Very NG-You will not believe this, but you read it here first

In reply to Rich Steel regarding Condo rail-camp: “Now, if you can create an exclusive private Self-Propelled rail car to shuttle them around with....”
[www.rail-pod.com]

A company in Belmont, MA has invented a driverless two-seat passenger pod that runs on one rail and keeps itself upright. It is still under design and is being built to run on existing railroad tracks where one rail for one direction and one used for the return. Its FAQ link gives the following description of how it stands up: "In order to ensure safety, two methods of stabilization are integrated into the vehicle. RailPodTM vehicles use two drag arms to provide physical contact with the ground at low speeds and when the vehicle is stopped. While the vehicle is moving, the gyroscopic effects of an electric motor stabilize the vehicle. The vehicle stabilizes in a very similar way as that of a bicycle balancing, but has the added assurance of drag arms to keep it upright."

It is electrically operated but may include power charging motors for long runs or rechanged at various hook up point.

They have signed a contract to test the units on the Belfast & Moosehead Lake railroad owned by Maine DOT. They are looking for other short lines to test the units on. I wonder if it will clear each other if run on 3’ narrow gauge rather than broad gauge.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/31/2009 09:22AM by John E. Bull.