Cool! This thing looks new. I didn't know anyone still used them. When I was a kid I'd see cartoons on TV where some guy would use one of these on a track, and then he'd have to pump like crazy to outrun an oncoming train.
That looks like a lot of fun. Would be neat to have one of those and have approval to safely operate on little-to-unused tracks here on the Florida Panhandle.
@salemcripple The purpose of the handcar before the gas powerd motorcars arrived to replace them, was to transport track repairmen and tools to along their assigned section of track for maintenance. Back in the 1800's and early 1900s, handcars were industry standard. Trains or horses were more costly to use and were overkill for the needed transportation of a few men. 4 to 6 men can ride and is capable of pulling a pushcar. At the work site, they would set them off the track in the clear.
I have a question,is it possible with little bit of engineering to design efficient gear box that will not only make Handcar go faster but actually get more power,so you can move some of the real wagons? I wonder.That would be cool
I think this'd be fun, and you'd get a decent workout and not burn any fuel while riding along the rails. I'd love to have a handcar, but the only new replica ones I've found so far are running for $15,000 (I could buy a very good motorcar for way less), and finding original handcars is proving difficult. I could just build one from scratch, of course, but my workshop really isn't equipped for machining, although the wooden deck wouldn't be too hard for me to make. I'm interested in joining NARCOA (which does allow handcars, as well as velocipedes and steam rigs), but I think it'd be a bit silly to join and pay the dues and so on without having something to go ride. Either way, I'm going to be saving my money and looking for some sort of rail-vehicle, for I'd really like to do this sort of thing, and I'd also like to get into conversations with my local tourist lines to get permission to ride on them as well as all the NARCOA stuff (maybe they'd trade me time on the rails for time spent helping to maintain them and other volunteer work?).
DES3RT 117 This is his wife. Sadly, my husband, railscout, passed away suddenly over a year ago at work on a locomotive. He was a locomotive engineer, doing what he loved. He was only 49.
@09himchr This replica hand car I own weighs around 650lbs. The wood used for building is oak, itself a heavy wood. You could used a welded aluminum frame and deck to cut much weight. But the steels parts need to be steel for strength. I am a member of a railway museum and a railway historical society, and that is the only place I operate my hand car. Walking or placing a handcar on railroad tracks that you are not associated with the owners would be considered trespassing.
It would need a whole lot of pumping. You can get an idea of how different gearings would work, with a bike that got a good range of gears; at the lowest gear of all, you almost don't feel any resistance from the pedals at all, but you need many turns to move just a few dozen centimeters (but it makes going up hill way easier).
thats cool dude, is that a workin rail or decomissioned? where i live the rail company would laugh at me if i tried to put one of them on there track, too dangerous they would say. you have a modified trailor, have you ever thought of modifyin the cart?? a set of gears or a lite lawnmower engine???
@N330AA Like a bike, on flat level grade, it is quite easy. Down grade, very little effort is needed. A 20lb bike can out perform the handcar up grade. But to make all equal, weight down your bike to about 650 pounds (hand car weight) before you get on it. Then the handcar would have an advantage up grade. The longest solo trip Ive made is about 6.8 miles and I was tired. Should be easy to beat on a 20 pound bike.
this a kinda a strange question, but does that thing activate the crossing signals, or do you have sit and wait for cars(technically you do have the right of way)
This handcar has insulated axels so as to not set off crossing signals. For safety, all autos and trucks have the right of way over hand cars and motorized inspection cars.
In the warehouse district, there is a stretch of track maybe 1000ft long that is not physically connected to any other tracks, thus 100% impossible to get hit by a train. Would there be any other safety issues here? Would the railroad company still consider it trespassing?
Hi, is there any place in the south (I live in the FL panhandle ... drive I10 to CA in the summers) to take one out for a spin ... my adult autistic daughter has always been facinated with them since she watched Homer Simpson ride one on The Simpsons.
what was the original purpose of these things? They can't haul anything, They can't go anywhere that you couldn't get with other modes of transportation (plus they add the danger of being run over by a train).
Авто/Мото
![Gunna - back in the a [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/oBrbejOHjLw/mqdefault.jpg)
Cool! This thing looks new. I didn't know anyone still used them. When I was a kid I'd see cartoons on TV where some guy would use one of these on a track, and then he'd have to pump like crazy to outrun an oncoming train.
That looks like a lot of fun. Would be neat to have one of those and have approval to safely operate on little-to-unused tracks here on the Florida Panhandle.
The tracks belongs to a museum of which I am a member. If I add a motor to it, then I would have to find another way to exercise.
Up grade slow, down grade fast. Tiring yes, but a lot of fun.
@salemcripple The purpose of the handcar before the gas powerd motorcars arrived to replace them, was to transport track repairmen and tools to along their assigned section of track for maintenance. Back in the 1800's and early 1900s, handcars were industry standard. Trains or horses were more costly to use and were overkill for the needed transportation of a few men. 4 to 6 men can ride and is capable of pulling a pushcar. At the work site, they would set them off the track in the clear.
I have a question,is it possible with little bit of engineering to design efficient gear box that will not only make Handcar go faster but actually get more power,so you can move some of the real wagons?
I wonder.That would be cool
Is the hand car more calorically efficient than walking?
I think this'd be fun, and you'd get a decent workout and not burn any fuel while riding along the rails. I'd love to have a handcar, but the only new replica ones I've found so far are running for $15,000 (I could buy a very good motorcar for way less), and finding original handcars is proving difficult.
I could just build one from scratch, of course, but my workshop really isn't equipped for machining, although the wooden deck wouldn't be too hard for me to make.
I'm interested in joining NARCOA (which does allow handcars, as well as velocipedes and steam rigs), but I think it'd be a bit silly to join and pay the dues and so on without having something to go ride.
Either way, I'm going to be saving my money and looking for some sort of rail-vehicle, for I'd really like to do this sort of thing, and I'd also like to get into conversations with my local tourist lines to get permission to ride on them as well as all the NARCOA stuff (maybe they'd trade me time on the rails for time spent helping to maintain them and other volunteer work?).
i want to build a handcar, can you help me?
DES3RT 117
This is his wife. Sadly, my husband, railscout, passed away suddenly over a year ago at work on a locomotive. He was a locomotive engineer, doing what he loved. He was only 49.
railscout I’m truly sorry for his departure
@09himchr This replica hand car I own weighs around 650lbs. The wood used for building is oak, itself a heavy wood. You could used a welded aluminum frame and deck to cut much weight. But the steels parts need to be steel for strength. I am a member of a railway museum and a railway historical society, and that is the only place I operate my hand car. Walking or placing a handcar on railroad tracks that you are not associated with the owners would be considered trespassing.
The Miner Company in Iowa. They build kits less wheels or RTR. About $5600 for RTR in 2004.
It would need a whole lot of pumping. You can get an idea of how different gearings would work, with a bike that got a good range of gears; at the lowest gear of all, you almost don't feel any resistance from the pedals at all, but you need many turns to move just a few dozen centimeters (but it makes going up hill way easier).
damn Ham549 I'd LOVE to build one then!!!
LOL!! That looks like CSX Mainline!
thats cool dude, is that a workin rail or decomissioned? where i live the rail company would laugh at me if i tried to put one of them on there track, too dangerous they would say. you have a modified trailor, have you ever thought of modifyin the cart?? a set of gears or a lite lawnmower engine???
@N330AA Like a bike, on flat level grade, it is quite easy. Down grade, very little effort is needed. A 20lb bike can out perform the handcar up grade. But to make all equal, weight down your bike to about 650 pounds (hand car weight) before you get on it. Then the handcar would have an advantage up grade. The longest solo trip Ive made is about 6.8 miles and I was tired. Should be easy to beat on a 20 pound bike.
2:48 good shit there keep it up guys
@railscout oh, thank you!
looks like alot of work
That mat be the next video I put together. Of cource in the matter of safety, the sequince will be edited so a chase may appear to be real.
did u make it your self
It is a replica he ether built it or got it from miner company who sells them.
this a kinda a strange question, but does that thing activate the crossing signals, or do you have sit and wait for cars(technically you do have the right of way)
This handcar has insulated axels so as to not set off crossing signals. For safety, all autos and trucks have the right of way over hand cars and motorized inspection cars.
Railscout Where did you get you're Handcar?
Sorry no. No beer on duty. Have to wait till I get home.
oops, deleted a coment: 51 off ramps so far in 6 years, no sign of damage to the wheels. Still runs true after 184 miles to date.
In the warehouse district, there is a stretch of track maybe 1000ft long that is not physically connected to any other tracks, thus 100% impossible to get hit by a train. Would there be any other safety issues here? Would the railroad company still consider it trespassing?
DUDE!!! where did ya get this??? I'd kill to build one!!!!
Stephen King's The Gunslinger
Hi, is there any place in the south (I live in the FL panhandle ... drive I10 to CA in the summers) to take one out for a spin ... my adult autistic daughter has always been facinated with them since she watched Homer Simpson ride one on The Simpsons.
how much for it
what was the original purpose of these things? They can't haul anything, They can't go anywhere that you couldn't get with other modes of transportation (plus they add the danger of being run over by a train).
He is on a closed track
Where could someone buy one?
+Robert Clark On a closed track, duh
could I have a link or Email to company please?
Only water. No Alcohol allowed on the railroad.
is that legal? lol