Brennan Gyro Monorail

[ICH60]

Sorry posted this in the wrong place not sure how to change it.

After even sixty years of reading about railways I have just come across the Brennan Monorail which seemed to pass me by. And I haven't heard anyone of my railway friends mention it. I would be impressed if anyone makes a working model
There is a web page on the Science Museum page with photographs

Brennan's Gyroscopic Mono-rail Car | Science Museum Group Collection

Model Gyroscopic Mono-Rail car, scale 1:8, built by Brennan.

collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk

Also there is a good youtube video which explains how it worked

 

[David Waite]

Thanks ICH60
At first I thought this was a joke but the real photos seem to say otherwise like you I’ve never heard of it.
It was extremely fascinating thanks for sharing, and the quick glimpse of the Turbo Motive on the run was a bonus.
David.

 

[SimonT]

Thanks Ian, cracking fun.
Unfortunately it wasn't a failsafe system. Any leak of the pneumatic system would be catastrophic in safety terms. But then they didn't make fail safe systems in those days - I present the Wright Flyer against any product from Toulouse or Seattle. (Other airliner manufacturers are available)
Simon

 

[simond]

Isn’t it the case that “fail-safety” in most engineered systems is largely provided by (multiple) redundancy?

Presumably that approach could be applied in this case? (Though of course it may not be economic)

 

[Genghis]

Isn’t it the case that “fail-safety” in most engineered systems is largely provided by (multiple) redundancy?

Presumably that approach could be applied in this case? (Though of course it may not be economic)

The obvious answer is to provide redundancy by adding a second rail...................

 

[simond]

Excellent point, well made…

 

[Owen English]

The obvious answer is to provide redundancy by adding a second rail...................

Mmmmm, never thought of that

 

[Giles]

This was featured in the Railway Wonders of the World (late 20's.?) Of which I have a copy. If I recall, one of the supposed tricks it would be able to do was to cross a (temporary) single rope bridge, which of course one could, given certain parameters. They had a working model 11/2" /ft (?) With a child riding in it running on a rope.

 

[Dave]

I would be impressed if anyone makes a working model

There's a scale model in the NRM, about 3ft. long. I'm not sure if it is a working model though.