There was a significant lorry move on Wednesday 7th June as Volk’s Electric Railway ex-Southend car 9 was moved to Brighton from Hassocks with plans in hand for it to be displayed during the 140th anniversary celebrations in August.
Number 9 was one of two trailers used on the Southend Pier Railway which were purchased for use on the Volk’s Electric Railway after their time on the Essex coast came to an end. Built in 1899, the two vehicles were unpowered trailers in Southend and so after their acquisition for use on the Volk’s Electric Railway it took a little bit of time for them to be prepared for usage as they needed to have motors fitted to enable them to operate under their own power. 9 didn’t enter service until 1953 (sister car 8 had entered service in 1950) and would remain in use until the 1990s although by this time use was much more intermittent. 8 returned to Essex (and is now in Chelmsford) but 9 remained closer to home.
Originally stored on the railway, but unserviceable, the car then moved to Hassocks where it had been planned for it to go on display at a new heritage centre. Ultimately this was not progressed with 9 stored there under tarpaulins. Still owned by the Volk’s Electric Railway Association it was announced earlier in 2023 that it would be returning to the railway in time for the 140th anniversary celebrations with agreement reached that it could be stored in the sheds again. There is a hope it may be restored for use but this has not yet been confirmed.
After preparations over the past few months, Wednesday 7th June was the day when 9 was collected and moved by lorry the 10 miles or so from Hassocks to Brighton. After arriving back in Brighton, 9 was craned from the lorry onto the railway tracks (with a brief suspension of normal services to allow this to happen) and then towed to the sheds at Halfway where it will be stored undercover once more.
It is planned that 9 will be part of the celebrations for the 140th anniversary on 12th and 13th August with the launch of an appeal for funds to restore the car.
But for now its home and safe and makes things a lot more confusing as there are now two numbers nines!