SOUTHEND’S Pier Railway opened more than 130 years ago in 1890, but in April it entered a new era with the introduction of two new eco-friendly, lithium battery-powered trains costing more than £3 million. The railway runs along most of the length of the 1.3mile (2.1km) pier, which claims to be the longest pleasure pier in the world, and has become an international landmark and tourist attraction over the years.
Southend’s first pier, a 500 yard (457m) wooden structure, opened in the 1830s and the only way to convey people from one end to the other was in a series of trolleys pushed by hand. When the wind was favourable, sails were used to blow the trolleys along, but when the pier was extended to 1¼ miles (2km) in 1846, it soon became apparent that a better form of
