I had talked to the Director there at the NNRY and we went though safety and also signed a form for saying if we got hurt it was our fault. they were really nice people and have been welcomed back anytime, and yes it was extra cool to have the grade signals actuate when we crossed the road!
That was very good of the Railroad to allow you to use their rails, warning you that their Railroad is not liable for your injuries! Liabilities is a major cause for the loss of our freedoms! We all must learn to endure and suffer the consequences for our actions, thus, allowing us to enjoy our freedoms, doing so at whatever pleases us 🇺🇸!
Assuming that the circuitry isn't shut off at the control box his device "shunts" the track circuit, being metal wheels from rail to rail, setting them off. (It is by safety standards, a track's circuit is "kept on," thus, keeping the lights off by keeping the connection, maybe in the form of a relay or whatever, open. By "shunting" the circuit, that is electricity taking the path of least resistance, the relay, or whatever other circuitry becomes unpowered, causing its contacts to close, thus, making the connection! Have you ever seen crossing lights flashing, but, no train being present. Maybe, even observed railroad maintenance personnel there so to "fix the problem." It is why a signaling system is designed to be "fail safe," rather than having the wheels, etc, "complete the circuit." Other videos, such as UNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL's "Style B lower quadrant Semaphore Signals," an ancient signal now, can be be found here on RU-vid, from collectors of these such devices who preserve them on their properties, for sentimental reasons, who will explain in full detail about their functions, along with its circuitry. Oh, Eriks Gar: It's YOUR video I watched! I did like it much!! You describe how the Boston and Maine Railroad's "Cheshire Branch," in SW NH, signaled with these US&S Style B's, starting in May 1911 (being discontinued around 1957, some 15 years prior to this route's death). You taught me well how these signals functioned. Being born some 5 years after their discontinuance all I can remember was seeing these rusty hulks in various locations, with no blades and, all of their roundels smashed out. I was always curious about them!
nice built, the rubber wheels are great for a better traction, but I miss the sound of the wheels on the rails ;) Mine has really poor traction (the wheels would just block whenever I braked too hard) but I loved the sound it maked. Older people from the area said they loved the sound, because it reminded them the good old days when they were young. Beautiful place and track, The tunnels there are really cool !
Well the wheels are modified 12 inch trailer rims from a local tire shop. We took and cut one on the flanges off and then put a band in the middle to span the gap. They do work great. We also made the hubs as well for each wheel so the whole job is custom. If u check out the Facebook page called " rail riders" I am on there with other rail bikers and I believe we have some links to wheels u can buy. Also with our wheels they do add some wait to the bike!
Rubber tires are a nice innovation -- I'd want those on mine. Better traction -- and a quieter ride ! I wonder, why not leave both flanges on the wheel ?
I noticed one thing, italians have tought Americans what western movies were and americans have tought italians what mafia movies were... it is so funny
Jaw Tooth I made this myself and pretty much everything is homemade. People have all kind of different rail bikes and they make them, them selves. there is a facebook page where a community of railbikers are at and you can ask for advice on there. facebook.com/pages/Rail-Riders/116498241847101
now to make a really cool video would be to hoock a long rope on a passing train and let it tow a trail bike but five times the speed is it too much to handle , speed wobble, could it be designed for it , maybe rubber in rope for easy start , risk of stepping into rope loop , helmet , armour , ejection seat, parachute , airbags for falling to side, paddings or air filled , even a safety cage or shell, but detachable from bike. how about a giant ball rolling o the tracks , pulled by train. ball of branches or plastic or rods pipes. and guy inside. or like could use an old car pulled behind w normal wheels on side of trracks or no rubber and iron wheels on track , but rubber coating inside them. or rope and parachute fly benind train. any of those ideas can be very dangerous but some might be rather safe maybe if well designed and done. some choose some danger risk for fun, its popular on youtube like skydiving . ui
That's awesome. I love trains and bikes, would love to ride and see things from the POV of the train operator. How did you get permission to ride on those rails? Also surprised that your little vehicle triggered the crossing signal.
So Cool! There is this old idea of a hover train that uses standard rails , patent 3013505 . How hard would it be to make a rail speeder that works this way?
Nice video. By the way, I have two questions . 2:19 that smoke, is there a fire? Is there a switch on the tracks that activates the railroad crossings?
That is correct there is a fire. And the tracks near the crossing are wired so when the train gets close enough it set them off. Because I had Steele wheels on my cart it trigged the signal since I made a solid contact with both rails.
Eriks Gar. BTW, I was considering building a small rail car like the light rail street cars like the Siemens s70 but smaller. You can also run 6 of them when coupled to each other just like a subway; they all run their engines and the throttle of the leading rail car controls all engines from each rail car (when attached/coupled). I nick name them, RAIL ANTS. I know it's expensive but If you like that idea, you can take it. You have my permission.
@The Bushwacker Used brake drums with a flange (used brake discs if large enough?) welded on perhaps? Oh wait. Some disc brakes have the emergency brake drums built in. That gives you the track wheel and flange already made together. If the disc part is too large, part of it can be removed by machine or torch. Band saw could work too I suppose.
The peddles are so much cooler than an engine, unless it's electric. Who wants to hear that noise? Not I. You need to add a freewheel and some gears to that thing.
Donald Thomas You can ride 8 miles on this track and the NNRy has another set of track running north of town which is 12 miles long. now that is one direction i didnt total a round trip for those tracks.
Homy i am from México and i question me how do you do for travel on railway without problems becouse here we can not. Example if any train come what do you do? God bles you
+Nick Hanley (Robokill5359) The Nevada Northern Ry. runs tourist trains on a regular basis. Special permission has to be obtained before any equipment can be put on their rails.
i bought these wheels from a local tire center. they are 12" trailer rims and we had put a metal band around the center to cover the gap. they work great at low speed. the key is to find the truest round rim, if its not you will get a clanking noise.
James T Hey just want to let you know that i created a facebook page for railriders and it has photos of my bike and and of other peoples as well feel free to check it out. facebook.com/pages/Rail-Riders/116498241847101?ref=hl
