Bennie Railplane

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

The Bennie Railplane, at Milingavie, Scotland.

I seem to remember the framework being pointed out to me when traveling to Milingavie by train, in the early 60s. Google says that it was demolished in the mid 50s.

Is it possible that parts of the structure were still standing in the early 60s? I was not around in the late 50s, but somehow I seem to remember being pointed to a bit of this spidery structure in the middle of "nowhere", just outside of Milingavie.

Anybody have any memories of that?

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Interesting video here:-
**LINK**

If you take the Toulouse to Paris rail, about 1 hour south of Paris, there is a very long section of abandoned concrete monorail in the fields beside the main line – stands there like some ghost from the past.
BobH

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

There was a very fine large working Meccano model of the Bennie Railplane displayed in the 2012 Meccano Exhibition at Kew Bridge Engine House.

A Mr David Fellows was the builder and had (I think) researched the Railplane for his model.

It seems that some of the hardware might still have been on site in the early 60s, possibly even including what remained of the Railcar!

Here are a few links which might be of interest, the last one is to a You Tube Video of the Meccano model.

**LINK**

**LINK**

**LINK**

 

Edited By V8Eng on 01/04/2018 20:32:40

[Jim GuthrieParticipant @jimguthrie82658]

Posted by John Alexander Stewart on 01/04/2018 02:47:55:

The Bennie Railplane, at Milingavie, Scotland.

I seem to remember the framework being pointed out to me when traveling to Milingavie by train, in the early 60s. Google says that it was demolished in the mid 50s.

Is it possible that parts of the structure were still standing in the early 60s? I was not around in the late 50s, but somehow I seem to remember being pointed to a bit of this spidery structure in the middle of "nowhere", just outside of Milingavie.

Anybody have any memories of that?

I remember my father taking me up to Milngavie to see what was left in the early 50s. He would have been in his mid teens when it was first ran so probably made a big impression on him at the time. It does look as though it was scrapped by 1957 according to various reports but I dug up a thread on Hidden Glasgow where it was suggested that there might have been some ground level bits left standing.

http://www.hiddenglasgow.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1399

 

Jim.

Edited By Jim Guthrie on 01/04/2018 20:49:10

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Posted by Speedy Builder5 on 01/04/2018 06:56:02:

Interesting video here:-
**LINK**

If you take the Toulouse to Paris rail, about 1 hour south of Paris, there is a very long section of abandoned concrete monorail in the fields beside the main line – stands there like some ghost from the past.
BobH

About 11 miles but a few gaps over roads these days, north from Orleans(Saran to Ruan)

Mike

[Cyril BonnettParticipant @cyrilbonnett24790]

Another couple of links

**LINK**

**LINK**

[Gordon TarlingParticipant @gordontarling37126]

My mother hailed from Milngavie and I can remember her taking me to see the Railplane when we were on a visit to my grandparents. Not sure of the date, but I'm guessing late 50's. I seem to recall seeing the elevated track running round the perimeter of a field, but the evidence presented in this thread leads me to think I must be mistaken. Only wish I'd owned a camera then, but that came a little later in life.

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

Some interesting links found, including ones that I did not find on my own.

So, I'd guess that my recollections from the early 60s were not of the Railplane elevated track, or I'm confusing it with pictures that I may have seen as a young child.

I used to spend quite a bit of my summers in Milngavie, likely I'd not recognize anything there, now.

One of LBSC's favourite castings suppliers was in Milngavie, if I remember correctly ("Williwau&quot although I DEFINITELY did not remember seeing that one! I'll have to dig out old Model Engineers from storage and see if I can find the address; likely under a motorway or car park by now.

Many thanks – John.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

We are getting excited in Toulouse:-

The Hyperloop is this train of the future whose capsules, which will travel at 1200 km / hour in a low-pressure tube, should eventually connect Toulouse to Paris in 40 minutes. In January 2017, Toulouse associated its name with this intelligent land transport mode by signing a contract with California-based Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, one of three companies in the world that are developing this high-speed magnetic levitation train concept. This contract covers the creation, on the former Francazal air base, of a research and development centre and a test track.

**LINK**

BobH

[doubletopParticipant @doubletop]

Link to streetview and the location of the plaque below.

**LINK**

Have a 'drive' around

Apparently the railcar was stored in the shed now used by the timber yard.

https://www.urbanghostsmedia.com/2016/01/abandoned-monorails-suspension-railways-railplanes-hovertrains/

Edited By Doubletop on 13/04/2018 11:24:12

Edited By Doubletop on 13/04/2018 11:24:59

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

More video here:

http://www.britishpathe.com/search/query/railplane

Neil

[Cyril BonnettParticipant @cyrilbonnett24790]

National Library of Scotland, 20 minute video.

**LINK**

[Cyril BonnettParticipant @cyrilbonnett24790]

The sewing machine has always amazed me, ever since I watched my mother using one to latter in life actually using one. Dangerous as well, especially when you put the needle through you finger nail.

Singer Sewing Machine Co. Ltd, Clydebank

**LINK**

BIRTH OF A SEWING MACHINE

**LINK**

[GreensandsParticipant @greensands]

Have attached a couple of recent pics of an early lift installation seen in a hotel on the south coast manufactured by the same George Bennie who constructed the monorail.

[Alistair Robertson 1Participant @alistairrobertson1]

A few years ago I stayed in an old budget but very nice hotel in Edinburgh and Lo and Behold, the rattly old, two person lift was a Bennie very similar to that photo. I did wonder if they were the same Bennie but I didn't chase it up as research wasn't as easy then before the Internet,

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

Many attempts at monorail, maglev etc have been proposed and failed worldwide including this one in what is now Cambridgeshire. The concrete pillars and track stood as far as I remember well into the 1980's and it is possible remnants still remain around Earith.

regards

[RedsetterParticipant @redsetter]

Has anyone definitely established a connection between the Bennie Railplane and Bennie Lifts? When I looked into it briefly there seemed to be no obvious connection, but perhaps someone has researched it further?

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

According to this slightly clunky website (but obviously run by someone with infectious enthusiasm) it was the same family but not the same Person. John Bennie.

**LINK**

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

also here

[RedsetterParticipant @redsetter]

Posted by Jon Lawes on 19/07/2022 21:48:08:

According to this slightly clunky website (but obviously run by someone with infectious enthusiasm) it was the same family but not the same Person. John Bennie.

**LINK**

Thanks. If it was the same family, then George and John might possibly have been cousins. One source states that Bennie Lifts Ltd was founded in 1934, which postdates the Railplane, so they could not have been directly involved. You have to admire George Bennie for following his dream, however misguided it was.

None of the monorail inventors seem to have had any idea of the practicalities of railway operation, and one wonders whether any of them ever owned a model railway or even a basic train set, as it soon teaches you about line capacity, and the need for points, sidings and signalling, among other things.

There is also the fact that if you want one rail to do the work of two and carry the same load it will have to be twice as strong, so the track isn't likely to be simpler or cheaper.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

A search for “george bennie” on Espacenet reveals several interesting patents

MichaelG.

.

https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=%22george%20bennie%22

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 20/07/2022 06:20:59

[D 304Participant @d30427622]

Hi everyone, first reply on this site.

I was born in Milguy but the Bennie Railplane was long gone by the time I came along. Fortunately my dad and grandfather both photographed Bennie’s Railplane both in the thirties when it was brand new and when it met it’s demise in the 1950’s. In my collection I have what is most likely the last images of the Railplane ever taken, lying in bits on the ground under its track. My dad was given its propeller and dragged it partly home leaving it in the woods to be collected “another” day. There was a, I presume, a “makers” model in the Milngavie Library fifteen years ago when an aunt showed it to me.

Stay tuned for a world exclusive!

regards

David

[Author]

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