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The Listowel and Ballybunion Railway

Discussion in 'International Heritage Railways/Tramways' started by Roger Farnworth, Dec 31, 2018.

  1. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

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    Apologies if there is already a significant series of posts on the forum about this line. It has fascinated me for some time. I hope this post is of interest. Does anyone have further information?

    http://rogerfarnworth.com/2018/12/31/the-listowel-and-ballybunion-railway
     
    Roger Farnworth, Dec 31, 2018
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  2. huochemi

    huochemi Part of the furniture

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    Presumably you are aware of Adrian Garner's book, Monorails of the 19th Century?
     
    huochemi, Dec 31, 2018
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  3. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

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    No, I wasn't aware of the book. I'll see what I can find out!

    Happy New Year.
     
    Roger Farnworth, Dec 31, 2018
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  4. tor-cyan

    tor-cyan Well-Known Member

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    this video shows the line in all its glory



    Colin
     
    tor-cyan, Dec 31, 2018
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  5. tor-cyan

    tor-cyan Well-Known Member

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    a little additional footage of the road bridge in action



    Colin
     
    tor-cyan, Dec 31, 2018
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  6. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    That has prompted me to look at the background. It seems that the only reason why the Lartigue system was adopted was the coincidence that M Lartigue had set up a demonstration line in London when some representatives from the Listowel area were there lobbying for a railway. Something that could be built on the cheap appealed to the authorities. The last part of the Scientific American article linked from the Wikipedia page https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015013715167;view=1up;seq=174 pretty thoroughly demolishes the supposed advantages of Lartigue over a conventional narrow-gauge railway.

    That said, it is good that a small section has been restored for all to admire and wonder at.
     
    MellishR, Jan 1, 2019
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  7. RLinkinS

    RLinkinS Member

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    I wonder whart the draftsman at Hunslet said under his breath when he was given the job of designing these locos. Are they the only locos ever built with an odd number of driving wheels and an even number of boilers?
     
    RLinkinS, Jan 1, 2019
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  8. Roger Farnworth

    Roger Farnworth Member

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    As a follow up ……………..

    I have been sent a number of links to videos including one to a model built in O Gauge. The first link should take you to the model, the remaining links are primarily to videos taken at the site in Ireland. I have also been sent a link to another page about the railway, the link to that page can be found beneath the videos.











    An HO model of the line, together with more information and pictures:

    https://irishwaterwayshistory.com/rail/the-lartigue-monorail-in-listowel/
     
    Roger Farnworth, Jan 3, 2019
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  9. arthur maunsell

    arthur maunsell Well-Known Member

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    nice videos. Of note is that the turntables act as points and there are stairs to the opposite side to enable the load to be balanced on each side.
     
    arthur maunsell, Jan 3, 2019
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