Volks Railway timeline

Preliminary Timeline

NB most of this information is from the yellow 1964 booklet, we still have to cross-check against other sources for typos or mistakes, some info isn't here yet (when did the yellow Aquarium Station get built?).

Nineteenth Century

4th August 1883

Volks Railway opens

Runs from the swimming arch by the Aquarium to the Chain Pier, 2 foot gauge

Jan 1884

Closed for improvements

4th April 1884

Reopened

* track gauge now 2ft 9in

* track now extends to Banjo Groyne near Paston Place

Early Twentieth Century

1901

Extension from Banjo Groyne to Black Rock

1833

the widening of Madeira Drive in the early 1930s leads to a shortening of the track. The station used to be practically at the pier, and is moved to closer to its current location. It has been said that the shortening might have been to create space for a new pool, which ended up being built at Black Rock instead.

7th May 1937

Magnus Volk opens the new Black Rock Terminus: the line has been shortened at the Eastern end to accommodate thew Black Rock Pool.

20th May 1937

Magnus Volk dies, son Herman takes over

1938

Brighton Corporation (Transport) Act, 1938 gives the corporation the right to run the railway

1st April 1940

Brighton Corporation take over the railway, but keep the Volks name. at this point there are three wooden stations

2nd July 1940

Wartime restrictions lead to the beach being closed, and the two terminal stations demolished. The cars are probably trapped in their sheds for the duration.

Post WW2

15th May 1948

A rebuilt Volks Electric Railway reopens. A redundant tram shelter is installed as the new Aquarium station, there is a new "umbrella" platform now west of the sheds, at the Childrens Playground, and something similar at Black Rock.