The Parry People Mover

Several generations of the Parry People Mover (PPM) vehicles seen at the former Himley Park, in Barking, Essex and in passenger service on the Stourbridge Shuttle in the West Midlands.

The latter represents the first full commercial use of a PPM vehicle, and commenced in June 2009.

The PPM ethos is for smaller lighterweight railcars which feature mechanical drive that is powered by a flywheel.

The flywheel can be powered by either an onboard fossil engine or an external electric power supply, which can be at just the stations or continuous alongside the track. The flywheels also absorb braking energy, a task which they are far better at than batteries.

The lightweight railcars can be configured for either high level railway platforms or low level tramway platforms; in both cases the vehicles are fully accessible.

The PPM vehicles could be seen as representing an ideal cost effective solution for rail branch lines, reopening rail lines, tramway / streetcar services (even temporary) in areas where 'heavier' rail solutions are not deemed financiable viable...

More information about the PPM can be seen in the video, and at the PPM website...

http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/

Note that this film has been made by an independant transport advocate who is not connected with any of the commercial organisations seen here.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Parry
• People
• Mover
• Stourbridge
• Barking
• Himley
• Park
• rail
• railroad
• railway
• train
• DMU
• flywheel
• shuttle

[patrickov]

By "Barking, Essex", do you mean the Barking currently (and probably then) in Greater London?

[citytransportinfo]

@patrickov

Until the local government changes of 1965 Barking was a town in Essex. Although the political administration has changed the postal address is still 'Essex'.

Even now the E4 postal area is partially outside the London political area (its in Essex) and the London telephone code area is very different to the political area.

Also, Surrey County Council is still in Kingston Upon Thames, even though K-U-T is no longer within the area it administers.

[lexiskramer229a]

I want this video on my TM200 phone.

[citytransportinfo]

@lexiskramer229a

That depends on whether your smartphone allows you to watch YouTube films!

[Trainbrain1949]

Looks like an amusement park ride!

[citytransportinfo]

@Trainbrain1949 Only the first one - the version in Stourbridge is most certainly 'for real' as a serious form of transport.

OK, the concept could be used at amusement parks as a form of transport within the site, but with the coming financial cuts (after the election on 6th May... a few days from now) it could also save some branch lines from closure.

Its THAT important, in my opinion.

Simon

[ITSNOSHER]

it looks fucking moronic the 139 lol

[penninefilms]

I have never seen things like this before they look a brilliant idea can I ask if you know how long the line runs for?

[BReveningstar]

i wish we had them in perth australia

[JoeRoss1993]

Just like going on a bus for a 4 minute journey in Stourbridge.