Brighton’s Volks Electric Railway honoured with top award

Brighton’s Volks Electric Railway, the world’s oldest operating electric railway, was presented with a prestigious Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Engineering Heritage Award on Saturday 13 July.

Volks Railway has been awarded a coveted Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Engineering Heritage Award

Brighton’s Volks Electric Railway, the world’s oldest operating electric railway, was presented with a prestigious Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Engineering Heritage Award on Saturday 13 July.

The railway, which opened in 1883, joins a list of winners which include the Vulcan Bomber, the SS Great Britain and the WW2 code breaking Bombe machine at Bletchley Park.

The award was presented to the Volks Electric Railway by John Wood, Chairman of the Institution’s Engineering Heritage Committee to Ian Gledhill, from the Volk’s Electric Railway Association Conservation and Support Group, at a special ceremony at the Railway.

John Wood, Chairman of the Institution’s Engineering Heritage Committee, said:

“The Volks Electric Railway is a worthy winner of this award and joins the ranks of the Vulcan Bomber, the SS Great Britain and the WW2 code breaking Bombe machine at Bletchley Park.

 “The Volks Electric Railway is an extraordinary example of 19^th Century engineering, which remains in wonderful condition and is still used for its original purpose by many thousands of people a year.

“The fantastic condition of this pioneering electric railway is testament not just to engineering know-how of its inventor Magnus Volk, but to the dedicated work of volunteers who help maintain the railway today. I hope that the railway, which is the oldest operating electric railway in the world, will continue to be enjoyed by generations of Brightonians and seaside visitors.”

Ian Gledhill, from the Volk’s Electric Railway Association Conservation and Support Group, said:

“We are delighted that the railway has won this award, and we are proud to work alongside the railway’s dedicated full-time staff to preserve the line for future generations.   My thanks go to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers for the recognition they have given to Magnus Volk’s amazing vision which has survived 130 years.”

The Volk’s Electric Railway opened in August 1883 runs for just over a mile along Brighton’s seafront between the Aquarium and Black Rock. The railway was constructed by pioneering electrical engineer Magnus Volk, with much of the line following much of the original route.

The railway is open to the public every year between Easter and September. Today the railway can carry up to eighty passengers along the beach for one and a quarter miles.

Although operated by Brighton & Hove City Council the railway has a dedicated volunteer supporters group, the Volk's Electric Railway Association (VERA).