George Bennie
- Category : 1891-births
- Type : MGE
- Profile : 1/3 - Investigating / Martyr
- Definition : Split - Small (6,22)
- Incarnation Cross : RAX Planning 3
Biography
Scottish engineer who invented a railplane (monorail) system.
The system moved along an overhead rail by way of propellers. Bennie began work on the development of his railplane in 1921. In 1929-1930 he built a prototype on a trial stretch of track over a 130-yard line at Milngavie, off the Glasgow and Milngavie Junction Railway, with one railplane car to demonstrate the system to potential clients.
In spite of interest from around the world, however, Bennie could not obtain the financial backing he required to develop his revolutionary transport system. It was opposed by conventional railway companies. The proposed line from Edinburgh to Glasgow was not built, nor was the one between Southport and Blackpool. By 1937, Bennie was bankrupt. He had financed most of the work himself. The prototype railplane lay rusting in a field at Milngavie until it was sold for scrap in 1956. Bennie died the following year.