The “Delton Railcar” thread sparked my interest.

There are a lot of Hi-Rail vehicles currently in use, and dating way back … and it’s easy in Standard Gauge because for the most part the wheels match up with the rails, gaugewise. There are some vehicles, notably big front end loaders, and the like, that have an adaptor where the rubber tires drive a roller that turns the wheels because the equipment is actually a lot wider than the track gauge…

Which makes me wonder.

We’ve seen a lot of vehicles adapted for 3’ gauge inspection use, but generally they’re Model T era stuff. While I know most Narrow Gauge was gone long before the era of the “modern” automobile, there were a few of the larger ones that lasted well into the golden age of motor vehicles … and there are a few left today.

Does anyone know, are there any modern vehicles adapted for Highway/Rail use in 3’ gauge (DRGW, White Pass, etc?) or barring that, modern (say, post 1950) vehicles adapted for 3’ gauge track use? (Galloping Geese don’t count; I’m talking about vehicles in their more or less original configuration used on the track, if not adapted for both road and rail use.)

Matthew (OV)

I asked about hi-railers when I was on the White Pass earlier this month as all I saw was speeders. The Conductor indicated that speeders were all they had.

I’ve seen alot of stuff in Europe and Russia modified for narrow gauges

(http://railasia.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/germany-isle-sylt.jpg)

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/SMD-1_Draisine_Kolochava_2012_06.jpg)

(http://www.flamber.ru/files/photos/1190737506/1226890643_f.jpg)

(http://www.lokralf.de/assets/db/24456.JPG)

Sorry for the big pics, thats the way they are on their sites. I cant resize them or convert to links.

Hey Vic… why does that second-to-last picture (green and silver) remind me so much of that 1920’s gyroscopic monorail prototype?

I believe that that one is from the “Eastern Block”. I’ve seen a couple of other pics of similar ones (could be the same one) The “Cab” is defiantly a Russian Knock off of the WWII Studebaker Duce and 1/2s that were sent over for “Lend Lease”. They used them for years in the military and didn’t change them at all from the original 1940s truck bodies.

I bumped in to this photo while researching an O&K wagon.

Then we have this cool one …

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200417/208da8b3e45620846900ff07272008b4.jpg)

Well the meter guage RhB has s ome.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=llQ0319eN80

This is the East Broad Top’s M-2, a short-lived attempt to reduce the cost of running mail and people without firing up a steam engine. I’ve only seen one other photo which did not show the frame. Interesting beast - I believe it was derived from a streetcar.

In an attempt to really lower the costs, Doc Brown of Tortoise & Lizard Bash fame developed the “One Horse Motive Power” that uses a common farm horse to power the trucks via a big squirrel cage arrangement.

Initial development using Willie the Wonder horse to run the assembly.

Willie’s railcar is hoisted up and placed to power The California Experience. Note the carrot for encouragement.

https://youtu.be/-bd6Sv-yPlo?t=4

And some “gallop-bys” on the railroad.

https://youtu.be/TCGdBf-ina4?t=56

I know no one reads books much anymore but if you want information on rail cars and trucks look up a copy of

The Short Line Doodlebug, galloping geese and other rail critters by Edmund Keilty, Interurban Press 1988.

Lots of information listed State by State by railroad name, and with pictures in most cases.