THE MONO RAIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 80, 24 May 1911, Page 5

THE MONO RAIL.

The mono-rail car and the gyroscope formed the subject of v a very interesting address delivered by Professor Laby before a special gathering of members of the Philosophical Society held at Victoria College (Wellington), the president of the institute (Mr G. V. Hudson) being chairman. “When Brennan first exhibited a v model of his mono-rail car before the Royal Society in London, in May, 1907, I was present,” said the Professor, who had naturally watched its progress since that date with much interest. The mono-rail car was equipped with an automatic stability mechanism which enabled it to maintain its equilibrium upon a single rail, whether standing still or travelling at a great speed. The mechanism consisted of two. gyroscopes revolving rapidly in opposite directions. When the model was first exhibited, the machine was practically undeveloped, hut since then considerable improvements have been effected.. About a year ago Brennan, the inventor, had a modified car made - which could negotiate curves just as easily as a cyclist; indeed, it boro the same relation to an ordinary train as a motorcycle did to a motor car. The advantages claimed for the new system were comparative cheapness of installation owing to the need of using only one rail, its ability to go into much more inaccessible places than a double-railed car, and its power of taking very sharp curves with safety. The real merits of the invention lay in tho possibility of producing Inuch larger effects from the gyroscope than anyone had previously supposed possible. The lecture was illustrated by means of lantern slides, which added greatly to tho interesting subject ‘which the Professor had chosen for his address. On tho motion of Mr G. Hogben, Inspector-General of Education, and Mr A. L. Beattie, Chief Mechanical Engineer, Railway Department, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Professor Lahy for his address.