The 16th September 2020 marks the 25th year since VERA was formed in 1995. We had planned to have a range of events during the railway’s operating season but with the continuing Coronavirus crisis it seems unlikely that the current ‘lockdown’ instructions will be eased enough to justify going ahead. The Committee has therefore reluctantly, decided…
On Saturday 8th February 2020 five members of VERA, accompanied by Maurice Curran from Volk’s Electric Railway, attended the Heritage Railway Association’s Annual Awards Event at the Burlington Hotel, Birmingham. Having previously been notified that VERA had been shortlisted for an award, we considered that to be an accolade in itself and had no expectations when we sat down…
Volk’s Electric Railway has its own veteran cars, of a different type to those that will make their way down from London to Brighton on the first Sunday in November. For the first time in over 25 years the railway will be operating a 3-car public service, a truly historic occasion that will enable more passengers to see the…
The dates have been announced for VERA’s ever popular Late Running evenings, when volunteers take over the operation of the railway for a few hours. This year the dates are as follows and are all Sunday’s: 28th April 17.00 – 19.00 26th May 17.00 – 19.30 30th June 17.00 – 19.30 28th July 17.00 – 19.30…
Volk’s Electric Railway reached 135 years of age on Saturday 4th August 2018. After postponing celebrations until after the Brighton Pride event on the same day, VERA hosted a small event on Saturday 11th August to not only mark the rejuvenated railway’s birthday but also to acknowledge the contribution made by VERA volunteers to keep the…
Work on Cars 6 & 10 electrical control systems have been proceeding quietly in the new sheds over the past few months. Car 6, delivered on 14th February 2018, has been briefly tested out on the line but needs to have some mechanical work done before it can be fully certified for public service. Car…
The long-awaited return to service of Car 4, the railway’s oldest car built in 1892, occurred on Thursday 22nd March when it successfully completed its commissioning trials. Car 4 has been fully restored by Alan Keef Ltd in Ross-on-Wye, a process that took almost 18 months, and the electrical fit-out has taken nearly 2 months. A…
After 16 months since the closure of the railway, the Heritage Lottery-funded renovation project is almost complete. The Aquarium Station and Visitor Centre is operational with just a few minor issues to resolve, the new Conservation Workshop and Depot at Banjo Groyne has a few minor works to be done and the three restored cars…
The month of October 2017 saw an exceptional level of activity on the railway as the Heritage Lottery Project reached 80% completion. On Wednesday 11th October, the first of the three restored cars, No. 4, returned to Brighton. Two days later, on Friday 13th, a special ‘launch event’ took place at the new Aquarium Station…
The month of June has seen great progress being made as the steel skeleton of the new depot reaches roofline and the prefabricated Aquarium Station and Visitor Centre is lowered onto its foundations. The new station buildings travelled on low-loaders from the manufacturer in Newhaven and were lowered into place during the night of 15th/16th…
