A Radical New Railway Concept
In 1889, Eben Moody Boynton introduced the Boynton Bicycle Railroad in Brooklyn, New York. It was a unique monorail system that ran on a single track at ground level while using an overhead wooden stabilizing rail for balance. Boynton believed this system would be cheaper and more efficient than conventional railroads.
Steam-Powered and Ambitious
The railroad featured steam locomotives with double-deck cabs, where the fireman worked on the lower level and the engineer operated from above. The first locomotive weighed nine tons and ran on a single six-foot driving wheel, supported by smaller guiding wheels. A more powerful 16-ton locomotive was later designed, capable of reaching 100 miles per hour.
Short-Lived but Fully Operational
The railway operated between Gravesend and Coney Island on a two-mile section of an abandoned standard-gauge track. During the summer of 1890, it ran up to 50 three-car trains daily, each carrying 300 passengers. Despite its innovative design, the railroad ceased operations in 1890, after just two years.
An Idea That Faded Away
At least four locomotive designs were produced for Boynton’s monorail concept, but it never gained widespread adoption. The experiment ended, leaving behind a brief but fascinating chapter in rail history.
In 1889, an experimental monorail opened in Brooklyn. The Boynton Bicycle Railroad ran on a single rail with an overhead stabilizer, promising cheaper and faster transport. It aimed to revolutionize rail travel but lasted only years.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/qTDmkAGmKP
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