The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-04-30
ON a SINGLE RAIL.
a Novel Ride from Llttowel to 6ally-
Bunnion.

Correspondence London Daily News.l
enjoyed this afternoon the privilege OF
trial trip over a single-rail railway. The line
which is ten miles in length, runs from LIS
towel to Ballybunnion, in the County Of Ker-
ry. 1t has been constructed on what is call
ed the Lartigue single rail system. The
first impression which the railway gives to
a spectator that it is very substantial wire
fence. 1t is about three feet six inches In
height, the top rail, which bears all the
weight OF the train, being about two inches
wide. Springing downwards from this on
each side are two iron supporters, formings
as it were, capital letter A, or rather an In
yerted letter V. These are fastened to iron
sleepers themselves extending about ten in
ehes on either side. and being so formed that
when the road Is firm they became so enl-
bedded in Ithe ground that other sleepers
are not required. In other parts, where the
permanent way Is less solid, wooden sleepers
six feet wide have been laid into which the
iron sleepers are fastened with bolts. A
guiding rail passes along each side OF the
trestles at uniform distance OF about Two
feet. These side-rails bear no weight. but
are merely extended to balance the rolling
stock, which it will be perceived Is OF very
novel and very peculiar construction. "A
spectator looking at the engines, the tenders
the carriages, the wagons, and the trucks Is
struck by the fact that no wheels are visible,
and it is onlyupOn close inspection OF what
may be called the centre of the engines, car
riages, etc, that wheels can be seen az all.
The secret Is this-the wheels on which, as
already indicated, the entire weight Of the
engine or carriages hang are In the centre,
and practically divide the carriage or engine
into halves. These wheels are necessarily
placed well up in the centre OF the carriage.
a "a. - t.xo.la nm xUh fhaU
run Is about three feet six inches above the
ground. Perhaps the best idea Of the way In
which the carriages are attached to the top
rails will be conveyed by saying that the Two
sides of the carriages rest on it-or, ratner,
on the framework above the centre wheels
and hang over on either side like the pannels
of a saddle on a donkey. Ihe SIDE ralls
serve as guiding rails, their other practlcal
purpose being to balance the carriage on
the centre rails. The centre wneels are
ches in breadth, with deep fiange at each
side. aud are placed in the usual vertical po-
sition; whereas the side wheels are placed IN
horizontally, so that when in motion their
borne upon the single top rail. All the rails,
trestles, ETC., are Of steel, and as they form
substantially the permanent way 1t Is estl-
mated that the expense Of maintenance and
renewal will be very much below that OF or
binary railways.
The line has been constructed alongside,
but not on the public road from Listowel-a
station ON the North kerry-tO BallyDuniOn,
Five months only have been occupied IN con-
struetiOn indeed, one OF the principal ad-
vantages which the company claim for the
new system Is the speed with which line
constructed on the plan can be made. Ihe
promoters express their confidence that with
the experience they have gained they could
now construct line Of equal length, even
four months. Difficulties had to be c0ntended
with, arising mainly from the fact they were
unable 10 deviate from the route originally
proposed, and for which they obtained the
sanction Of Parliament. They have discOv-
erred that a line which Is throughout close TO
the public road has the disadvantage OF In
yOlying the construction and maintenance
of a larger number OF level and other cross
ings leading to farmers houses, than would
be required in the construction OF line some
distance from the public road. To the extra
works thus rendered necessary the promoters
attribute q portion of the delay In eOmplet-
ing the line. The crossings are Of the most
ingenious construction. What Is called
''leve" crossing Is producing by simply
placing upon hinges, and thereby converting
into gate, section OF the railway itself.
These gates will be kept locked, save when
the person having the right Of way Is passing
through them. A more elaborate crossing,
however, has had to be provided where the
line intersects as it does at several points,
public road. This Is In the form Of llght
drawbridge raised by pulleys, which a child
can work, and which simultaneously raise
or lowers the two halves OF the drawbridge
which, when lowered, met on the centre OF
the TOP rail OF the railway. The trip To-Day
was nerformed I'M twenty-five minutes, but
Something like ten minutes Of that time was
occupied BY delays at one or two OF these
crossings. These, Of course, will be oDviat-
ed when the line is open for public traiiic, as
men will then be placed in charge oil them
whose duty it will be TO keep the way clear
of trains. The journey OF ten miles mas
been, am informed, accomplishing IN lew
minutes less than half an hour. Inc mOuon
of the train is easy and eomtortaOie'