Volk’s Railway’s unique role recognised by award (From The Argus)

Volk’s Railway’s unique role recognised by award

8:10am Saturday 27th October 2012 in News

A historic railway has been honoured with a national award.

The Volk’s Railway on Brighton seafront was the first public electric railway in the world when it opened in 1883.

It now joins a list of less than 100 historic engineering feats from across the nation recognised by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers as an “important and unique piece of UK industrial history”.

Peter Williams, of Volk’s Electric Railway Association, said: “The result is a testament to the hard work of the staff, volunteers and supporters of the Volk’s Railway.

“This is also fantastic news from an engineering perspective and shows how much Volk’s legacy lives on in our city.”

A plaque will be presented to the railway as a permanent symbol of the award at a future date.

It comes just weeks after Brighton and Hove City Council submitted a planning application to install “solar trees” in Madeira Drive to power the train.

A decision on the proposal, which the local authority claims will cost £1.5 million, is expected in the coming months.

Geoffrey Bowden, the chairman of the council’s culture |committee, said: “The award is well deserved and I congratulate all involved in raising the profile of this local treasure at national level.

“We hope to take the railway into the 21st century by making |the Volk’s line the first solar powered electric railway in the world.”

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