The Brighton and Dyke Railway was an independent railway company which built a branch line from Brighton in East Sussex to the Devil's Dyke, a popular beauty spot nearby in the South Downs, England. The line opened in 1887 but was not commercially successful; it closed in 1939. History Promotion and opening The Devil's Dyke is a spectacular beauty spot in the South Downs of England a short distance north-west of Brighton; it is said to be the deepest dry valley in the world. It is at some considerable altitude, making access a challenge. As leisure visits to such locations grew in popularity in the mid-Victorian period, the idea developed of a railway to the Devil's Dyke. A first suggestion was to connect to the London main line of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR) south of Patcham, but Parliament turned this idea down. The LB&SCR line to Portsmouth passed nearby on the south side, and a short branch to the Devil's Dyke was considered feasible. The necessary authorising Act of Parliament was obtained on 2 August 1877, and the Brighton and Dyke Railway was incorporated. Share capital of £72,000 was authorised. The authorisation included plans for the construction of two railways: from near Aldrington on the LBSCR to Hangleton (3 miles) and thence to Poynings (1 mile). Construction was not started at first, partly due to obstruction by the LBSCR, whose co-operation was needed. The powers obtained were allowed to lapse; they were revived by an Act of 18 July 1881. After further authorisations of time extension, the line was opened from Dyke Junction, on the Brighton to Portsmouth line near Aldrington, to a terminus at Hangleton, on 1 September 1887. The line from there to Poynings was never built, although some preparatory work was carried out at the chalk face at the Dyke Terminus. The line was worked by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. The line had to overcome a vertical interval of 400 feet, by gradients typically of 1 in 40, and had almost continuous sharp curvature. The line was never a paying proposition, and an Official Receiver was appointed in October 1895. Operation Turner describes the passenger train service in 1904-1905: Railmotor services had not then been started. On weekdays and Sundays there were four trains each way between Brighton and The Dyke, the first leaving Brighton on weekdays at 10 :25