112 Book of Engineering 



is claimed, therefore, that whilst the usual 

 surface railway is confronted with the diffi- 

 culty of burrowing through hills and through 

 cuttings in order to keep a level track, the 

 railplane can be carried over any obstacle 

 and the method of propulsion is such that 

 the speed of the car will not be materially 

 affected by quite a substantial gradient. 



Not only has the surface railway to be 

 placed in tunnels and cuttings, but there is 

 the enormous cost of embankments in order 

 to secure easy gradients. The great point 

 in favour of the railplane would appear to 

 be the fact that no additional land would 

 have to be taken for its construction; in- 

 deed, even where the present roads or rail 

 were not utilised by placing the elevated 

 track above them, it could be carried across 

 fields without seriously affecting their value 

 from an agricultural point of view. 



The overhead tracks are carried on trestles 

 which are placed at suitable intervals to 

 support the two rails which are so important. 

 Although the railplane system is described 

 as a mono-railway, it needs to be added 



