Mobi
Registered
Monorails can be of 2 types
1. One that balances with a gyroscope. Without gyro it will fall to one side.
2. Using wheels to grab the rail from both sides so that it remains stable all the time.
I am talking of type 2, which is still used worldwide for commercial services.
Like this - youtube.com/watch?v=2ZIoh7qvbnc
For garden railway, I can see advantage of monorails in several ways.
[1] It needs only one rail - obviously! So track cost will be half of traditional trains. You can still change tracks.
Here is demo - youtube.com/watch?v=70SOmeF3K9U&start=2m54s
[2] Train can still be controlled in same way, especially if battery powered.
[3] Trains can be overhung without much modification! If the trains have channels on top and bottom, then the wheel assembly (i.e. bogie mounting system) can be swapped from top to bottom. So the rail can be either on top (hanging train) or bottom (riding over rail). If commercially manufactured, this can reduce cost of wagons significantly as one can buy wagons/coaches without wheels - as wheels can be slotted in channels from other wagons.
[4] Gripping wheels can be rubber tyres - which will enable much steeper gradient.
Disadvantages of monorail:
[1] Track power will be challenge - no 2 rails to complete circuit.
[2] Needs to be DIY currently as no commercial G scale monorail available.
1. One that balances with a gyroscope. Without gyro it will fall to one side.
2. Using wheels to grab the rail from both sides so that it remains stable all the time.
I am talking of type 2, which is still used worldwide for commercial services.
Like this - youtube.com/watch?v=2ZIoh7qvbnc
For garden railway, I can see advantage of monorails in several ways.
[1] It needs only one rail - obviously! So track cost will be half of traditional trains. You can still change tracks.
Here is demo - youtube.com/watch?v=70SOmeF3K9U&start=2m54s
[2] Train can still be controlled in same way, especially if battery powered.
[3] Trains can be overhung without much modification! If the trains have channels on top and bottom, then the wheel assembly (i.e. bogie mounting system) can be swapped from top to bottom. So the rail can be either on top (hanging train) or bottom (riding over rail). If commercially manufactured, this can reduce cost of wagons significantly as one can buy wagons/coaches without wheels - as wheels can be slotted in channels from other wagons.
[4] Gripping wheels can be rubber tyres - which will enable much steeper gradient.
Disadvantages of monorail:
[1] Track power will be challenge - no 2 rails to complete circuit.
[2] Needs to be DIY currently as no commercial G scale monorail available.
