socially distancing due to the ongoing coronavirus restrictions.(Photographer: David Sears)
James Gray: Electric Railway Banjo Groyne and Station. jgc_06_139
2021: The railway track is now on the beach and no longer runs on stilts. The whole area is undergoing development as part of the Black Rock renewal project. (Photographer: David Sears)
James Gray: The three snapshots [jgc_05_171, 172 and 173] were taken during the fine, warm summer of 1933 and show the terminus in its present position some distance to the east, flanked by bathing chalets which were still used by many people in preference to undressing in the open. jgc_05_173
2021: The modern day images show that the original single building has been replaced by two smaller sheds, painted in black and grey.
James Gray: Photographs [see also jgc_05_171, 172 and 173] of the western end of this railway at different periods. In this view, the terminus, very close to the Palace Pier, in about 1906. It had been here, or very near to this spot, since the opening of the railway in 1883. Between the station and the flight of steps, note the solid stone face of the sea wall built in 1871. jgc_05_170
James Gray: [See caption for jgc_05_173 above.] jgc_05_171 and 172
James Gray: This photograph, taken somewhat later than the last [jgc_05_145 also on this page], at the point where the line crossed the open beach, east of the Banjo Groyne. jgc_05_146
James Gray: This smaller one [larger one probably jgc_05_143 also on this page] dates from after 1896 as there is no sign of the Chain Pier. Probably this and the following photograph were taken about 1900. jgc_05_144
James Gray: This view shows the damage to the Black Rock section of Volk’s Railway, and part of Madeira Drive, caused by the storm of 10 September 1903. jgc_06_039
James Gray: All three photographs [see also jgc_06_052 on the Chain Pier page and jgc_06_054 on the Brighton East Seafront: images on the beach (2) page] probably date from the mid-1890s, as the skeleton of the Palace Pier appears in one and the remains of the Chain Pier, destroyed 4 December 1896, in another.
James Gray: Claude Graham-White’s seaplane, Wake up England, at rest on Paston Place beach, opposite the seaplane station constructed by Herman Volk, son of Magnus Volk. This was a portable canvas hangar, with haulage winch and launching trolley, which could be quickly erected and taken down. The exact year of the photograph is not known, but thought to be 1912. jgc_06_089
James Gray: Another photograph of this railway. This one by Donovan may be of the 1890s. jgc_06_131
James Gray: Another view of the Electric Railway. jgc_06_133
James Gray: No comment. jgc_06_058
James Gray: Another view. jgc_06_132
James Gray: Three views [see also jgc_06_143 and 144] of the marine electric car, or ‘Daddy Longlegs’ as it was more familiarly known, at the Paston Place Terminus. An ambitious project of Magnus Volk, it ran for a distance of 2¾ miles to Rottingdean. The lines were 100 yards from Madeira Drive and at high tide the car moved through 15 feet of water. It was opened in September 1896 but was discontinued in 1901. jgc_06_142
James Gray: October 1952. These two photographs are included merely for comparison [with jgc_06_137 above]. The line, instead of being several feet above the beach as shown in earlier views, is now at beach level. During the 1939-1945 war, the beaches were mined and wired off. Owing to destruction of wooden groynes in Hove and places west, shingle was swept eastwards and piled up on some of the Brighton beaches. The effect here was to bring the beach up to the level of the railway line. jgc_06_140 and jgc_06_141