Brighton and Rottingdean Seashore Electric Railway

While the railway was popular and carried tens of thousands of passengers, it was ultimately abandoned to make room for new sea defences, and Volk was unable to raise the funds to construct a replacement.

With unfavourable geography in that area, Volk decided to construct a line through the surf from a pier at Paston Place to one at Rottingdean.

Although originally intended to be powered by accumulators, electricity was supplied by two overhead lines suspended alongside the tracks; initially only one wire had been used, with an earth return through the rails (or the sea itself at high tide).

[6] Due to regulations then in place, a qualified sea captain was on board at all times, and the car was provided with lifeboats and other safety measures.

One further attempt was made to raise money for a conventional over-water viaduct along roughly the same route, but Volk was unable to gather enough funds and nothing came of this.

[7] Eventually Volk's Electric Railway was extended onshore, covering a portion of the same distance; it remains in operation.