06-22-2017, 07:01 AM
(06-22-2017, 06:51 AM)jeffster Wrote:(06-21-2017, 10:22 AM)BrianT Wrote: It was more like a mini-Montreal subway on rubber tires and guided on the guideway by side tires that ran along the lip of the guideway.
http://transit.toronto.on.ca/spare/0022.shtml
Oh the memories I have coming back as a child! Absolutely loved that monorail!
Question, though, someone here mentioned the subway in Montreal, on tires. Why isn't this done more often?
Non-expert here, but I think the obvious answer contains a fair bit of truth: it isn’t necessary. You realize the Montreal subway has regular, standard gauge steel track and wheels in addition to the rubber tires and their support tracks? The steel track and wheels steer the train, while the rubber tires support the train. But as we know from conventional rail, steel wheels are perfectly capable of supporting the train also. This is not to ignore the benefits of the rubber tire system, which I understand include a smoother and quieter ride, but it’s a lot of extra stuff to build and maintain for a relatively minor improvement.