Steam Monorail - amazing!!

[jugs]

On Sunday we visited the only steam monorail in the world (& I got to drive it ).
It's in Snowdonia North Wales, & was one of the few places where it was cold, and with heavy rain showers that day!

A totally unique experience, fantastic.

My friend Dave Mills took some pictures and video of it. Here is a link to his site., lots of other interesting stuff on it as well.

-> http://www.mprints.co.uk/

 

[gavuk]

Hi Jugs ,interesting ,but what advantages does being a mono rail give,apart from saving on laying track,surely carrying capacity is lower than a similar size narrow gauge engine,i was expecting a larger rail ,weight further down ,like a mag lift or butlins Minehead special

 

[Debs.]

......& I got to drive it....... )

What an interesting place; I`m so envious!......it looks smashing set-up on the video and most unusual, what with it being a "No-gauge" loco and all.

I`m sorry I couldn`t be there, jugs; I`m laid up with a horrid dose of Flu (the wobbly-legs kind).....and that rainy, Ffestiniog weather wouldn`t have helped either.

 

[jugs]

Hi Jugs ,interesting ,but what advantages does being a mono rail give,apart from saving on laying track,surely carrying capacity is lower than a similar size narrow gauge engine,i was expecting a larger rail ,weight further down ,like a mag lift or butlins Minehead special

Hi gav,
what advantages:

2 men can lay 200m / hr
changing layout is simple & quick
will climb a 1 in 8 slope
no foundations req
will work in 2' of flood water

This system was started in 1942 for civil engineering, initially used for building airfields etc. Also Forth & Severn road bridges & more.


more info on this site -> http://railmachinesltd.webs.com/history.htm

 

[jugs]

What an interesting place; I`m so envious!......it looks smashing set-up on the video and most unusual, what with it being a "No-gauge" loco and all.

I`m sorry I couldn`t be there, jugs; I`m laid up with a horrid dose of Flu (the wobbly-legs kind).....and that rainy, Ffestiniog weather wouldn`t have helped either.

Hope you get better soon I'll let you know next time it opens.

 

[Hitch]

Looks a bit wobbly, no wonder it didnt catch on as a passenger carrying system!

 

[Wozzaaah]

That can't be safe, surely?!
You'd get seasick driving that crate about!

 

[jugs]

That can't be safe, surely?!
You'd get seasick driving that crate about!

Safe yes, comfortable no.
it was an industrial system, often used to deliver concrete on big civil jobs bridges dams ect, before concrete pumps, An early use of driverless trains.

See > http://railmachinesltd.webs.com/

Possibly the best known use of R.M monorail to date is to be seen in the James Bond film “You Only Live Twice”, for which four electric passenger carrying version’s were supplied, the monorail being featured prominently in operation.

 

[Master-of-none]

Here's a link to a site with pictures of several monorails including the Listowel and Ballybunion.
Many of the monorails seem actually to have 3 rails.
http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/lartigue/lartigue.htm

 

[shenion]

Interesting site. Rotary steam engines, propeller driven trains all kinds of interesting stuff.

 

[Justme]

Nice.

I keep toying with setting up a steam powered engine to drive an alternator / generator so I can ditch the diesel genny for off grid battery charging. A few have done it but it looks costly.

 

[Drains]

There's an almost working "monorail" at the National Steam Museum in Delhi. A superb place, built in the 1970's but with architecture from the 1950's, and steam engines from the 1800's.

Monorail pics here I don't know when they were taken, but the engine's looking a bit sorry for itself now.

Theres a you tube vid of it working - from 2007

 

[brightspark]

There's an almost working "monorail" at the National Steam Museum in Delhi. A superb place, built in the 1970's but with architecture from the 1950's, and steam engines from the 1800's.

Monorail pics here I don't know when they were taken, but the engine's looking a bit sorry for itself now.

Theres a you tube vid of it working - from 2007

whats the bet they havent got a current boiler test certificate for it bet u wouldnt want to stand near that when its fired up