Road the Rails this weekend, A totally different experience.

[Rams]

I have a pic or two but, have never mastered posting them here.   

My Brother In Law is into this, he's been trying to get me to go with him for a couple of years.

They (or he) calls it a Speeder Adventure.
There were 30 of these "motor cars" or as they call them Speeders. This run occurred in Central Alabama but, they travel all over the country. My BIL has two versions, a narrow gauge Speeder for the Colorado and mountainous areas and a Standard gauge version for (I guess) everywhere else. His both have two cylinder (two stroke) horizontally opposed engines, I think they are belt drive.

We rode the rails about 60 miles one way, then about 70 miles back then returned to the original starting location. Got up to a blinding speed of about 36 miles per hour.
Saw a lot of country only the train folks get to see normally. It was a nice time. Not something I would invest my money in. Too restrictive on where and when you can do it.

Yes, this was a sanctioned event, the rail road folks were there, we were all masked up and during the safety briefing we all stood at least 6 feet apart.

I did find it interesting at how close our use/timing was to a freight train rolling through on the same tracks. We dismounted the last Speeder off the tracks with a good 2 minutes to spare before a train with about 40 cars came barreling through. Was fun and will probably do it again.
Just thought I'd share my "different" adventure with you.

I'd be happy to send a pic of what these babies look like if someone wants to post it.

Rams

[Jess from VA]

Did you get to wear an engineer hat?   

That actually sounds like a good time.

I would not be interested in doing it under human power like this though (even with two guys).

[_Sheffjs_]

Sounds like a blast to me!  I would be interested in some of the places your BIL has traveled.   

[Rams]

Sounds like a blast to me!  I would be interested in some of the places your BIL has traveled.    

Well, I don't really have any pics of his travels, only of the one I took with him.
Sent you three pics via your listed email address.

Rams

[_Sheffjs_]

Sounds like a blast to me!  I would be interested in some of the places your BIL has traveled.    

Well, I don't really have any pics of his travels, only of the one I took with him.
Sent you three pics via your listed email address.

Rams

 

[_Sheffjs_]

Here I will post this one.  Looks like a very unique loading trailer.   

[Rams]

Here I will post this one.  Looks like a very unique loading trailer.  

Thanks.

Yep,
Those green spike looking things at the rear of the trailer are actually slide out track ramps.
The operator simply gets the car close to the tracks and rolls the car down those ramps.   Then using those silver looking aluminum handles that extend out the front and rear, lift the car to the proper angle of the front or rear to get aligned with the tracks.   Push the car forward or reverse and the car almost automatically aligns and off you go.   You can't see it but, the engine is started with a hand crank on this car.   Kind of like the old tricycle tractors used to be.

As you can see in the pic on the front of the trailer is a boat winch.   He uses that to pull the car up onto the trailer.  

Rams

[The emperor has no clothes]

Here I will post this one.  Looks like a very unique loading trailer.   

Dang, that thing has some short wheelbase. Was the ride rough ? I'm curious about the horizontally opposed two-stroke. I can't remember any. Do you know who made them ? (I'd be a little nervous with only a two minute window)

[Rams]

Dang, that thing has some short wheelbase. Was the ride rough ? I'm curious about the horizontally opposed two-stroke. I can't remember any. Do you know who made them ? (I'd be a little nervous with only a two minute window)

Yeah, not a huge amount of leg room on this one, some were much longer, there was one there that six folks could ride in.   Some of the cars were four seaters.   I'm told the ride can be rather rough but since we were on a continuous track (welded seams) with no seams, it was a nice smooth ride.

No, I don't know who manufactured the engine but, I'll ask.   I do know that some of the cars there had been repowered with newer engines but, I really don't know enough about this hobby to discuss it intelligently.  Some were gas powered and a few were diesel.

Reference that two minute window, none of the adventurers knew that I'm aware of but, the rail road manager's obviously knew because they kept everyone hustling along politely.   I'm very sure they were in communication with the train crew.   But then, there is a real possibility that I'm the only one that didn't know.    

Edited:  I forgot to mention the one responsibility I had (being a "Crew Member").   In that the weather was rainy, the tracks were a bit slick.  My job was to use the sand bottle to sprinkle sand in front of the drive wheels when we started slipping for traction.   Didn't have to do this much but, that was my job.  

Rams

[Valkorado]

Chalk that up as a motorsport I never knew existed!  

It looks like a hoot Ron, but perhaps one most appealing to the true enthusiasts!  Like you I'm not sure I could invest in something that can only move me down the straight and narrow (gauge) at 36 mph.  Curious, how much does such a contraption cost?

[Rams]

Chalk that up as a motorsport I never knew existed!  

It looks like a hoot Ron, but perhaps one most appealing to the true enthusiasts!  Like you I'm not sure I could invest in something that can only move me down the straight and narrow (gauge) at 36 mph.  Curious, how much does such a contraption cost?

I agree that this is a hobby that appeals primarily to rail enthusiasts but, ironically, my BIL has never been associated with rail roads except that he likes trains.   He's a mechanical engineer who enjoys unique mechanical devices.    He bought and restored a single cylinder diesel "Popper" engine from back in the 1930s.   He also found, bought and restored a race car of 1940s vintage he found somewhere in Indonesia in a barn.   Somewhat or kind of like an Indy 500 style.   

Cost?  I'll have to ask that question of my BIL.   The six person car I spoke of earlier was for sale.   The gent who co-owned it with other(s) said he was asking $6,500 but that price was negotiable.   My BIL and several others said he was way over priced.   Just like anything else we buy, the real expense isn't in buying the item but in restoring it.   Some parts are kind of expensive.   So, I think he was trying to recover some of his restoration expenses.   Good luck with that.

Rams 

[h13man]

With all the abandoned railways this would be awesome to do. Most of ours are being turned into hiking/cycling byways. Your BIL has a unique hobby for sure. Definitely have to be fossil fueled for me. 

[Willow]

Ron, road and rail are conflicting terms.  Was it a rail you rode or a road you rode?

Was the group of cars consisting of closely behind one another or were they spread out so that the riders experienced a degree of individuality?

It does sound like it was a fun ride.

[MarkT]

This is obvious but I'll say it anyway.  Go to youtube and search on "rail speeder".  Plenty of hits.  Here's an interesting one:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tBT025yzYo

More with DIY speeders:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q00-TowiNyc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdyXKRrCUVY

Even more interesting, bicycle "speeders" in Argentina:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8mhIdZoVow

[Rams]

I asked my BIL several questions that I have received, both in this thread and by PM.

This was his response:

Ron - Feel free to forward this info on, we’re always looking for new members.   A friend of mine is writing some “introduction to the hobby” information and I would be happy to get this and forward on to anyone who has interest.  

Regarding the engine in my speeder – It is a Fairmont RK-B twin cylinder, 950cc, 15 HP at 2000 RPM, designed and produced by Fairmont in Minnesota, beginning in 1955.   Two stroke with two speeds – flat out, and broke down.  Fairmont made over 70K motorcars from 1911 – 1980’s,  but only about 2000 or so had this particular two cylinder engine, which was intended for places with bigger hills or high winds.  All three of my motorcars have this same engine.  I like it but some hate it since they can be difficult to start and hard to manage once started.  I included a couple of photos of one of my RKB engines  & also one from when I was installing it (for the second time) in my narrow gage motorcar, you can see how large the engine is compared to the 36” wheelbase M19 motorcar.  

Generally, from smaller to larger, Fairmont had motorcars that were as small as 32” wheelbase (M-9), up to 96” wheelbase for the largest (A-8) cars they made.  Here is a link to the specifications –

http://home.pcisys.net/~glenn_butcher/railroading/motorcartypes.html

Most two stroke powered motorcars had single cylinder engines that look like mine, but without the rear cylinder. These have 6-7 HP and are very common, there were 3 or 4 of these out of the cars on our ride the other day.    The two stroke engines are made to run in either direction,  simply by moving the timing lever.  With its belt drive, you can reverse the car without the need for a transmission.

The other type of engine that Fairmont used was the two cylinder air cooled Onan engines, similar to the one in that RV generator that you had.   These have 16-20 HP and came out sometime in the 1960’s.  Fairmont sold motorcars with both the two and four stroke engines up until they ceased production in the early 1980’s.    Since you can’t (easily) reverse a 4 stroke engine, the Onan powered cars  have a two speed transmission plus reverse, and a chain drive to the rear axle.   They use a shift levers and clutch, sometimes on the floor that your right foot engages, sometimes a hand clutch, sometimes both.

Many people have repowered the Onan engines, which are hard to find parts for (and Onan parts are getting expensive), with Honda, Briggs, Kohler, or Predator 2 cylinder engines, usually 16-24HP V-twins. This usually makes them more reliable and some companies produce adaptor kits.      

The yellow Woodings car that followed us last weekend,  had a single cylinder 16 HP Tecumseh engine with a variable pulley (snowmobile type) torque converter, tied to a transmission which allows you to reverse.      

As far as prices go,  the car in the video is what I bought at an Auction in St. Louis for $250.  I used it as my “donor car” to make the orange narrow gage car pictured above.  The “picnic table” M19 car was not running when I got it, but the engine was free (not locked up) and it had good wheels with hardly any wear.  I put a good carburetor and a good ignition system on it, along with a battery, and it fired up on the first pull.  That car had the single cylinder Fairmont RO-C two stroke engine, which I still have, and I may use at my tractor show displays if I can find a good way to skid it around.  The engines are mostly aluminum (as are the vehicles) except for the crankshaft, flywheels, and a few other things.

$250 is about the minimum you’ll find a junk speeder for.  On the opposite end, I’ve seen speeders sell for as much as $25,000 for larger cars that are really decked out with air ride suspension and air conditioning.  Mine cost $3000, and the guy I bought it from paid $6K for it, all in $50 bills.    A good running NARCOA ready 2 stroke car  will cost around $2K-6K for a two stroke car, $3 - $10K for an Onan powered car.   The Onan cars are heavier and many have turntables, which makes it easier to turn when you get to the end of your run.   They are popular and sell quickly.      

Here are the two popular websites for buying and selling motorcars, this is where I found my car in 2017.  I drove to Idaho to pick it up, then turned around and drove to Albuquerque for the trailer.

https://www.narcoa.org/forsale/4sale_want.htm

http://www.railspeeders.com/wantads/wantads.asp

Should anyone want more information, I'll be happy to put you in contact with Eric.

Rams

 

[Jess from VA]

Two stoke with two speeds – flat out, and broke down.

Boy, that sounds familiar...... and just like me on many days. 

Today, it sounds like my (Honda) lawn mower.   

[Gryphon Rider]

A short movie I watched with my dad several times growing up:

YouTube - The Railrodder - Buster Keaton

[Rams]

Ron, road and rail are conflicting terms.  Was it a rail you rode or a road you rode?

Was the group of cars consisting of closely behind one another or were they spread out so that the riders experienced a degree of individuality?

It does sound like it was a fun ride.

Carl, you could be correct on the terms, don't know and to be honest, we always called it a rail road.   Not something I'd argue over.

The cars were spread out, the operator was supposed to keep the car ahead in sight, the passenger was supposed to know where the car behind was (in case of break down) and keep the operator informed if they disappeared.    All cars had radios but, for some reason the rail line required a frequency that not everyone could get on their radios so, there was a lot of relaying from those with scanners capable of using both.

It was a unique and fun ride.    I'd go again and have been invited but, next time I would hope to get some of those scenic views like the ones posted on UTube.   Central Alabama may have some great scenery but, the rail line we were on was either all trees/forest or clear cut land.   One thing that was interesting is seeing what some folks along the railway have in their back yards.   

Rams

[_Sheffjs_]

I wonder how many are seeing a flat 6 Valk motor in one of these.  Admit it, you would have one of the most reliable deals out there and you know how to fix it?   

[Rams]

I wonder how many are seeing a flat 6 Valk motor in one of these.  Admit it, you would have one of the most reliable deals out there and you know how to fix it?   

I actually had an extra Valkyrie flat six available and offered it to my BIL for free to put into one of his Speeders.   He considered it but then came back and said it would be frowned upon by his group and that it would be way more work and design/fabrication effort required than would be worth it.   Way more power than he could ever use on that Speeder.   But, great minds think alike, I thought it would be cool also. 

Rams