How A Small Irish Town Built The World's First Commercial Monorail

[@AsbestosMuffins]

"Getting there on time without a single delay by sandstorm." True, this did happen

[@jamesdavison1786]

PsychoLucario r/technicallytrue

[@ElwoodPDowd-nz2si]

I read this before watching the video. Irish sandstorms?

[@MarkMcCluney]

@@ElwoodPDowd-nz2si No. It's a joke about the railway's origin - it was designed for use in the Sahara.

[@57thorns]

@@MarkMcCluney Of course the buildup of sand would be very very quick anyway, so the monorail would not work in Sahara as designed (apart from the rocky parts of course). It is basically a snow fence (or in this case a sand fence) making sure the sand is deposited where the train line is.

[@SianaGearz]

There were probably quite a few delays by sheep.

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

Damn, those irish sandstorms are really a major pain. Atleast this one line can operate even in the worst of dusty conditions.

[@JeffDeWitt]

Indeed, and the sand must be a big help with the soap problem.

[@GewelReal]

@@JeffDeWitt I mean, trains use sand to help with traction

[@JeffDeWitt]

@@GewelReal Indeed they do!

[@StamfordBridge]

It’s why the Irish no longer rely on camels.

[@smitajky]

With Global warming perhaps they are anticipating that Ireland will become part of the Sub Sahara desert?

[@filtrakioldhorborn]

You know you're in Ireland when cattle has priority over trains

[@Perririri]

…or India

[@filtrakioldhorborn]

@@Perririri true true

[@ryandavis7593]

Or Wyoming.

[@IBM-vw4fv]

I just look at the mr tato packet of crisps

[@Lord_Vengon]

I know that bcuz I live in Ireland

[@gloin10]

One of the main problems with Lartigue's monorail was the necessity of balancing both sides of the carriage. There was a story about the railway transporting a piano, which necessitated borrowing a couple of calves to weigh down the other side of the carriage...

[@stevesaul7975]

I heard this although the story suggested that a cow was used initially to balance the piano. Then they realised they needed two calves at the other end to bring the cow back!

[@haweater1555]

Sounds like it would be easier to haul the piano on an ox pulled cart rather than the monorail.

[@gloin10]

@@haweater1555 Considering the general condition of the roads in that period, no it wouldn't...

[@iankemp1131]

@@stevesaul7975 This apparently was also done to get a single cow to market. The two calves could then ride back on the return train, neatly balanced!

[@syriuszb8611]

@@iankemp1131 aaah so that's the source story for all the "transport 4 animals to the other side of the river" riddles.

[@lunalie6938]

other tourists: twoot twoot Tim: WEET

[@pralkatv3485]

Weet or better weed :)

[@ragnarostbrok1254]

Pingu: noot noot

[@charlottemariesales4389]

Me: YEET

[@charlottemariesales4389]

Wilhelm י also pingu: NOOTIS

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

420 likes, noice

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

Hey KZbin algorithm, would you please rank this video higher in the trends and recommend it more often and to more people. This is a very good, very interesting, insightful and very educating video about the History not only of Transport not only on Ireland, the British Isles and Europe, but the whole World. Thx

[@TheTimTraveller]

Haha, I hope they can hear you Rafael... :) 🤞

[@lohphat]

@@TheTimTraveller They did! I just subscribed after seeing you in my recommendations!

[@arturturkevych3816]

@@lohphat same happened to me. Got a suggestion yesterday evening and now a new subscriber;)

[@angusmacgyver3673]

youtube should ALSO stop making the vids buffer-out, when it takes 12 hours to see a vid 10 mins or less, people lose interest and no longer want to see the vid. youtube blames this on high traffic, but the times of the day it happens to me, people are at work or are getting ready to leave their house for work, truth is, youtube can do this to viewers with a keystroke of their computers.

[@sirBrouwer]

@@angusmacgyver3673 or just came back from there work or are at lunch or what ever happen. take in account that at all time of the day somewhere for someone the day is starting and for a other it is ending. KZbin is catering to all around the world. but they are always trying to get it faster and faster. for me the video was instant no buffer at all.

[@dalevalentine1721]

We showed up yesterday a few minutes from closing. They kept the place open so we could have our ride. It was quite amazing, and they were a great bunch of folks. Thanks for the recommendation Tim!

[@lfewell2161]

Going by the size of the headlamp, this literally is a light railway !!!!

[@johnbondza]

Ahahaha... The lamp is a clear message from the engineers to aliens. Beam us up, we are bored with logical solutions to simple problems. We invented double redundancy. If the boiler on the right fails, we have a spare on the left. But let's be honest, unlike conventional rails, nobody was killed while walking down the track

[@CancerGaming56]

Bdum-Crash!

[@fetchstixRHD]

It took me a few seconds too long to get that 🤦‍♀️

[@GewelReal]

@@johnbondza unless you fell down head first

[@johnbondza]

@@GewelReal Spot on Mr Gewel. I love this kind of English humour... 😂

[@uptonsupton4430]

5:20 “something that I did not know you could be bad at”

[@alexradu1921]

aren't we all..

[@johnbondza]

And this was built by the engineers that built the majority of the great railways round the world. Most of the amazing steam innovation came from Britain. Those practical, hard headed engineers got it wrong this time. Ahahaha. 😱

[@Bishka100]

@@johnbondza Thats what happens when you involve the French.

[@c182SkylaneRG]

LOVED the anecdote about the soap! :D Sounds exactly like the sort of thing "youths" would do, and listening to it in that wonderful Irish accent only made it better! I was cracking up the whole time! :D

[@smhorse]

Thing is, it's exactly the type of thing that Irish youth has got up to over the last couple of centuries - never ones to take life seriously. Nowadays, of course, there are things like antisocial media, recreational drugs and fast vehicles available, but that's another story.....!

[@Skrynesaver]

Allegedly the 1st class passengers remained seated, the second class passengers got out and walked and 3rd class were required to push

[@bahoonies]

Hilarious story. 'Boys will be boys' was never truer. When I was a boy, we used to stand on the local railway footbridge and try to drop pebbles down the chimneys of pass passing steam locom locomotives. But those naughty boys on the Lartigue line had wonderful imaginations, bless them.

[@HJPorschen]

Soap on the rail has two purposes: it makes the ride smooth and at the same time it cleans the wheels.

[@eoinh1]

I'm irish and I've never heard of this. I go to Kerry a lot. Must visit the monorail next time.

[@ItsFriscoBaby]

Me neither. We'll go this year now but I do think they need better publicity

[@GeographyWorld]

Same. Why isn't this well known?

[@Daniel-vj9oq]

It's just so random to have a monorail there.

[@michaelcollins966]

Agreed, I used to love in Kerry, and had no idea this existed!

[@rjmun580]

@@michaelcollins966 Is that love or live - or both?

[@InspireWire]

I live in Ireland my entire life, love all things trains related and never heard of this so thanks!

[@ranekeisenkralle8265]

Quite interesting - and what I particularly appreciate is that you are urging people to go there. Many a museum these days struggles to get by, which to me is really sad to see.

[@nigel2093]

This is why I'm addicted to KZbin. What a great railway, I'd never have heard of it, if it hadn't of been for this video. Thanks for posting.

[@sebradfield]

Same here. When people ask me why I bother with KZbin I point out several truly interesting items I never would have seen if not for them. Sure, it has a lot to complain about, but "good with the bad" and all that...

[@MrMusic1950]

I lived and worked in Tralee for 10 years. This was never open when I passed. Listowel has super night life in winter with sometimes old ladies telling "very mischevious" jokes. I miss Ireland.

[@carthtc3429]

I must say you inspired me and when I was in western Ireland recently I dragged my two unknowing friends along to Listowel. :)) I knew the railway was closed due to Covid but had to see it anyway. :)

[@megaglowz8540]

I suddenly realize why monorails today are elevated.....cause its a wall. Never really thought about it I guess lol. Great video.

[@ColumbaAntiquissima]

This video helped me a LOT in the recreation of this amazing train in Minecraft lol Very nice video, I love your humor!

[@robbridgewater9791]

I and my family travelled on this wonderful Monorail a few years ago. It was great fun and the staff were very friendly. I can recommend the experience.

[@blech71]

We had a monorail back in the day at the Epson Salt Mine in the high desert in California. It was quite unique.

[@RussellNelson]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epsom_Salts_Monorail

[@Berkeloid0]

@@RussellNelson Thanks for clarifying that, I was wondering why a salt mine would be owned by a Japanese printer manufacturer.

[@arch9enius]

Practically the same system? Although the A frame seemed wider.

[@x_hibernia]

For those who are confused about the monorail having three rails there not, those are called guide rail's so the fecking thing doesn't completely tip over the train still only uses one rail for traction much like a modern rollercoaster

[@herbypumpkin1256]

So pleased that this line still runs. I thought it had gone for ever. It is even more quirky than the German "Schwebebahn" in Wuppertal.

[@57thorns]

This is a museum piece, Wuppertal is the back bone of a working public transport system. "Still runs" is not really true here because _everything_ is a reconstruction and the track is 400 meters long. Still of course a fun thing to see, and there is some history that makes it more than just another fair ground monorail.

[@tonysimister4825]

@@57thorns Just seen the 2024 opening times, so Covid didn't kill it. Yay!

[@57thorns]

@@tonysimister4825 Being a museum piece still makes it fun to try.

[@fallingpizza11]

I feel like to most people a really old oddly designed train would be the most boring tourist attraction ever, but you've made it seem like one of most most interesting trains in the world!

[@HenrysAdventures]

That's one very different railway! I must get over to the West of Ireland when things get back to normal and ride this curiosity!

[@cormackeenan8175]

When i get back to Ireland it going to be one of the first things on my list and nice weekender

[@nate3315]

I live in Ireland and never heard of this railway until now.

[@GeographyWorld]

Same. Why isn't this well known?

[@Paul-yw4yr]

Well, technically it looks more like a trirail. Great content btw, I like your sense of humor!

[@TheTimTraveller]

Shhh, you're not supposed to notice that! Yes you're absolutely correct, it could be argued that it's a tri-rail because of the two extra rails (and sets of wheels) that are used for stabilising. I think the counter-argument is that, well, only one rail is used for traction, so it's a monorail. Tbh I was thinking about mentioning this in the video but then realised that if we started talking about the exact definition of monorails, it could quickly become more controversial than Brexit.

[@noelpucarua2843]

Its a shamrock rail.

[@joermnyc]

The Tim Traveller Most modern monorails have wheels that run on the top, and sides of the box beam, same general idea, the top is traction and the sides are to stabilize the cars.

[@seatedliberty]

@@TheTimTraveller You've hit upon the solution I think- Brexit is allowed to proceed, the only stipulation is that all rail lines in Britain must be replaced with monorails.

[@johnbondza]

@@TheTimTraveller I love your sense of the ridiculous. Well I suppose it hasn't come off the rails like many international politicians. (The English don't have a monopoly on political farce). Ahahaha 😈 😈

[@sorsapari3596]

I dont know where you from but you got some of the best low key humour that exists!

[@ThePainTrain765]

That locomotive replica is very convincing! I didn't think it was diesel until you said it was!

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

I had NO idea about this monorail. Thanks for the video.

[@EmmettHoops]

I so enjoy these videos. Thank you for posting them.

[@mickcarson8504]

All my years into loving trains since kid, I've never seen this lovely train. Thanks f s.

[@austingreenough6396]

Thank you for your video,this is on my bucket list if ever we are allowed to travel international again.I love this history lesson, thank you so much.

[@aniruddhabhattacharjee3729]

I am revisiting this video after months and I realise how big a fool I have been not to have subscribed back then. Being a person having avid interest in railways I guess that's why KZbin had recommended it to me the first time.

[@Robslondon]

This is brilliant. I remember seeing an illustration of this railway in a book when I was a kid, had no idea it had been reconstructed.

[@MarkMcCluney]

Tim! Thank you so much for informing me that this still exists! I'd read of it but assumed it was long gone. And I go to Kerry for my holidays most years. Incidentally, if you return to Kerry you might like to investigate Valencia Island where the first trans-Atlantic telegraph cable came ashore. The buildings are still extant and very impressive. Thanks again.

[@TheSquirrelSam]

Nice vid. I have lived in Ireland over 20 years and did not know about this :)

[@sightscreen66]

To those who consider that this should be called a trirail due to the use of two stabilising rails on either side of the main beam. If you can find a wheeled beam/straddle type monorail that doesn't employ wheeled stabilisers below the main carrying beam, I'd be interested to know. There are a lot of concrete monobeam monorails in Japan (e.g. Hamamatsucho-Haneda) and they all have stabilising wheels bearing on the sides of the monobeam. The Lartigue system uses a steel rail version of that arrangement - they're not truly load bearing.

[@klausstock8020]

Easy. The Wuppertaler Schwebebahn, opened in 1901 and of course still in regular operation today. It tilts up to a maximum of 15° while travelling and up to 7° in stations. It's a very comfortable ride. Have a look: kzbin.info/www/bejne/foKrZYeJZZZ9qpY Technical detail: the beam is straddled by the wheels, which are flanged on both sides. There are no other wheels for sideward stablization.

[@CitroenDS23]

I wonder if the suspension of those carriages quite fits the intent of Brian's comment. Yes technically I suppose you are right - it is a monorail and it doesn't have load bearing stabilising wheels. It is a completely different design ethic when the COG is manipulated in this way.

[@RussellNelson]

The Bradford & Foster Brook monorail in the States had similar construction: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradford_and_Foster_Brook_Railway

[@mrquordlepleen]

I drive to Listowel quite often and have seen the signs for this, often wondered what it was. I think Ill call in next time, looks great. Nice video.

[@ldp0567]

Excellent video, Tim! This one has (so far) made me laugh hardest.

[@McRocket]

As a monorail lover - this especially interested me. BTW - I have seen 4 of your videos so far and a I REALLY appreciate the history/background of the things/places you are talking about, included. Thanks for this charming video.

[@mikehare7155]

The locos were the only 0-3-0s ever built! It was said that to transport a cow it had to be counterbalanced by 2 calves which travelled back one to each side

[@ablemagawitch]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/0-3-0 for the oddity

[@jwalster9412]

3 driving wheels...

[@markellis6413]

Spent a morning at the Lartigue monorail when they opened the tourist attraction. I was the only one there so got a personalised tour. You used to be able to see the original turntable beds where car park is now by the old Listowel station. There were originally plans to extend the line to Tarbert but his never happened..

[@pwhitewick]

Very very enjoyable. Thanks for the presentation. 👍

[@TheTimTraveller]

Cheers Paul!

[@thproductionwensleydale624]

I have heard about this railway/momrail and even though I have been to Ireland once I have never been on it and I would really like to so it is great to see this line from a different angle and even have a ride and learn about the history. Well Informative and Interesting. I will ride it, just you wait MONORAIL.

[@subwaymark]

Now I got to try to see this museum when I go to Ireland next year!

[@ThatCoalSoul]

Love the commentary, like a more excited Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy (and v. funny)!!!

[@PenPeng]

Just got this in my recommendations. You remind me a lot of Tom Scott (I mean that as a huge compliment :D)

[@DominicMV]

I was in this town last week and didn't know this was here, wish I did this would have been cool to see in person

[@PartrickLane]

Love it! I hope that Listowel keep that lovely unique piece of heritage railway functioning.

[@ianb9729]

Great to find out about things like this, so interesting and I didn't know it existed before watching this. Keep travelling!

[@tonybridgens3948]

Excellent. Thanks to the volunteers.

[@samuelcosta996]

Interesting, at around the same time we had a somewhat similar system in Lisbon, also invented by a Frenchman, the 'Larmanjat'. The rail was at ground level, so the load balancing issues would cause it to derail. Passengers algo had to get out and push it over grades whenever it rained!

[@TheTimTraveller]

Oh wow - never heard of that so I just googled it - looks mad! I guess none of it was preserved?

[@samuelcosta996]

@@TheTimTraveller No, the company's quick failure was an embarassment to government figures so it was promptly scrapped. No part of the line could be preserved anyway, as it was laid on existing roads.

[@jacobsgranddaughter]

Great video! Very informative and entertaining! Keep up the good work! Cheers from Australia❤️👍

[@samueloliver5591]

Absolutely awesome video Tim! Love your channel, I’m already building a list of places to visit.

[@TheTimTraveller]

Ah cheers Samuel, that's great to hear!

[@lennartmiau6504]

lol @5:20. Never change Tim

[@culcune]

I live in southwest Arizona in the US, and the trains around here are ALWAYS plagued by sandstorms! Just kidding, never heard of that issue until I watched this video, LOL. This is a wonderful video and the train looks like something I want to add to my bucket list to ride on! Thank you for sharing!!

[@thomasthompson2431]

Haven't been on this in years , thank you

[@Steroumel]

Let’s bring sand to southwest Ireland and test it. I want to be sure about it. 😝

[@notsofasted3094]

No need! The Lartigue used to transport sand from the beach at Ballybunion to Listowel. I think it was also involved in transporting construction material for Marconi's Radio Transmitter in Ballybunion for the first transatlantic radio transmissions.

[@zizimugen4470]

As someone who holds a geology degree, I’d love to see the sandstorm in Ireland.

[@57thorns]

Sandy beach, west coast, any day it does not rain? I suppose the rain part is a bit hard.

[@type17]

Is Darude still touring? - he could do a few dates here...

[@zizimugen4470]

type17 nah, that song was overrated.

[@paulfogarty7724]

I live in Dublin. About 20 years ago a lot of cars were covered in a light orange dust. It was Sahara sand blown high into the atmosphere and deposited here in Ireland.

[@pfsantos007]

Great videos on this channel. Thank you.

[@fredferd965]

You know, we Americans, lost as we are over here on the other side of the pond, don't get around very much, and we take our ques from what we see on the television, what you would call the "telle," or something. The other day I was watching SPIKE MILLILGAN, and he had that skit going titled "Irish Astronauts." After seeing THAT, I was afraid to find out what an "Irish Monorail" would look like. Spike is my hero!

[@AlexanderMielchen]

Not surprising your channel is currently bowling up, your content is superb and your humor lovely.

[@bloodmoongrizzlythefirst6492]

This was pretty cool to see thank you for posting. When i go to visit a friend over there the family and i will have to swing by i be more than happy to support them.

[@RingoLombardi]

Passed through Listowel many times and never even knew this existed!

[@Mukeshmiktecrep]

I like the way they preserve their history and inventions.

[@GrognardJakBo]

Very good french accent Tim Traveler ! Congratulations !

[@sil8127]

Great videos. Glad I found them!

[@DanLoudShirts]

Very good video! Nicely presented, filmed and narrated. Keep up the good work!

[@TheTimTraveller]

Ah thank you Dan! Don't worry, there are more videos on their way :)

[@keithlachtnain]

Nice video mate! I'm from Listowel & actually live quite near the Lartigue Monorail & I've never been on it

[@ChiefMac59]

I saw this in a book - outstanding! Thank you

[@grahamcroucher5251]

I'm leading a grand rail tour of Ireland later this year. I've asked the company I work for to arrange a visit to this interesting attraction. Hope it works out! Great vid Tim, very well done and packed full of historical and current details.

[@rogeriomonteiro760]

There was a similar monorail, the Larmanjat Monorail, it got even a network of about 80 km in Portugal between Lisbon, Sintra and Torres Vedras. It last only 4 years from 1873 to 1877.

[@CorvusLaborat]

Thanks for sharing this video. I didn't know that something like this does exist. I've never heard about it. Greetings from Germany - The Raven

[@bethbartlett5692]

*YES YES YES!* A piece on County Kerry, the place of my Lineage. Chicago born Irish, American.* 😘 More please. 🍀

[@SingleTruckShayStudios]

The most steampunk train that is real

[@Sgrunterundt]

I'd say the Wuppertal Schwebebahn is way more steampunk. Check Tim's video on that.

[@mcswordfish]

@@Sgrunterundt Both Tim and Tom Scott have videos on this - spoiled for choice

[@qwertyTRiG]

I'm Irish and love trains; why have I never been there?

[@uzijn]

5:22 LMAO. Idk why this tiny bit made me laugh so much but it did!

[@kimwit1307]

Loved the bit with the soap...

[@ideoformsun5806]

I love seeing creative solutions to problems.

[@jamesyee4143]

That is a cool train,thanks for sharing 😊

[@BackyardProductions]

of course I learn about this a few months after my trip to Ireland

[@eamonahern7495]

I'm from Ballylongford, which is about 8 miles away so I'm very familiar with Listowel. I've travelled that Limerick to Listowel bus route many times.

[@ManfredGorgus]

Wonderful story - I love the idea of bringing sand to s-w Ireland to test the system!

[@gerrard1144]

that woman behind you was like saying "i left the post i left the post on the tree there"

[@SanTelmo1981]

She said 'I'll get the bus.. I'll get the bus from Newcastle West back to Tralee like'

[@ProfessorH]

This hits close to home. literally . my family are from the area. The listowel to ballybunion route is one I have traveled many a time.

[@ProfessorH]

The old train's held together with rope. And the tackling they say won't endure, Sir. Sure they balance people with soap And sometimes bags of manure, Sir.

[@albevanhanoy]

FINALLY! I found where the whistle clip is from!!!!!

[@josephbrady6760]

I have been to Listowel twice and did not know that they recreated the monorail. Great story.

[@OnkelJajusBahn]

That is proppelly the weirdest railway that has ever been built. Makes me wanna go to Ireland.

[@NapoleChan]

Any video about a monorail that doesn't have at least a snippet of the Simpson's Monorail song is jarring.

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

I knew it. Any time somebody mentions "monorail" that song is playing in my head.

[@bensingleton3923]

Mono D'oh

[@hanskniezand2049]

Homer was the world's worst conductor.

[@rayh592]

Actually, "Trouble in River City" from "the Music Man", but we get your meaning. Probably before your time

[@hanskniezand2049]

Every time someone mentions monorail I think of Wuppertal. Would love to go and ride on it one day.

[@cobrellie]

Great video ... Thank you

[@cartersense]

Great stuff, love the channel.

[@elbenni8786]

Listowell is twinned with Springfield, it's how Springfield got the idea of a monorail.

[@emjackson2289]

Is there a chance the track will bend?

[@robertgift]

Wonderful! Thank you.

[@heliumtrophy]

"While I'd LOVE to hear another half hour of her phone call." Oh boy, you've landed in Ireland alright.

[@deezynar]

I'd love to know how the wheels are arranged and powered.

[@hayreddinbarbarossa661]

When that whistle blew I lost my shit. That was hilarious 😂😂😂👌

[@feothyr6810]

Obligatory comment to support the chanel! Really enjoying your content - keep up the great work 😊

[@farouqomaro598]

Those two bicycles at the entrance of the monorail station caught my eye. If I go to Ireland I definitely want to see this monorail.

[@khadijagwen]

I went back to see the bikes but could not find them.

[@farouqomaro598]

Khadijah Brown Being a small town I'm sure you could ask around to whom those bikes belong to

[@LectronCircuits]

Wonderful training. Cheers!