New York's bizarre bicycle railroads - Boynton Bicycle and PP&CIR

[@TrainFactGuy]

For those wondering, my sound proofing involves me throwing a duvet or thick blanket over myself as I record, with my windows shut and fans off to also reduce noise... In a heatwave with no air-conditioning too, I think I'll just settle with a dip in sound quality

[@Trainboyz1.]

It's fine. I like the videos cuz they are very informative and easy to understand.

[@JohnDavies-cn3ro]

You needn't apologise, as I don't have sound, and 'listen' to the subtitles insetad.

[@CheeseMiser]

@@Trainboyz1. pls stop idolizing v1nce. Hea just a negative person.

[@RobinRense]

If you hadn't said, I wouldn't have noticed. For all I care, you can leave the blanket xD

[@brianbarker2551]

And all this time we thought he was sipping champagne is a large sound-proof studio, living off the youtube royalties!

[@michaelramsey82]

This is probably the only steam locomotive that can legitimately claim a Whyte classification with odd numbers in it.

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

Add to that the Lartigue Monorail (Listowel and Ballybunion Railway) (picture shown very briefly in the early part of the video).

[@realcanadian67]

1-3-1s exist. Edit: it's an 0-3-0

[@norftrain]

They actually did, the one with two wheels under the cab is classified as an 0-1-2, the vertical boiler loco shown briefly was a 2-1-0, and the one shown when talking about the coaches was an 0-2-0, thus meaning an 0-2-0 did exist, or at the very least a design was made.

[@gerrard1144]

​@@realcanadian67those are axel counts

[@realcanadian67]

@@gerrard1144 no, search it up. I believe it's a monorail. And it wasn't 1-3-1, it was 0-3-0

[@CrippleX89]

I would love to see one of these rebuilt as a curiosity and tourist attraction. It probably wouldn't be worth it financially, but it's be one hell of a cool project!

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

That derailment accident of the later example is exactly the kind of thing you would have to worry about with this design.

[@retroversals081]

Just imagine if these designs became successful in New York. Goodbye subway, say hello to bicycle railroads.

[@True_NOON]

Or even the boyton elevated metro Literal oversized hairpins

[@FunAngelo2005]

Lol

[@Hilldrum]

To think, all this time I wondered what an 0-2-0 would look like if it could exist. A 2-1-0 or 0-1-2 never crossed my mind. 😂

[@jordandorsett3106]

It's most likely like a 0-2-4

[@Hilldrum]

Maybe it's a new designation, like (0-4-0)/2

[@FuelFire]

There has been an 0-2-0, in 1878 the Bradford & Foster Brook monorail had it.

[@stuff___idontknow2610]

Or how about a 0-1-0

[@buzzytrains9037]

@@jordandorsett3106 or 0-1-2

[@oliverscratch]

In H. G. Wells' 1908 novel "The War In The Air" he describes monorails where the trains run atop a single rail with no overhead support. Gyroscopes are used to keep the cars upright, but Wells offers no explanation about how this works.

[@yetidynamics]

that's been done, search for "Gyro monorail"

[@giddy1337]

THE most weirdest train I’ve ever seen. Definitely out of the ordinary, imo.

[@gordieboi2340]

"0-1-2s aren't real. They can't hurt you" 0-1-2s:

[@True_NOON]

Nahh its a 0-1-1+1 its all in a single line

[@superakman14]

There is also a gyro train that was a bicyle style train without a guide rail that stayed balanced with the use of a gyro.

[@TankEngineMedia]

I’ve seen that image of that engine when I typed cursed locomotives, and while I’m very impressed of the history of this one-of-a-kind engine, it looks like if you split a monorail steam engine and gave them bicycle wheels. Or more like a coffeepot stretched out vertically

[@juango500]

I don't know if it would qualify as a "coffeepot" if the boiler isn't on a vertical position, however I do agree on terms of general shape and dimensions

[@Pensyfan19]

I'd like to note that this particular railroad style is underrated when it comes to acknowledgement by the railfanning community in Long Islnad, since a similar system was also built in Patchogue in Long Island, which isn't too far away from my home town.

[@That_One_Guy_In_A_Band]

Wait, where in Patchogue? I've lived on LI for most of my life and had no idea we had a similar railway line basically right in my backyard!

[@stuartaaron613]

@@That_One_Guy_In_A_Band South shore in Suffolk County.

[@metropod]

The primary problem from some further research was the line Boyton took over… was street running for the most part. It was originally built as basically a connection to allow one of the excursion railroads that served Coney Island to have a second terminal on the Bighton Beach side. This is how insanely busy Coney Island was, there were five railroads built to carry people there from the edges of the populated areas of Brooklyn, with connections on to New York City, then still separate. Of the five, only one was abandoned and the other four were bought and evolved to become the four subway lines to Coney.

[@EuroScot2023]

Audio didn't worry me as I'm deaf and captioning was accurate. If anyone modelled these they'd get invites to every Model Railway show in range! A fascinating video on two rather bizarre systems but you have to give them credit for thinking outside the box. Well done ToT.

[@yetidynamics]

i can tell you exactly why it failed, in fact it's in your video.. that one where it derailed because the bed sunk. that's it. Train tracks require constant maintance, and Bed Tamping is one of those things, but in a normal train, if the bed is a bit sullen, the train doesn't derail. wood also cracks, the only way to keep this thing cheaper than normal rail is to make the guide track cheaper than an additional ground rail., so they made it out of cheap wood. not really a good material for guiding a train, this would also have to be maintained constantly, , any sort of distortion or wear in the track, or guide, and the train derails,. not a good idea., I think most of the people that this idea was being sold too, realized that it would have too many problems

[@enrique5167]

The sound is more than OK, don't worry about that.

[@brenlc1412]

BICYCLE! BICYCLE! BICYCLE! I want to ride my bicycle!

[@TheRobProject]

This content is quite contradicting to your post about running dry for inspiration 😅 excellent work as always!

[@agw100100]

Someone has to say it. Passengers nowadays are quite a bit wider.

[@ivanthevaluable2559]

Once again, thanks for using music from one of my favorite games, Cuphead, in the video! I see you used "Forest Follies" and in the Crash at Crush video it was "Inkwell Isle Two". Also the 20th Century Limited joke was pretty funny

[@Anonymous-sb9rr]

The train is so narrow you can't even fit an aisle between the seats. On standard gauge they'd be about 4 feet wide max. And building switches would be difficult.

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

Now that you made this, I wonder if you can make a video about the Ewing monorail system and the only railroad that uses it: Patiala State Monorail Tramway. I was fascianted by hiw easy it is to make a decent monorail railroad using this system...

[@joshuaW5621]

Bicycle locomotives are the funniest locomotives I’ve ever seen.

[@True_NOON]

A true 0-1-1+1 Ground-Wupertalbahn moment

[@Tibetbrick]

Single wheel💀

[@gunthomaso3550]

True😂

[@CollinModels]

2-1-0 layout!

[@emeraldcityelicitor2281]

This idea would work better as a tram/trolley/streetcar replacement I think, it's definitely a short trip vehicle rather than a long haul vehicle. You just need to electrify it and provide enough units so you don't have to wait longer than 15 minutes for an empty space.

[@RubenKelevra]

That's not a bicycle, that's a motorcycle.

[@SuperTrainStationH]

I'm really amazed that these things managed to operate for muiltiple years. As a NYC native and a train fan with a particular love for Coney Island, I'm amazed I never heard of the first one!

[@JohnDavies-cn3ro]

I knew of this design, as it featured in a 1952 edition of Model Railroader which I possess, but I didn't know it got as far as being built. You learn something new every daY!

[@theworkshopwhisperer.5902]

It is unclear from the diagrams but could a conventional locomotive run on a bicycle track without striking the overhead infrastructure? If the design could be adjusted to allow a regular locomotive to fit on both rails while simultaneously allowing the half size to each occupy a single rail that would take the design to the next level. You could run full size goods shuffling back and forth or a two way half size passenger service...All of this would defeat the point of just running a regular service though?

[@ieuanbriers]

Brilliant! This was posted on my Birthday

[@AlbertBenajam-ww1db]

The line the Boynton used was abandoned, but the other 4 upgraded to present subway (Metro) to Coney Island. (amusment area somewhat like Blackpool UK) I dont know if related to Boyntons project, but in 1912 SIMILAR MONORAIL was bilt in Bronx part of New York City, from end of sunway to fishing boat and entertainment peir on CITY ISLAND. This one differed in that: I> Single tram-like cars, of 1 deck and normal width. 2>Electricly powered by the overhead that like Boyntons, supported the car, by a single rail, with double flamged wheel. 3> Single track with passing sidings, was built for it, from scratch. It operated for one year but its bridge washed away by storm, with no money or insurance to rebuild. I think the concept would like these 2 for carring passengers from regular railroad or car park to amisement area.., construckting a line with 6 feet between rails would allow up and down service for lrss money that 2 money that 2 track convention line.

[@Johnsfunfilms]

I've heard of narrow gauge railways but this is ridiculous

[@dougaltolan3017]

2 levels of seating in a 15' gap?? There's one reason it didn't sell.

[@nb7466]

So it still needed two rails

[@Zacht1980]

Seems like a fun idea for a themepark to build.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

there’s just two visible things leftover from operation: the access road to the station where passengers transferred to the regular railroad and a bit of right of way including a bridge in the park

[@Straswa]

Great work ToT, fascinating design.

[@warmstrong5612]

Anybody else think that it isn't a coincidence that all of the wackiest train designs come from a time when cocaine was legal and easy to acquire?

[@ajivins1]

If there's just the one driving wheel, I don't see there'd be much traction.

[@BladeLigerV]

What an absolutely wild idea.

[@Foxxnioxx]

Wow, never heard of this oddity before!

[@angelsy1975]

I wonder what the radius of curves this locomotive would handle. Looks like it'd be... alright (?) on a straightway, but hills and curves?

[@andrewscolari5724]

I can imagine myself as the mayor of a major city actually buying into the Bicycle Railroad idea and using it in the same capacity as a subway or elevated railway as a form of mass transit in said city

[@GlitchSystem-xf7jb]

Now I like to see a working model of this unique train

[@peteryoung4957]

It audio sounded fine to me. Another interesting video and very informative.

[@thatlittlefox.]

Is it just me or did The audio not change when you removed/modified your sound proofing.

[@jasonbale4437]

How would have points worked with the upper guide rail?

[@champagnesupernova1839]

now here's an idea: using bicycle trains for passengers on a section of standard gauge track, such as for city transport. smaller, cheaper, more convenient(?) cars on infrastructure that would mostly already be there anyway, which could be taken off the rails relatively quickly when a freight train (or longer distance passenger train) comes through and needs the whole railway.

[@champagnesupernova1839]

i know very little about how to plan this kind of thing, is my idea good? at least in theory?

[@Arkay315]

Could you maybe do a video about the mason bogie locomotives?

[@jeffgoldenberg9579]

You should do a follow up about Elfric Wells Chalmers Kearney and his concept for a tandem/bicycle railroad which was much more advanced than Boynton's, yet also sadly never took off. Actually trying to build a working model of it.

[@TheStickCollector]

These combine my two favorite transport methods I want them. I should start a company like that.

[@nikolimoon6165]

We need to bring this back, and since we have much more advanced tech than what was available at the time this was originally made, we could probably make it even better

[@overpoweredsteamproduction513]

You should make a video about the N&W Y6b, the strongest successful steam locomotive ever built, tractive effort being 177,000 pounds

[@TheDiveO]

I could bet these are modern kickstarter projects.

[@athena1491]

im, not sure i get how it saves any materials tho, since, you need two rails for it, just like a regular train, so, instead of 1 x 2 on two rails, its 2 x 1 between two

[@michaelcamberdella]

Boynton also hoped to extend across Long Island.

[@RCAvhstape]

The overhead rail makes it a maintenance headache, unlike electric catenary if the rail fails the train falls over and passengers have a really bad day. Extra bad if it happens on a bridge. And now you get to maintain not just an elevated monorail but also a semistandard ground railroad as well.

[@lalnablehector1285]

Audio sounds fine, honestly wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't pointed it out 😅

[@ytzpilot]

To be honest electrified passenger cars was the design that beat this concept, they were compact enough to be used as trams or streetcars on street level or in tunnels as subways or elevated rails like in New York and Chicago

[@RobSchofield]

Great! More like this, please!

[@YourAverageRailwayFan]

Oh my god, that disclaimer at the beginning was relatable, the UK is literally on fire right now

[@OutbackCatgirl]

The audio quality is perfectly alright imo. I've heard *so* much worse. Mostly from certain guests on WTYP.

[@norftrain]

I've been waiting for this for a while, the B.B.Ry. especially was an obsession of mine for a long time and I'm still trying to find more information on it.

[@onetrackmind3558]

I like the design, very unique.

[@barryphillips7327]

Surely it would be unstable????

[@Veeebeee69]

The audio wasn't too bad, It's a difference but not bad!

[@optionalcoast7478]

I don't think the savings of width were such an issue that this sort of compromise is worth it. Despite working it was more of an over the top solution that was already mostly solved by narrow gauge.

[@TrevortheTrainFan]

Interesting video and locomotives. 🧐

[@sarcasmo57]

I think they're neat.

[@dodgydruid]

Blimey that was a long bit o' abandoned track running all the way from the Thames estuary to NY... :P Sorry I could not resist there :D

[@davidmolin8944]

Really cool video, where could I find these diagrams of the bicycle rolling stock?

[@Malarkeypop2009]

Bicycle locomotives could’ve been reconverted into small gauge locomotives.

[@daniellclary]

I can see why it did not take off.

[@harrisonallen651]

If you like steam trains and bicycles, New York is the best place to go!

[@nicktallfox5266]

I feel like they could have done well in the same place that normal bicycles do well, i.e. the narrow streets of old european cities.

[@rasmusjonsson1348]

Did they have switches?

[@anakoni946]

I’ve got to be honest, I can’t tell a difference in the audio quality between this video and others

[@naerbo19]

It can fit through alleyways, maybe depending. And if the first steam trains and quite a few more years we might have seen more innovation before switching to standard rail

[@paradiselost9946]

sort of sounds like an awesome tram for crowded cities... poke em in overhead...

[@railwayjade]

Your sound.... well, sounded fine! By the way, railways still make more money from freight - most passenger trains need subsidising.

[@FuelFire]

I dont know how much info exists about the Bradford & Foster Brook Railway so I dont know if a video about it is possible to make. But it would be awesome if it were because it too was a monorail with steam locomotives.

[@RegebroRepairs]

Bike-rails are good for one thing: Steampunk comics.

[@b43xoit]

What about passenger comfort? Was there enough room?

[@jordandorsett3106]

It should have got a nickname called The Paper Mario Loco

[@Ellathestrasburgdecapod2]

What happened to the locomotive’s?

[@jandoerlidoe3412]

Sound quality is certainly not that bad...

[@RaimoKangasniemi]

The wooden supports seem very much a weak point of the system if it would have been adopted to wide use.

[@polyrhythmia]

Actually, had no problem with the audio myself.

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

Euros melting at anything above 75 degrees fahrenheit, meanwhile in the western, southwestern, and southern parts of the Greatest Nation on Earth, US European-Americans are working outside in hotter weather and calling it just another day! Lol. I'm just messing with you man, I don't have AC in my house, or even a swampy, so I feel ya!

[@RattelP1000]

It also seems kinda diff to get out incase of emergency

[@More_Row]

Perfect use of Cuphead OST

[@andrewrife6253]

So I guess the moral of the story is that just because you are unique and can be made to work does not mean you are worth a damn

[@youtube-is-trash-2277]

they had a flair fro crazy stuff back then, it would not get off the ground now ???

[@VladimirTolskiy]

Why not use this concept in a metro?

[@FunAngelo2005]

Bicycle built for 100s

[@LandonMac32]

Can somebody please draw a streamlined bicycle locomotive pulling the 20th Century Limited?

[@n5sdm]

What is an upside to a mono rail? They suck. Always have, even the Simpsons made it known. I see a track suspended above another track. Needing much more than a bed and ties of a normal track. It's stupid to say it took less.

[@DartTyler]

Wait until Elon pitches this as a new mode of transport

[@seabass2198]

World's worst monorail