The Republican journal., 1907-07-04
THE 0NE-RAIL RAILROAD.
Scientific World Interest in an English In
vention. 1t Develops Great..lSpeed and
Retains Perfect Balance

| SClentlnC w OIlQ interest II an English IN
vention. It Develops Great. lSpeed an
Retains Perfect Balance
| Another remarkable invention has
been made public which promises to be
of even greater Importance than the
Roentgen rays or wireless telegraphy
now that Louis Brennan has demon
strated the practicability of his mono
rail car. A few days ago, before the
Royal Society of London, Brennan
demonstrated his invention and the
members were astonished to see small
model locomotive and cars go spinning
around the room on single rail, going
up steep grades, around sharp curves,
tipping over. This was the single rail
locomotive which promises to revolu-
tioniZe travel in the world. Scientists
are so bold as to claim that this train is
capable of greater speed than any of
the best steam railroads, on account of
reduced friction, and that the danger
OF serious wrecks is many times less
than at present.
The principle on which this invention
is based is entirely too complicated to
explain without the aid of mathematics.
Suffice it to say that Brennan has ap-
piled the principle of the gyroscope or
spinning top, and claims that his cars
can maintain their equilibrium at
speed of up to miles minute. The
balancing device consists of two large
vertical balance wheels running in op-
posite directions in vacuum cases.
These wheels in rapid motion maintain
the Car at perfect level just as the spin
ming top runs true, as long as in motion.
This application is familiar to every
bicycle rider, is used on submarine
boats to give the navigator standard
of direction and also to prevent the de-
Election of giant torpedoes. 1t is even
planned to install such a system on
ship board to eliminate the rolling of
vessels.
The cars on the mono-rail are electri-
cally operated and all the machinery
employed represents the highest art of
mechanics. At the test the cars at
times were loaded down on one side I'M
til it seemed impossible for them to
right themselves, but strange to say,
the depressed side arose to its normal
level as soon as the machinery was
started, and the cars ran on their course
as naturally as when the load was even
IL tlllS ueVlce mas any commercial
value it may be that the railroads of
the future will have but one nckle-
steel rail and the bridges will be either
heavy wire cables across streams or a
single rail laid on piles. The govern
ment of India has contributed S25, 900
for the erection of an experimental
| road. 1t is the inventors idea to make
the new system first useful in opening
up new country, as it would not be
necessary to grade and construct
bridges to build the railroad. This
would revolutionize war and hasten the
conquest of Africa and South America.
| 1t is not safe to scott at this bit of
authentic news. A few years ago had
a man talked of wireless telegraphy,
long distance telephones and electric
trains, it would have been set down as
the vagary of disorded mind, and TO-
day they are everyday conveniences
Daily the world is astonished by
wonderful inventions and new develop
ments, and there is no telling what the
next few years will bring forth.