Worlds LONGEST pier! - Southend Pier & Railway

This is Southend-on-Sea, home of the longest pleasure pier in the world! The reason the pier was built was to enable boats to be able to dock at low tide. Southend has large mudflats so when the tide is out, it's not very deep for about a mile. The original pier was opened in 1830 and was made from wood. It was extended several times and by 1848, it was the longest pier in Europe at 1.3 miles (2.1 km). Because of increased visitors in the 1850s, a new pier was proposed and was made out of iron. This was opened in 1889 with an electric railway. By 1980, usage of the pier had declined and along with high maintenance costs, Southend Council proposed to close the pier permanently. This led to protests and the pier remained opened until funding for repairs was secured by 1983. The current railway is a 3ft narrow gauge line served by two diesel-hydraulic locomotives. One is named Sir WIlliam Heygate, the other Sir John Betjeman.

I take a ride on the train and a brief look around the pier!

Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/yDmunJYCVPaUhLZHA

More Info: https://www.southend.gov.uk/info/2003...

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