Princes Road Railway
Leaving my front gate, I noticed a railway line chalked on the pavement descending the 1 in 12 gradient of Princes Road.
The line went in both directions, so I decided to trace its origins towards Ditchling Road.
Certain front gateways had been honoured with railway stations.
A brick cross-over from one front entrance had been used to form a tunnel.
The railway line resumed next to a water main.
The lines from the east and west merged into one front entrance forming a siding which extended to the front door of the house.
One might suspect that this was the home of children who had participated in this creative project. Evidently they had used long sticks of chalk and had given their home special access to this new railway network.
Next up was a sign saying RAIL REPLACEMENT BUS pointing towards the road.
A bus was chalked in the middle of the road, but the question which sprang to mind was "why this interruption to the railway network?"
Looking up it became clear.
Engineering works!
Looking west from Princes Road over the chimneys of Ditchling Rise towards the mainline from Brighton to London is a reminder of the railway history of the area.
Brighton Station including the train sheds is a Grade II listed building. Its depot was opened in 1848 as a carriage works by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway.
The 1891 population census reveals that 334 residents then lived at 1-76 Princes Road.
Many of these people's jobs were railway related.
Boilermaker Holder Up
Boilermaker Railway Works
Boiler Makers Assistant
Carpenter Railway
Clerk Railway Booking
Coachmakers Apprentice
Engine Boiler Maker
Engine Driver
Fireman Railway (2)
Foreman Railway Wagon Makers
Passenger Guard LBSC Railway
Platelayer
Railway Carriage Maker
Railway Clerk (2)
Railway Engine Driver
Railway Guard (7 )
Railway Porter (5)
Railway Signalman (2)
Railway Ticket Collector (2)
Railway Warehouse Clerk
Time Keeper Railway Works.