Join us as Mark takes us on a brief history of riding the rails. From the first Sheffield hand car to the modern high-rail truck to a home-built railrider, see the many ways to gild on steel rails.
As a bicycle enthusiast, the first thing I thought of is making a modern Velocipy using modern electric pedal assist technology. Imagine how peaceful it would be to ride by yourself through some scenic canyons and mountains in Colorado.
Buena Vista to Leadville might be a start...abandoned, unused track....I've hiked those rails north a few miles, from Buena Vista to the railroad bridge over the Arkansas River and the exact same thought came to me...how relaxing to pedal or motorize yourself through that pristine mountain scenery!
I just want to point out that I only found this after seeing a vid of someones diy bike speeder for riding rails. Had a swing out arm for lining up the other rail from his bike.
@@robertallen6710 Since I made my original post about having an electric Velocipy I discovered that there's a place in Boulder Nevada that offers just that. An electric rail-kart tour..
@@Zer0cul0 saw that exact same post this morning,think it would be a great hobby.The local railway authority in Fort Erie Ontario(by the peace Bridge) might have other ideas though.They keep a close watch.
I ended up here somehow? and stayed to watch. I like train history, but don't go looking for it. Why I stayed is because the video was so well done. You don't find all that many vids that are well put together-they have an actual "intent" and they stick to expanding the story in a logical, easy to understand manner, with short comprehensive "shots" that keep the interest going. Very nicely done.
I worked for the NYNH$H RR now MTA in Stamford CT. I worked the Power dept. I was a class A lineman, groundman and forman. I drove the highway rail trucks from 1974 to 2008 when I retired. I had to go to school to learn the rules of the road and get a class 2 licence, now a CDL before I could drive on the tracks, I enjoyed this video immensely, brought back a lot of good memories. Thanks so much for posting.
I came here randomly and stayed to the end. Thank you for spending my time "efficiently" You covered a lot of info quickly and interestingly. You are very easy to listen to. Very enjoyable and informative. Thank you ! ! ! (from AUSTRALIA)
Thank you for a refreshingly Concise and informative video. No goofy background music no long laborious introduction. Just the facts ma’am..... beautiful.
I really like the fact that you have sections of your railway open to the public that really keeps the love of railroading alive. very informative video.
In Orrville, Ohio there's a club that will offer rides on rail Speeders for Boy Scouts and other groups. I went with my son and a bunch of kids and their parents. I was given the chance to ride in an SW9 switch engine. The rides were on a spur the went from the main line into a factory area in Orrville.
As a kid living by the railroad tracks, w saw what we called Jiggers. They were enclosed. In later years when living in NW Ontario in the 60's I was in remote areas and got to ride in jiggers with the what they called the signal maintainers for the CNR. thank you, brought back great memories
I grew up watching the trains go by and that once every couple of years a speeder went by was "the talk" for a few days. Thanks for a nice presentation.
I was at the museum two years ago! As kids we use to steal the speeder and run up and down the tracks with it .. always putting it back and making sure it was clean .. they never caught us! LOL
Mark, thank you for an excellent documentary. There is no unwanted music, no fellows with nose-rings drinking beer and talking rubbish. This is an example of a PERFECT documentary. A hundred years of railroad history revealed in 7.09 minutes. Well done !
Lived in western Ok as a kid with a Rock Island line running behind our house. We would watch the speeders go by and wish we could ride them. But we always called them "The Putt Putt Car" !
Very nice, informative, and educational video, shot in a gorgeous area of our country. Thanks for posting it...a lot of people will find it helpful in learning all about railroads! 😃👌
120522/0607h PST 🇺🇸 Thank you very much, Sir. The explanation was admirable. Very eloquently spoken and made people understand the intricate evolution of Railway inspection vehicles. Bravo.
Riding the train, I had always wondered why every so often there were sections of rail at 90 degrees to the main track. According to my grandfather and father, those sections were for "parking" the speeders when a train passed. They were light enough to be moved by hand on and off the rail. Great series! Thanks!
@@keithlucas6260 You can still get the clickity clack on the Santa Cruz to Corumba train (if you're ever down there). I road that train two years ago and it was wonderful!
Thank you for the education about railroad history, I just happened to watch the video of the 4 retired friends that did South America railroad bike journey
As a fellow railfan, I have often wondered about the use of rail bikes and speeders. Today, this video popped up and answered my questions and more! Thanks! I hope to visit this place in Ely soon!👍👍
All those months I lived and worked in Ely I never went to the museum. Now that I'm retired I have to go back! (I never found any garnets at that stupid hill, either--now I absolutely have to go back!)
Saw this gentleman several times on American Restorations on the History Channel, having many rail associated items being restored to original condition. Very dedicated to the rail cause.
I went to Ely one time with my Dad. While there isn't a lot going on there, it was one of my favorite trips of all time. We went to the museum and it was actually really cool.
Nice you showed all of the vehicles for track inspection or work. I happen to own a Sheffield velocipede, a hand car, and a Fairmont Railway Motors B-4 car that was sent to the signal maintainer of the Pere Marquete RR at Holly, MI in 1941. Hand cars date from around the war between the states.
Several of the old country music stars had their own rail riders, from time to time one would see where they got detained by police in the newspaper. My first wife was the grand daughter of the first conductor on the Tweetsie Railroad and much of her family worked for Clinchfield RR. Thanks for an interesting and informative video.
Mark beautifully explained all the different forces used to inspect the track.. Muscle+mechanical efforts really brought revolutionary ideas in smooth and safe running of rail cars... beautifully videographed... Very informative 👍👍
