
3 1 c m
40cm
actual image size: 32cm x 23cm
Description
Between 1929-1930, Scottish engineer George Bennie (1892-1957) built a monorail 'railplane' test track at Burnbrae, Milngavie, above an existing London & North Eastern Railway station. His idea was to have pasengers travel by railplane and freight traffic to continue using the land rails, in an effort to speed up pasenger services on the railways. Officially launched on 8th July 1930, the railplane was powered by large propellers at each end, making it capable of a top speed of 120 mph. However, due to his inability to find further financial backing, Bennie's revolutionary monorail system progresed no further than the test track at Milngavie, and he was declared bankrupt in 1937.
Image Details
Image Ref.
10413099
© Science Museum / Science & Society Picture Library