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Weirdest Rail Rolling Stock and Infrastructure
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GlitterUnicorn
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The somewhat infamous Ore Train in Mauritania.
Several hundred ore hoppers, some freight cars, and a couple of semi-derelict passenger cars. Despite the demand for passenger capacity between major cities on the route, in this part of the world it's apparently more profitable to carry ore than people, most passengers travel on top of the Ore.
Same thing in lots of Africa sadly, there are trains for minerals but none for people.
Several hundred ore hoppers, some freight cars, and a couple of semi-derelict passenger cars. Despite the demand for passenger capacity between major cities on the route, in this part of the world it's apparently more profitable to carry ore than people, most passengers travel on top of the Ore.
Same thing in lots of Africa sadly, there are trains for minerals but none for people.
Don‘t think they come much weirder than Volks’s ‘Daddy Long Legs’ , 5.5m gauge on 7m legs running in the sea!
en.wikipedia.org
Brighton and Rottingdean Seashore Electric Railway - Wikipedia
And does that count ?
Plan incliné de Ronquières — Wikipédia
fr.m.wikipedia.org
That looks a bit like the inclined planes on the Elbląg canal in Poland, which go one better and lift the boats completely out of the water: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbląg_Canal
It looks like the driver is using the pantograph as a speed controller at points too, pulse-width modulation...
They actually have a ČD passenger coach now, which is seemingly used on sleeper trains for tourists.The somewhat infamous Ore Train in Mauritania.
Several hundred ore hoppers, some freight cars, and a couple of semi-derelict passenger cars. Despite the demand for passenger capacity between major cities on the route, in this part of the world it's apparently more profitable to carry ore than people, most passengers travel on top of the Ore.
Same thing in lots of Africa sadly, there are trains for minerals but none for people.
Image:
Le train du désert, Mauritanie
Ouverte en 1963, la ligne du train de Mauritanie s’allonge sur près 700 km entre les mines de fer de Zouerate et le port de Nouadhibou. Entre deux trains de minerai, un autre train circule "Le Train du désert" qui permet une autre approche du désert..
www.flickr.com
Video:
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
Unless I need to visit Specsavers, nobody has mentioned the Listowel - Lartigue Monorail...?
Midnight Sun
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Two types of Monorail
The Benniie Railplane on its Galgow test track,
Louios Brennas Gyro Car Loco in London 1910,
The Benniie Railplane on its Galgow test track,
Louios Brennas Gyro Car Loco in London 1910,
Midnight Sun
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That's narrow gauge not a true monorail as it has two running surfaces. one either side of the slot. See the tunnel sections and you will see the two rails.
61653 HTAFC
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Well, when a Blackpool balloon tram and one of those Czech single-car Pacer-esque thingies love each other very much...
Jozhua
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Hahahha, I doubt it is nearly as uncomfortable as a Pacer. Looks much more stable as well lolWell, when a Blackpool balloon tram and one of those Czech single-car Pacer-esque thingies love each other very much...
I have never found a photo but was always fascinated by the appearance on the Ordnance Survey of a tramway across the tidal Dengie Flats which served the bombing range. When I did get to walk along there in my late teens all that remained was a row of posts across the mud.
Jozhua
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Whilst I guess it seems normal to me, the Metrolink is pretty weird in terms of light rail systems, being high floored.
My grandad came to visit Manchester and jokingly commented, asking "How are people are supposed to get off the tram?".
Then there's the South Shore Line, one of America's last interurbans, which still has a street running section in Michigan City.
My grandad came to visit Manchester and jokingly commented, asking "How are people are supposed to get off the tram?".
Then there's the South Shore Line, one of America's last interurbans, which still has a street running section in Michigan City.
The Utrecht sneltram was high floor until earlier this year. Now being converted to a low floor system.
Cheers,
Ewan
61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
Köln has a mixed high and low floor tram network. Including Bombardier K5000 trams very similar to the ones in Manchester.
duesselmartin
Established Member
Most of the Rhein Ruhr region in Germany has a mixed system.
James James
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I came across gauntlet tracks on Wikipedia today:
en.wikipedia.org
Mostly not that weird, but the example I've linked does look odd.
(Wonder if they'll introduce these in the UK if they ever try to migrate to a large loading gauge...)
Gauntlet track - Wikipedia
(Wonder if they'll introduce these in the UK if they ever try to migrate to a large loading gauge...)
61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
There's a bit on Croydon Tramway. I can't see it being used on a large scale on the national network, as the signalling would be very complicated and frequencies are high on any routes likely to benefit from it. To an extent our loading gauge is "baked in" outside of HS1, HS2 and any further HS routes, sadly.
The signalling isn’t complicated at all; no more than a normal short stretch of single line of a simple junction. The reason it’s not use dhere is that there is no need to.
The Legoland Hill Railway uses gauntleted tracks, and the trams in Amsterdam use it very elegantly, with gauntleted tracks down narrow streets and passing places on the wider bridgesI came across gauntlet tracks on Wikipedia today:
Mostly not that weird, but the example I've linked does look odd.Gauntlet track - Wikipedia
(Wonder if they'll introduce these in the UK if they ever try to migrate to a large loading gauge...)
There's a section of gauntletted track at Crich Tramway Museum.
not for most stations but i could see it being used at stations with combo HS2/WCML platforms potentially
Why?
py_megapixel
Established Member
I've always found cable hauled tramways fascinating. I don't know if any examples are left in the UK.
to potentially allow future GC gauge rolling stock to use the same platforms as UK gauge rolling stock without leading to a large platform gap for UK gauge rolling stock
Crewe would be a good example of where it could work
Midnight Sun
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Number still around
Shipley Glen Tramway - A unique journey through history
A charming heritage attraction offering a unique journey through history, connecting the scenic Roberts Park to the tranquil glen above.
www.shipleyglentramway.co.uk
Great Orme Tramway
The Great Orme Tramway is Britain’s only cable-hauled public road tramway and has been delighting visitors from near and far since it opened on July 31st 1902.
www.greatormetramway.co.uk
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