Railcar Speeder - Get Out On the Tracks!
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- Опубліковано 28 лип 2024
- One of Gonagain's subscribers contacted us saying he was coming to our town to purchase a railcar speeder and we went along to learn what they are all about. These cars, know as "Speeders" were used by the rail companies for maintenance and inspection purposes but were phased out in favor of the newer "Hy-Rail Vehicles", or pickup trucks with the steel wheels that raise and lower hydraulically. We found out that there are many clubs across the U.S. and that they get special permission from the various railroad companies to get on the railroad tracks and travel, sometimes for long distances. It's a lot of fun where you can make new friends and share a common passion and love for railroading and trains.
Fairmont Motor Car Parts:
Contact O. David Staggs
812-545-9684
North American Railcar
Operators Association: www.narcoa.org/
Railspeeders: www.railspeeders.com/speeder/d...
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I love trains I sit on the porch and listen to them go by in town I am about 6 miles from town but can still hear them. The Knowledge this guy has is going to be missed one day we need to listen to the older people they have knowledge that would take us years to learn. Thanks very nice video.
I enjoyed listening to him also. Thanks for watching Den!
During my time on the railways I worked in the High Voltage section (put in 9 years) doing my apprenticeship the before heading bush to work in the power stations. Part of our work involved going to remote locations to conduct maintenance and upgrades to the 1500Vdc switching equipment to the traction overheads. t locations in particular we had to use a rail car sort of similar to the one shown here, but the one here is far too "hoity toity" for us, lmao.
We would load our gear onto the truck which was about 4 or 5ft longer, open to the elements, held together by spit & fencing wire. It sounded similar to that one, had 4 gears, no reverse and was as heavy as all get out.
It lived in a shed at a station between the 2 remote locations and we'd load our gear and wait for a train to go through then the signalman would set the switches and we were off & running, chasing the train up to our section hut where we'd unload the heavier gear, heave the bloody thing off the tracks and unload the rest of our gear. When the car was ready to return, leaving us at the location the driver would coordinate with the signalman as to the train traffic. When cleared we'd heave it back onto the tracks and send it on it's way, chasing the train home, lol. The particular car we had access to was capable of 60mph, no seat belts, no side rails, no safety at all. It was brilliant!!
Generally our stay at each location was several days, so after our heavy gear was dropped off, we would come & go via train drop offs at the location.
Funny thing was though, the vehicle we used was quite unique. In Sydney, at the same time, a new rail line was under construction and the crews were running up & done in the land cruisers etc with the hydraulic wheels. Outside of the new line track inspectors would travel on motorised trikes, a lot easier the get off the tracks.
And I gotta tell ya, there were hijinx afoot at these remote locations mate, lmao. Both had access to fresh running streams fed by springs, one had direct access to all the oysters you could eat and estuary fishing, and the other had rabbits. We didn't starve, hardly ever took food with us.
Enough gasbagging, lol. I hope you enjoyed your info session, and hopefully the guys will take you for a ride along one day.
Cheers pal.
Thanks for that wonderful story Pilot, I enjoyed that as well!
Both my grandpa dad worked for union pacific in the 1900's. Not sure what my grand-dads section was but my father was "stationed" from mid to western Wyoming. He used to use one of these cars to do track inspection of his section, and from what I understand this run was like from Rawlings Wy-to the western state line, and some times as far out as Ogden Ut. My dad was on his section from about 1980 to the big "layoff" of '86. I remember all of the lil cars and equipment the UP had stored in various places. One time I found an entire shed of nothing brand new, shiny, pick axes, and shovels, it was quite amazing to a rural-railroad kid. Thanks for the post and memories.
Thnks for sharing. The railroads have always intrigued us because of the history, the worker, the hobos and the places they go.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
That was very unusual, packed FULL of excellent information.
Thanks Bill. It was something different for me.
What a blast to have one of these, and such a cool way to see some of the countryside! My dad hired out on the railroad when he got out of the Navy in the 1940’s and put in 40 years before retiring. I love seeing trains and hearing their clickety clack on the tracks. And the distant sound of a train whistle at night is such a beautiful melancholy sound. I’m always reminded of my father at the sight and sounds of trains. ❤️
Those are really nice memories Sharon.
This video is just another piece in the evolution of the railroad. In 1978 my family purchased a Taxi/Limo service and landed a contract with Conrail that operated here in the mid-western state of Ohio. During the early 1980's we shuttled the train crews, (when they ran out of daily hours), from Bellefontaine, to Toledo, Cincinnati, Columbus, Crestline, Cleveland and Indianapolis, Indiana! Bellefontaine was the hub where the north-south and east-west lines intersected. However this would all end by Nov 1984 as two other timelines also intersected. The first time lined that ended here was the completion of the ribbon rail install from Cleveland to Indianapolis. This initiative allowed Conrail to boost the speed limit on the east-west line from 35 mph to 70 mph eliminating the need to stop and change crews in Bellefontaine. The other time line event that happened that year was the liability insurance, when started in 1978 was $100.00 per month per car to $1000.00 per month, and the drop off of fares ended the service. All this said to say, I liked this video. In my gaming hobby, I have a train simulator that tells the stories and the history of railroads and the steel, automotive and shipping industries. Hoped you liked my story! Ted
I liked your story very much Ted, thank you.
I had an uncle that was an engineer in that area in that era. Your family may have given him a lift now and again. ;-) Best Regards, Roger
This was very interesting! I didn't realize people were buying rail cars and fixing them up👍
I didn't either. This as all new to me!
@@gonagain I never heard of this until 2023 when UA-cam starting showing Home-made speeders going on abandoned railroads mostly out in the desert southwest US. Not regular rail car speeders once used in the industry. These guys look like they took a 2 stroke go-cart engine and put it onto a wooden frame and put a throttle and track wheels. When I researched railcar speeders, is When I found NARCOA and actual motorcar speeders used by railroad employees before the became obsolete in 1990 by "high-rail" pickup use
I have become interested in Rail cars/ speeder recently. Maybe a new bucket list item
Thanks for sharing this video and information !
Glad it was helpful!
Watched about this on another video and told my step mom down in Arizona, where they had a lot of abandoned lines. Great way to travel for miles. The video I saw they made home made rail carts that were much lighter and easy for one person to move.
Summerland..
U have us curious...
Must look that up!!
Thank U....
Wow 🤩 how fun!
Aw, this was so special and mahalo for enlightening me. I had no idea! I hear "rail car" and think of drag racing lol.
I got enlightened too. This was a fun experience.
Man oh man I remember seeing these cars rolling down the tracks as a kid back in the 1960s. Great video Gonagain!
Thanks Rob!
I have spent a few weeks riding around in a rail car similar but larger than that one on the Weyerhaeuser Co. woods railroad. In the woods they're called 'Speeders' , the ones we used had room for four or five guys and their 'nose bags' (lunch sack or backpack). I was a log truck driver but during 'shutdowns' , fire danger or market adjustments, you could use your seniority to bump back to your prior job or bump the lowest man in the woods that was still working if you could do his job, that was usually the section crew on the railroad. The section crew used them to run up and down the track inspecting it and making repairs. They would pull a small flat car with tools and supplies, ties, spikes, gauge rods, and what not. I found out that 'dog house ' (engine cover) was mostly used for playing cards , you spent a lot of time on sidings, 'get'n in the clear', waiting on the train to pass. All movement on rails had to be cleared by the train dispatcher in town, Longview, WA. After the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption they only had about 35 miles of track left. They usually ran two trains a day from a small mill east of town to the main mill and lumber shipping facility in town .
That's very interesting and I enjoyed heading about it. Thank you!
Learned Somthing new again buddy. You know I forgot all about those little cars. I use to see them in Michigan by our cabin. Railroad tracks run about 80 yard from our cabin.
I learned something new too. I never heard of folks getting involved in that hobby before.
@@gonagain me either😃😃
A friend of mine is a large Burlington Norther collector, he and his friends close tracks and run these things down the tracks.
I read where one group was able to make a thousand mile trip that took a couple of days. It's an interesting hobby with interesting people. Thanks Jerry.
hello from the Ozarks!!! what a way to see the usa!! thanks for sharing! cheers!1
Thank you Philip!
Very good video. Thank you for posting.
My thanks to you for watching William.
Wonderful video..... thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching Alco Power.
Would definitely appreciate a ride.....
Alot of 'curious' questions!
Thank You for sharing...😁
Thanks for watching Ovrthe Rainbow!
Always good to see what others are doing for to make their life worth while, and enjoy their living time...
That's right Jimmy. There's so much out there to learn about and enjoy.
@@gonagain keep sharing thank you...
My guess is a lot of those folks are also model railroaders. You see the RR speeders on the abandoned tracks in Eastern WA. like the old Milwaukee Road right of ways and others. I bet a savvy person could setup their Truck with the railroad wheel sets, load the camper and take the old trackage to some pretty nice remote destinations. Should have no clearance issues with old train tunnels. I'll have to think about that one. As a train buff, I enjoyed the video. Take care...
Those tracks are still in service and maintaind, some of those have been put on standby and temporary idle. As a group Pacific Railroad Operators (PRO) We Lease track time and we are Licensed, insured, and have past Federal exam to be allowed on those rails along with the cars passing safety requirments. It is a federal offence to set on any RR line without the proper authority to do so. It is fun and not that difficult to become certified.
@JustMe-dv5ix Even abandoned lines with sections of connecting track missing so the line is incomplete and RR ties that would never support a train yet not even notice a speeder?
Are you an active model railroader?
If so, Steam, Transition, or Modern era?
Take care...
Getting one some day
That's quite the hobby! You should enjoy that.
That's pretty darn cool!!!!
That was my exact reaction when I heard about it too. Thanks for watching John.
@@gonagain Thanks for all the work and time you put in!!!!
Enjoyed it! Cajun
Glad you enjoyed it!
Now that's interesting ty
My great grandfather had an old Willy’s Jeep that the railroad would use. It’s neat. I wonder if it could ride in these clubs.
I have no idea, but if it has history then they might be interested. Try asking them to see what they say.
@@gonagain I will, we still have it. It was registered to a railroad so maybe they will let me take an excursion with them as a trial. That would be neat.
Also there seem to be a lot of tracks that are not even in use now a days by the railroad company's, I know I have seen some that are even over grown with trees and brunch right up to the tracks area, you know they have not been in use for decades it could be a business of sight seeing if someone looked into it...
I know some places that were able to take over the right away and turn it into bike and hiking trails.
@@gonagain I was thinking ride along with on modified passenger seating while some one speaks of it historical land marks and scenery...
@@jimmybutler3728 we have a railroad like that here in Montana that makes dinner cruises during the summer. I've never been on it though.
@@gonagain I knew it was not a new idea but a good one to reeducate our citizens...
@@jimmybutler3728 It's s good idea.
Hello nice video where can I get one of railcar speeder, web site please, God bless you.
En español como se llaman esos carros?
Railcar ?
Rail yes car no.
It's actual description is that of a motorised velocipede.
Anyone who has ever had a motor trolley drivers license - will attest to the fact that you can have a non-motorised velocipede (basically a hand/foot driven cart) and a motorised velocipede (one powered by a small stationary motor (such as petrol powered motors made by Briggs & Stratton = B&S, or by Tecumseh, or a diesel such as a Kohler engine ) which can provide forwards / N & Reverse functions via a gearbox and drive chains.
Me - I've had such a license to operate them, when employed on the NZR as an inspecting ganger - driving them for about 55 km (on-track) every day between Alexandra Station & Auripo Station.
I also "owned" (privately) an ex-inspecting ganger's 3-wheeled manual velocipede - being the original non-powered trollies that had a pull-pull center mounted handle with dual foot rests that two men operated to drive them by a gear to ONE of the two main wheels, with a third being attached via outriggers to accommodate the 3'-6" gauge that the NZR ran them on.
I later had a "rubber tired" motor velocipede, which used wheelbarrow rubber tires, and aluminium guide wheels.
There are a few left in private hands, since the NZR decommissioned both the metal wheeled trollies and the rubber tired trollies - in the 1990's
One such unit was photographed during it's recent "restored" test runs on the private railway it now runs on.
See: www.rimutaka-incline-railway.org.nz/news/nzrls-jigger-test-run
Hello QUIX4U, here in the U.S. we call them Railcars. I don't get into the hobby myself, but there are a couple of clubs that have a lot of fun with them.
No use here ,they took most old rails here in my area.nothing left but CN and CSX and you cant use those. So. Indiana seems to have alot of old rail.
Have you heard about a rail bike?you can look them up on UA-cam, bet you could even make a e-rail bike Rick!
Maybe when I was younger and had more energy. Now I'm just lazy and want to cruise!
I wonder how fast they can go?
Hello Dale, I don't remember what they said that day, but they're not particularly fast, maybe 20-30mph(?).
@@gonagain Hey that's not shabby I mean it's not a bullet train is it? haha
It's 2021 IS THERE ANY UP DATES... Any trips 2020 * 2021 ❓❓❓🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
No, I'm afraid not. The buyer lives in another state, but you can check the links in the video to see what the clubs are up to if you like.
W O W that would've nice to see 🤷🏻♂️🤔 anxiously waiting for the return of your adventures ❗❗😍
Momma always said not to play on the tracks. LOL
It's amazing how many people get run over by trains.
@@gonagain yes sir,
The wife and I enjoy the videos. Stay safe in your travels.
@@dadams19111 Thank you!
[ Speeders to Hazens * Re Upload * ] ... why we did this ... ( ! ) ............... DAVE™ 🛑
That’s cool, I guess that’s what you graduate to when you get tired of HO.😊
HO is cool too.
Gonagain when I was 16 I bought a HO set from the hardware store I worked at with plans to do the whole layout, just as soon as I could get to it. Well I’m 62 and it’s still setting on the shelf, maybe someday
@@davidschroeder1651 Geez David, don't be rushing into anything! The man, John Chase, who was selling this railcar, has a train setup in his basement. Looked pretty elaborate to me.
I'm 2 1/2" shorter then I was as a young man, my knees are wore out.........from lifting stupid stuff like this
Interesting hobby for sure.