Magnus Volk FII (1851–1937) was a British-German inventor and pioneering electrical engineer.
He is most notable for having built Volk's Electric Railway, the world's oldest operating electric railway.
Career
Aside from the Volk's Electric Railway, he also built the unique but short-lived Brighton and Rottingdean Seashore Electric Railway, together with its unusual Daddy Long Legs vehicle. He also built another short-lived line, similar to the VER, in the pleasure grounds at Aston Hall, Birmingham. for which he was awarded an Order of Osmali, presented to Magnus by the Sultan in person whilst in Constantinople.
thumb|Magnus Volk on his electric dog cart, 1897
Other projects of Magnus included inventing a fire-alarm system, early successful attempts at electricity in the home, telecommunications and installing electricity to the Royal Pavilion for the first time.
Magnus Volk died in Brighton on 20 May 1937, and is buried at St Wulfran's churchyard in Ovingdean near Brighton.
References
Bibliography
- Conrad Volk: Magnus Volk of Brighton. London & Chichester: Phillimore, 1971.
External links
- Magnus Volk in My Brighton and Hove site
- of 'Daddy Longlegs' seashore electric railway