An illustrated presentation regarding the history of the railway line by historian Bill Gage

The Bognor Branch is an illustrated presentation regarding the history of the line commencing with the opening of the coastal railway from Shoreham to Chichester.

The talk uses social history as a platform to show the development of the branch. It is not a technical talk and includes such events as the collapse of the station owing to storm damage, total destruction by fire, followed by its rebuilding, a major theatre disaster, railway carriages for homes, the use of stuffed railway dogs, culminating with the end of regular steam hauled passenger trains. The presentation will also include film footage of the first electric train to Bognor.

Bill Gage is a former Assistant County Archivist at West Sussex Record Office, writes and lectures on railway history, and has enjoyed a lifelong interest in railways which began at the age of three, riding behind his father’s passenger-carrying steam locomotives.

Tickets: £8.00 (attending in-person) £5 (online).