In the nineties of the nineteenth century, a railway was built between Brighton and Rottingin by engineer Magnus Wolf. And not some kind, but electric. The routes ran along the coast and everything was fine and the passengers were happy. But the mountain hindered the extension of this wonderful road all the way to Rottingin. And, thinking that both the tunnel and the detour are too expensive, the inventor decided to pave a truly amazing section of the path.
Because it ran, literally, along the seabed. The idea was born in 1894 and took two years to complete. The result was a four-plus kilometer track, the rails and sleepers of which ran seventy meters from the coast, hidden under the sea waters: at low tide they could be seen. Four support carts on four eighty centimeter wheels rolled along this incredible path.
And on the carts there was an amazing structure, the supports of which, because of the high tides, rose seven meters. Since she moved along the sea, she outwardly resembled a ship - with a fixed rescue boat and circles along the sides. The design bore the sonorous name "Pioneer", although another name flashed in the newspapers, quickly picked up by people - "Daddy Long Legs".
The Long Legs cruised between two purpose-built jetty stations. And the pioneer made its first voyage at the end of November 1896, crossing the sea section in just a third of an hour at a speed of fourteen km / h. The passengers were provided with leather sofas, carpets, a refrigerator and fresh flowers - the journey was comfortable. And this is if you do not pay attention to the sea from the left-right and even below! Maximum on "Pioneer" could fit one hundred and fifty people.
The first difficulties for the unusual train arose in the very first week: the storm caused quite serious damage to the berths and structures. But after the repair, the miracle device shuttled between cities until 1900, when ticket prices became too high due to the company's financial difficulties. Moreover, bad weather, due to which flights had to be postponed periodically.
Promotional video:
The end of Daddy's Long Legs was a project to build breakwaters, which would have to move the path so far out to sea that it made such work almost impossible - too expensive. For a while, the wonderful train rusted near its station in Brighton, and then was sawn and scrapped, like the rails.
The concrete sleepers visible at low tide are all a reminder of one of the most impossible and amazing railways in human history.
