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Monorail Systems in India

There were four types of Monorail used in India.

See individual pages for more information and references

Addis System Monorail, patented 1869 and 1870 by William Judson Addis for a tramway with a single rail on which ran a cart with two bearing wheels which take all, or nearly all, the weight; and ordinary wheels which serve to steady the machine and prevent over-turning. The cart, loaded with three tons, was easily drawn by two bullocks. The known applications in India were:-

• Tannah Iron Works Monorail in 1869 when the first trials were conducted
• Callian Bunder to Callian Monorail constructed in 1870
• Mhyjee Monorail later in 1870.

Ewing System Monorail, patented in 1895. The Ewing system was developed by W J Ewing. The idea was proposed by William Thorold of Norwich in England in 1868. The idea being that a central load bearing rail would mean that it was easier to move greater loads than with just road carts and cheaper than a 2-rail system He was then living in Barrackpoor, in the Province of Bengal, India

• Bengal-Nagpur Railway Kharagpur Construction Monorail was the first known application in c.1900.
• Jubbulpore Gun Carriage Factory Monorail. During the construction in 1901-02 of the Gun Facory at Jubbulpore comparative trials were conducted between the ‘Ewing System’ and the ‘Caillet System’
• Kanan Devan Hills Produce Co. Ltd Monorail was from 1902 to 1908 the first regular service using the 'Ewing System'.
• Patiala State Monorail Trainways operated from 1907 until the mid 1920’s, initially mule powered, later by locomotive.
• Champaner Manganese Mine Monorail/Railway , c.1905-12, hauled by buffalo;
• Simla Hydroelectric Scheme Construction Monorail, 1908-12.
• Allapalli Sawmill Monorail mentioned below was converted from ‘Caillet System’ (see below) to ‘Ewing System’ by adding a large balance wheel by local officers. Royalties had been paid to Mr Ewing. It then operated for some years but judging from the 1909 paper without great enthusiasm from its operators

Caillet System Monorail was being used in France as a means of getting produce off the farms. It was also being used on the Rubber Plantations in Malaysia, patented by a Monsieur Henri Jules Caillet of Paris.

• Jubbulpore Gun Carriage FactoryThe first known example of its application in India is the comparative trials conducted between the ‘Ewing System’ and the ‘Caillet System’ during the construction in 1901-02 of the .
• Allapalli Sawmill Monorail In 1902 proposals were sought by the Forest Department for the Allapalli Sawmill and 4 miles(6.4km) of ‘Caillet System’ was supplied with six special bogie trucks intended for bullock haulage. It had proved impractical and was converted to the ’Ewing System’ (see above).
• ‘Monorail Portable Railway Co’ By 1905 the Agent’s in London were the .
• Itsari Water Supply Project Monorail. In 1914 Itsari Water Supply a Monorail with 14 miles of 'Caillets System' rails, trucks and fittings.

The British Government War Office was thinking of using a monorail system in its fight in Somaliland and called for a report on the systems in 1903. The India Office replied with 2 reports one regarding the ‘Ewing System’ from the Engineers at the Kanan Devan Hills Produce Co. Ltd Monorail and one from the Royal Engineers concerning the comparative trials at the Jubbulpore Gun Carriage Factory .

Skelton System Monorail. The Skelton system of road-railways was proposed by Clifford Skelton of Alamatti in India.

• ‘Guide Ways (India) Limited’ company was formed to develop the system. A raised single rail ran in the centre of a paved road which caused an obstruction to other users . The modified petrol locomotive was fitted with rubber tyres guided by a rail, and wagons carried on the rail with outrigger wheels for stability.
• Khambhalia-Bhanvad Guide Ways Monorail Tramway The only known example used in India was thewhich was in use from 1946 to 1952 from Khambhalia, a distance of about 11miles(18km) in the Kathiawar Peninsular of Gujarat The line has its own right of way so the raised rail was not an obstruction.

References

See individual pages for more information and references