Suprise Find

[slimjim]

Hi All,

Now that I have your attention :D , This is what I found on my last Road Trip to Helper, UT and beyond. It has been there a long time, but behind a high fence. Well, no fence now. I have more pics on my web site under Road Trips.

http://www.trainweb.org/utahrails/rtrip/050402.jpg

[CPRailfan]

You shoulda brought that thing home with ya smile.gif Cool pics and cool site!

[friscobob]

Jim,
That speeder reminded me of the DRGW boxcar parked across West Yard from the depot. It's one of the silver & gold cars, but both colors have faded badly- it also looks like it's used for house car storage, aling with other 50-footers from MP and UP (one UP boxcar in yellow & silver, and the "Automat-ed RAILway" slogan & system map.
Flashes from the past.......

[Peirce]

A speeder and a trailer, both look like they could be salvaged, at least for display. Good catch.

[E-8]

Reminds me of a car I drove once :D

Charlie

[DaveCN5710]

Thats some pretty good power :D

I love it !

Where's the ditch lights ?
:eek:

[ 22 April 2001: Message edited by: DaveCN5623 ]

[DaveCN5710]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by E-8:
Reminds me of a car I drove once :D

Charlie<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Hilarious Charlie :D

[Colonel]

I have actually used one of these track vehicles, they are known as a Fairmont, my father in law was a track supervisor and used to "run the length) every 3 days for a track inspection , I would sometimes go with him for the trip. I also officially used a villiers trike to do a signal inspection once smile.gif it was great fun except when kids would place ballast on the track to try and derail you

[rsn48]

Every year a herd of these in all shapes and fashions are found on the BC Rail line, heading North. I always look forward to seeing these guys. I'm sure they're having a hoot.

[watash]

What is a Villiers Trike? Do you peddle it like a bicycle? Is a whole herd of them allowed to run on the tracks today?

[Telegrapher]

Hey Slimjim. :eek: Back in the late 50's and early 60's when I worked as a telegrapher for the SP I lived right next to a section gang houseing.. We used to call those little things "put put's". I put that phrase on Train Board a couple of months ago and nobody seemed to know what I was talking about. At least I never received any remarks.

[slimjim]

Hey Dick, you are dating yourself :D. The only thing most people have seen is a
Hi-Railer. Ah, the good old days when we had steam, roundhouses, coal smoke--------.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Telegrapher:
Hey Slimjim. :eek: Back in the late 50's and early 60's when I worked as a telegrapher for the SP I lived right next to a section gang houseing.. We used to call those little things "put put's".<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Gats]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by watash:
What is a Villiers Trike? Do you peddle it like a bicycle? Is a whole herd of them allowed to run on the tracks today?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Watash,

It's an open 3-wheeled version of a quad, Both were powered by a Villiers 2-stroke engines through a chain drive and had the main wheels on one rail and an outrigger to the other to stabilise it. Usually gear was carried on a base or box placed over the outrigger support.
For more detail, have a look at the following - http://www.gmr.org.au/trolleys.html - for drawingings and descriptions;
and - http://www.narcoa.org/world/au/overmyer/nsw.htm - for photos of some neat restored equipment.


Below is a drawing of a 'trike'

http://www.gmr.org.au/private/fig7.gif

Later variants actually had 4 wheels but had been called trikes for so long they remained being called that.
On the other hand, quadracycles, or quads, were generally Fairmont 4-stroke products, and also referred to as Fairmonts

A photo of a 'trike' (note 4 wheels!) and a 'Fairmont'.

http://www.narcoa.org/world/au/overmyer/image17.jpg

I'm certain Paul can fill you in with better detail on the running and comfort characteristic of such beasts! smile.gif

Unfortunately, they are an endangered species and only found in special zoos.
As for them travelling in herds, I believe the correct term for a group of trikes is a clutch. When gathered in a circular fashion, it's a centifugal clutch. :D

Gary.

[ 24 April 2001: Message edited by: Gats ]

[yankinoz]

KEWL - motorbikes and trains all rolled together into one :cool:

"a centifugal clutch" <groan> :D

[Big Al]

I once road a hand powered 'trike' called a velocipede. Interesting creature and very good excercise. Unfortunately the contraption was stolen from the railroad at which I worked at.

Operation of all track cars requires permission of the track owner. Several motor car groups exist that are organized and insured to make the 'runs'. They are great social events and truely a 'different' experience.

[Telegrapher]

Gats: Top picture looks like a Harley with the side car missing :confused: :D :eek:

[Gats]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Telegrapher:
Gats: Top picture looks like a Harley with the side car missing :confused: :D :eek:<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yeah, Dick, come to think about it. Just as agricultural looking and reliable too! :D
(this'll get back! ;))

Gary.

[watash]

WATCH YOUR TONGE! You should always assume a reverent posture and seek soft loving terms when referring to a Harley! NATS ON YOU GATS & DICK! Wadayamean Agricultue machinery? :D

I would love to mount my old Knuckle Head engine on one of those!

Earlier I told of the bicycle I made an outrigger for to ride on some rails back home at Wichita, but it was a Hawthorn and much much lighter than the photos, and faster too I'll bet.

[Gats]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by watash:
WATCH YOUR TONGE! You should always assume a reverent posture... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

LOL... now that has several images spring to mind - all irreverent, none complimentary! :D

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>
I would love to mount my old Knuckle Head engine on one of those!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If there was ever truth in advertising motorcycles, that's it... hehe ;)

Gary.
Don't start on Laverdas...

[Catt]

Harleys,are those the bikes that Honda and Yamaha owners rode while saving up for a real motorcycle??? :D :D

[ 28 April 2001: Message edited by: Catt ]

[watash]

Yeah, those guys would brag about getting 30 miles to a gallon on their Mopeds, but we had them beat! If we ran twin straight megaphone pipes during the quiet of night, we could easily get 35 tickets a mile! :D

We had horse shoe cleats on our boot heels, and could drag sparks for half a block to thrill the kids at night too! Great fun! :eek:

[Telegrapher]

Yeh Watash. That reminds me of ---Whoops --- I forgot what I was going to say heh heh tongue.gif

[watash]

Lest we get too close to showing colors here, let me show this draggin' waggon that is not often seen.

This is a 250 ton reinforced deperssed center flat car with tandem trucks at both ends. It brought in a new refrigerated transformer to the TXU plant near my home. I could not get any closer for photos without getting onto TXU's property, but maybe I can get permission when the weather gets warmer, and if it is still here. The big transformer is sitting off on one side now. I have a model of one similar to this one.

http://ns1.gameinfozone.net/jan/depcentflt1.jpg

http://ns1.gameinfozone.net/jan/depcentflt2.jpg

[Hytec]

Watash, something happened with your photos ... got the infernal "Red X" :(

[Charlie]

Back in the late 50's and early 60's when I worked as a telegrapher for the SP I lived right next to a section gang houseing.. We used to call those little things "put put's". I put that phrase on Train Board a couple of months ago and nobody seemed to know what I was talking about.


That's what we called them when I wuz a kid.
used to see them(and older versions) all the
time up on the GTW elevated main line out of
Elsdon Yard(now its the Hayford Siding). The
GTW had their famous 0-8-0 switchers working
there until the early 60's smile.gif

[watash]

Hank, my photos are up OK now.

I went to the TXU office this afternoon, and was told that due to the "Sept. 11th." no one could be allowed inside the fenced areas of any Power Plant. Otherwise I would have been allowed to go take all I wanted.

One of the fellows did take me down through an old grave yard and up to the nearest fence, and let me take one photo through the wires. It is from the opposit end, but I did find out the car is lettered for 185,000 lbs. tare weight (empty weight of just the flat car), and 400,000 max load wt. (total weight the car is allowed to safely carry). So is a 200 ton flat, not 250 ton.

It has the largest brake shoes I have ever seen! The trucks are an unusually heavy design with axles that look to be about 10" diameter. The wheels are tapered inside and have radiating ribs around the axle hub.

The car is owned by Ideal Electric Company to deliver their High Tension Transformers. The one this car brought in has 8 refrigeration fans on 3 sides!

He suggested I drive around to the other side of the property, and take some photos from the gate over the tracks, because TXU owns the siding, and In the morning the sun will be at my back so I can get better shots. I'll try. He said they had two heavy duty cranes to unload this transformer. It does look like a building!

Charlie, I have ridden on several kinds of the little Put-Puts, as well as the Hand-Pumper, and a bicycle I rigged to ride the rails like a velosipede, but I could go faster. Yes they are lots of fun! It takes four men to get a Put-Put on and off the track. :D

[ 09 January 2002: Message edited by: watash ]

[Johnny Trains]

I believe the Delaware and Ulster Railroad Railroad in Arkville, NY has a "Speeder" run once a year.
Or at least they used to.
I saw it once. Really cute!

[Greg Elems]

Speaking of putt putts, they used them on the Tidewater Southern till the early eighties. When the UP took over they eliminated the job and had the track foreman drove a hi-railer. Anyway, when I was in Jr. High school, the track guy would come by every afternoon. My friend had a grape vine in his alley and we would pick the grapes and smash them on the rail head. The putt putt would come along and lose its traction. One day the drive, an older Mexican track man got mad enough that he started yelling at us. My friends mother heard him and wanted to know why he was telling us to go to sunny beaches. Ahh the days of youth and lots of energy....
Greg Elems