Monorail
The Listowel - Ballybunion Railway opened on March 1, 1888. This particular line is reputed to be the first passenger carrying monorail in the world.
Lartigue Railway, Ballybunion
The Lartigue railway system which linked Listowel and Ballybunion. A unique monorail system based on the design of French engineer Charles Lartigue.
© National Library of IrelandLartigue Railway, Ballybunion
© National Library of Ireland
© National Library of Ireland
Lartigue Railway, Ballybunion
The Lartigue railway system which linked Listowel and Ballybunion. A unique monorail system based on the design of French engineer Charles Lartigue.
© National Library of IrelandA "monorail" railway has just a single track and the train is wider than the track.
The concept for the monorail came from a French engineer named Charles Lartigue. He was inspired by the camels he saw in Algeria which carried heavy loads in baskets on either side of their backs. He designed a single raised rail upon which a specially designed train would travel. The train's carriages were slung either side of the rail like baskets being carried by a camel.
Lartigue Railway, Ballybunion
Two crew members pose for the camera in this photograph of the Listowel-Ballybunion railway line.
© National Library of IrelandLartigue Railway, Ballybunion
© National Library of Ireland
© National Library of Ireland
Lartigue Railway, Ballybunion
Two crew members pose for the camera in this photograph of the Listowel-Ballybunion railway line.
© National Library of IrelandThe line opened in 1888 and ran for thirty-six years until it closed in 1924. It had been severely damaged during the Civil War. The train carried freight and passangers.
Many of those taking the journey were making their way to the beach resort of Ballybunion.
Restoration
Lartigue Railway, Ballybunion
The Listowel-Ballybunion railway line. Reputedly the world's first commercial passenger carrying monorail. The system was designed by a French engineer named Charles Lartigue. The unique A-shaped rail can be seen in this photograph from the end of the 19th century.
© National Library of IrelandLartigue Railway, Ballybunion
© National Library of Ireland
© National Library of Ireland
Lartigue Railway, Ballybunion
The Listowel-Ballybunion railway line. Reputedly the world's first commercial passenger carrying monorail. The system was designed by a French engineer named Charles Lartigue. The unique A-shaped rail can be seen in this photograph from the end of the 19th century.
© National Library of IrelandA Lartigue Restoration Committee was set up in the mid-1990s in order to raise enough funds to carry out a restoration project on a section of the line. Work began on the project in November 2000.
After a number of years of hard work the train is running again - if only over a much shorter distance of about 1km. Tourists can now enjoy a short journey on this unique train.