Railroad handcar - photo

**Gadgeteer** · Oct 20, 2020, 01:45 AM

Originally Posted by Frank S

That would be the only way the thing could make any sense. much like the 2 man hand cars one guy pumps down while the other guy pulls up and vice versa
why would you not employ your most powerful limbs while sitting down

Yeah, if it weren't for an independent braking system, I could see someone getting beat to death by the hand levers on a downhill run. Yikes!

This subject has renewed my interest in transforming my motorized recumbent bike into a rail bike for exploring the backcountry.

**Gadgeteer** · Oct 20, 2020, 03:19 AM

While researching info about the velocipedes I ran across this old photo of Annie Oakley, carrying an AR-15 in her backpack.

**Karl_H** · Oct 20, 2020, 09:23 AM

Jump to 1:40 to see it running. Lots of leg power as well as arm power.
(This first photo is from way up the evolution of personal rail vehicles.)

**jdurand** · Oct 20, 2020, 02:42 PM

I have an exercise machine rigged up like that. Foot rests on pivot attached to the handlebars. The handlebars/feed raise and lower the seat with a car shock to add resistance. So, the bigger you are the more you have to work.

**Jon** · Oct 23, 2020, 03:23 PM

On display at the Saskatchewan Railway Museum.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...m_fullsize.jpg

**Hoosiersmoker** · Oct 26, 2020, 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by Jon

Railroad handcar.

Previously:

Railroad track bicycle - photo
Railway honey bucket - photo
Devil's shingle railway slideboard - photos and video
Railway scooter - photo
1860 hand-operated manual railway crane - photo

Something wrong with the way this one is set up. There is a foot peg on the near side for the left foot but the arm to the outrigger wheel is directly in the way of that foot peg. In the two following pics (from the opposite side) you can see the attachment point of the outrigger is back with the arm angling forward from the main frame and no "stabilizer" rod. Looks like the arm in the first photo should be flipped and attached where that rod is mounted?

**Hoosiersmoker** · Oct 26, 2020, 07:30 AM

Also, not sure how much "coast" you would have? Looks to be direct gear drive to me.

**Gadgeteer** · Oct 26, 2020, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by Hoosiersmoker

Something wrong with the way this one is set up. There is a foot peg on the near side for the left foot but the arm to the outrigger wheel is directly in the way of that foot peg. In the two following pics (from the opposite side) you can see the attachment point of the outrigger is back with the arm angling forward from the main frame and no "stabilizer" rod. Looks like the arm in the first photo should be flipped and attached where that rod is mounted?

Perhaps the paint worn off of the angular support rod is evidence that the left foot peg was not used, since the left foot was placed on the rod.

**Jon** · Oct 27, 2020, 05:09 PM

**Gadgeteer** · Oct 27, 2020, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by Jon

Hmmm, no seat belts on the bench. But, it does look like there is a foot brake for each pedaler, and seat-retention cables for the pedalers' seats. Also, there are front bumpers, just in case a large animal is encountered, while rolling down the track. It appears that the pedals are in sync, so that the people providing propulsion apply force in tandem.