I’ve seen pictures of some small 1 rail rail lines. Are any of these still in existence?
I take it you’re not referring to a monorail?
My take is that is a reference to either a straddle monorail (Think Listowel and Ballybunion) or a, “One rail underneath, one rail overhead,” with double-flanged wheels riding on both.
As far as I know the few straddle monorails are long gone, and the patented, “Over and under,” design was a non-starter. Today, monorails are either Alweg type (Rubber wheels on a wide concrete ‘rail’) or the one hanging from an overhead structure in Wuppertahl, Germany.
The Alweg variety has been touted for rapid transit, but hasn’t made much progress. I believe that the biggest, most-used system is at Disney World. Japan has had greater success using Alweg monorails for people-movers, but only in a few densely-populated areas with no available surface transportation options.
Here in Las Vegas we have an Alweg monorail that wriggles along a few hundred yards east of the Strip, running from noplace to nowhere. As a poster child for monorail transportation, it’s a total flop.
Chuck
Of course Disney World’s monorail in Florida has run millions and millions of miles. I don’t know the “type” it is but it certainly runs on a concrete “rail” and is stablized by additional rubber tired wheels running parallel and against the sides of the concrete support “rail”. Large rubber tired wheels support the vehicles at each end of the cars running on top of said concrete “rail” Single wheels in line.
Isn’t it supposed to go to the airport?
In Western Pennsylvania in the 1870’s there was the Bradford and Foster Brook which was a type straddle rail system. Evidently it’s main accomplishment was to become a tiny footnote in railroad history. You can find more detail on the web.
Note the operative word - “Supposed…”
This is also the projected destination of the Desert Xpress, which is intended to run HSR from a park-and-ride at the top of Cajon Pass to Las Vegas. They actually expect passengers to pop for a $100 one-way fare.
To anyone who expects to see either monorail service to McCarran or HSR to the approximate heart of nowhere - holdeth not thy breath!
Chuck (Bemused Las Vegas resident)
AFAIK - All of the prismoidals are gone as well. All we have is pictures.
Check this out.