Went for a train ride today.

OK, a small train.

It started out as a pedal car but Dave uses the 4hp Honda more and more. It's a relaxing ride at 16 or so mph, scenic, relaxing. We stopped on a tressel much closer to the ground than the one below and had lunch. We turned around by picking up the back of the car and wheeling it around.

There's a whole religion - lifestyle of people with Speeders, those diesel powered two-seaters used for RR maintainence. They're an eccentric crowd. These light weight cars are not very welcome in Speeder circles, but I think this is something that could be a family type sport.

Pack a cooler, bring a chainsaw for dead falls, wear a funy hat and no one asks question. Dave did let the RR Company know we were going to be there. No problems there.

Dan

I always wonder how these guys know not to get walloped by a 70mph train. Is there a scedule that you need to know or do you just make the local news if its the wrong time of day?

Abondoned tracks, no Amtrak.

I was gonna say, "What do you do when a train's coming?"

I didn't know there were that many miles of abandoned tracks. I thought when they discontinued using a line, they pulled it up.

That looks way cool. My kids would enjoy that. Well, for five minutes at least.

There's a family four seater available.

Glad to help .....

looks like a blast. I wonder if there are many abandon tracks here in mid tn?

Cotton wrote: looks like a blast. I wonder if there are many abandon tracks here in mid tn?

http://www.abandonedrails.com/

Dan,

Did you ever find a source for the wheels?

Not yet, but the Speeder guys use steel wheels with a shunt to stop any electrical continuity. I'm looking at very large brake drums as wheels. They already have the angle on the rail surface and the hub to keep you on the track.

http://www.railspeeders.com/

Dan

That's really neat! We have a ton of abandoned track out here, but it's hilly so I want a motor.

Stunning scenery.

914Driver wrote: Not yet, but the Speeder guys use steel wheels with a shunt to stop any electrical continuity. I'm looking at very large brake drums as wheels. They already have the angle on the rail surface and the hub to keep you on the track. http://www.railspeeders.com/ Dan

I dunno. That's a lot of rotating mass. Why not weld a flange onto a bicycle rim?

According to those maps there's nothing even remotely close to me that hasn't already had the tracks pulled up.

carguy123 wrote: According to those maps there's nothing even remotely close to me that hasn't already had the tracks pulled up.

Same thing here in FL. I'd love to design a rail car with a sail. When the wind dies you could create your own by swatting mosquitos!

Someone sent me these, GRM enough?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujlFEy9AItM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URjSlnTnO7E