Beaulieu Monorail

On Friday, 28th April 1967, Expo ‘67 opened in Montreal, Canada. This was known as a “World’s Fair”, which aimed to exhibit the scientific, industrial, and cultural achievements of multiple nations, and on this occasion also marked the centenary of Canada’s nationhood. Expected to attract ten million visitors, the exhibition ran through to 27th October of the same year and stretched across a peninsula and two islands within the St Lawrence River, in the middle of Montreal (ref: Daily Mirror, 25th April 1967). Seventy-three pavilions housed the exhibitions of nation states and these were linked by a monorail that carried passengers 35-feet above the ground. HM Queen Elizabeth II journeyed upon the latter on Monday, 3rd July 1967 (ref: Daily Mirror, 4th July 1967). It was a result of a visit to this exhibition that the then Lord Montagu, Edward, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, found inspiration for a monorail in the grounds of his estate in the New Forest. At this time, Beaulieu was home to the “Montagu Motor Museum”; this formally became the “National Motor Museum” in 1972. The main exhibition hall and restaurant of today’s museum was opened in July of that year (ref: Illustrated London News, 1st August 1974).

In 1972, Hampshire County Council received a planning application for a trial length of monorail track, north of Palace House, Beaulieu (ref: New Milton Advertiser & Times, 1st July 1972). The conditions of the application stipulated that the track would only be used for experimental purposes and not by the public. The monorail formed part of a £300,000 new leisure area at Beaulieu, which included domed buildings for a “Transporama” sound and vision show, and a model railway. The scheme was a joint enterprise with Butlin’s, which appointed architectural firm “Gillinson Barnett & Partners” to plan and implement the project (ref: New Civil Engineer, 1974).

Beaulieu's monorail was scheduled to open Easter 1974. However, late deliveries of key components from a series of engineering firms in Britain forced this to be postponed (ref: The Engineer, 1st August 1974). The monorail was formally opened by Lord Montagu in the company of the cast of fictional TV series “The Wombles” on 29th July 1974 (ref: New Milton Advertiser & Times, 3rd August 1974). Job advertisements had appeared in local newspapers in the previous May, asking for seasonal staff to operate the monorail.

Based on your author’s measurements, the monorail circuit is 1,120-yards (1,024-metres) in length, in addition to comprising a 30-yard-long (27.4-metres) siding. Two trains operate on the monorail, each of which comprises four vehicles. Coloured lime green, each train can carry 51 passengers (presumably including the driver) and has a top speed of 12 MPH. The system runs on 100 Volts D.C. and, if the electrical system fails, a diesel-powered locomotive named “Ivor” is used to rescue stranded trains. Outside of the high season, the use of one train is sufficient; the second is kept in a siding on the southwestern side of the circuit.

10th September 2022

In the background of this view can be seen "Palace House", the family home of Lord Montagu. The train is seen leaving one of two stations on the monorail system, this one being at the southern extremity of the circuit, sandwiched in-between the Victorian Flower Garden and Palace House. © David Glasspool

10th September 2022

The second station on the circuit is about a 200-yard walk from the main entrance, adjacent to what is now known as “The World of Top Gear”. Both stations are two-tier metal structures comprising a platform surface formed of timber planks. © David Glasspool

10th September 2022

The monorail cuts through the heart of the Motor Museum, the concept having been inspired by the 1967 “World’s Fair” exhibition in Montreal, Canada. © David Glasspool

13th May 2023

A monorail formation is seen exiting the main hall’s south eastern side. When the train has passed, an automatic roller shutter door closes down on the track to protect the building’s inside from the elements. © David Glasspool

13th May 2023

Two monorail formations, each four vehicles in length, are available for use on the circuit. However, outside of the peak summer season, it is sufficient to have just one train in service. The “spare” set, as seen above, is kept in a siding behind the estate’s gardens, on the southwestern side of the circuit. The contraption on the left is “Ivor” the diesel locomotive, which is used to haul monorail units when the electrical power is switched off. © David Glasspool

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