Addis's Single Rail Tramway

William Judson Addis from Thane (previously Tanna) in India invented, patented and developed a tramway with a single rail, on which a bullock cart ran with two double flanged wheels, which could take all, or nearly all, the weight, and two ordinary stabilising wheels, which served to prevent over-turning.

For demonstrating the advantages, Mr. Addis has laid down a length of rail in the grounds of his ironworks at Thane, upon which he has placed two carts or wagons specially constructed by him for the tramway.

This experimental line has been visited by many government officials and others, who have seen with satisfaction the ease with which a pair of bullocks drew three tons along the tramway.

[1] The flanged centre wheels were attached to a screw, by which the framework of the cart could be raised, so that on level ground the ordinary side wheels were set to be 1-2 inch (25-50 mm) above the surface of the road, and the entire weight of the burden rested on the rail.

In some experiments, a large log of wood was placed on the ground, over which one of the side wheels would pass without derailing.