125 year old steam monorail

[CCSII]

Here is a challenge for all of those scratch builders out there:









http://monorails.org/tMspages/Listowel.html

Cheers

[kstrong]

Our illustrious editor--a fan of the eclectic--has such a monorail on his railroad. Unfortunately, I can't find any photos at the moment.

Later,

K

[underworld]

That's awesome!!! Do you know where the pic was taken???

 

underworld

[cabbage]

That is the infamous Listowel and Ballybunion Railway

http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/lartigue/lartigue.htm

The loco you are looking at in the picture is a reproduction powered by a diesel engine. A group of enthusiasts have recently restored part of the line for tourist work.

regards

ralph

[kimbrit]

Love the headlamp, should see for a mile or two with that!

Kim

[Train 284]

All I have to say is WOW!

[kstrong]

I knew there had to be a photo somewhere of this...


Photo - Bob Baxter

This is Marc Horovitz's loco inspired by the above monorail. The loco is live steam, and does run. The photo was taken during the 2004 National Garden Railway Convention.

Later,

K

[CDise]

FYI:

It appears a similar railroad operated in or near Bradford, PA

It was either named or nicknamed the "Peg-Leg RR" and ran 1877 - 1879.

Near the end of it's life, it apparently derailed, dumping a load of passengers into a creek.

Sorry, I don't have any pictures.

 CDise

[wchasr]

Very few photos of the Peg leg survive but there are a few in a book I own "Bradford & Foster Brook, the Peg Leg Railroad" by Lawrence Kilmer.

 

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/allegany/RailroadsAlleg/LastOfthePegLeg.htm

[Snoq. Pass RR]

http://monorails.org/tMspages/Listowel.html

http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/lartigue/lartigue.htm

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/allegany/RailroadsAlleg/LastOfthePegLeg.htm

The photo is from a book my friend loned me called "The Encyclopedia of Trains & Locomotives" on page 47.

Here are some facts of the monorail it self: Boiler pressure - 150psi, Cylinders - 7x12in, Driving wheels - 24", Grate area - 5sq ft, Heating surface - 71.75sq ft, Tractive effort - 2200lb, Total weight 11.07tons (engine only). 

This monorail is technically not a monorail since it was supported on an A shaped iron trestle that bore a carrying rail on the apex and a guide railon each side.  It is interesting that this was tried, and failed, in Belgium and France.  It then went to Ireland where it actually worked.  The line, called Listowel & Ballybunion Railway, operated three of these locomotives.  Three coupled wheels, double-flanged engaged the top rail between the two boilers.  The locomotive had duel controls and the driver worked on the right, where he had to also feed his own fire.  The railway ran for 36 years until a damage in the civil war and a deficit of cash forced them to close.

A sad note is that nothing remains of the original Listowel & Ballybunion Railway.

[FJ and G]

fascinating topic! Marc's reproduction captures the effect perfectly!