A handcar (also known as a pump trolley, pump car, rail push trolley, push-trolley, jigger, Kalamazoo, velocipede, [1] gandy dancer cart, platelayers' cart, [2] draisine, or railbike) is a railroad car powered by its passengers or by people pushing the car from behind.

Monterey Bay Rail Bikes – Railbike and handcar tours across the Monterey Rail Line. We host tours aboard our fleet of people powered handcars and our effortless electric assist railbikes along California’s Monterey Bay. Our popular handcar attraction is only offered in the Monterey area and can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

Handcars were used by track maintenance crews that were known as section gangs. A typical day began with the crew taking the handcar out of the section house where the handcar was stored overnight. They loaded their lunches and tools onto the deck and pumped to an area of the railroad needing work.

Mar 1, 2021 · We offer guided handcar and electric rail bike tours across railroad tracks through Fort Ord Dunes State Park 15 minutes north of Monterey. Our tours sell out in advance so reservations are recommended.

Handcars came onto the railroad scene in the 1860's built by individual railroads in their shops. Early models used a hand crank that was spun to propel the car. These cars were dangerous …

We sell handcar kits and fully assembled handcars. For prices and options see the store page for more information. Our Kalamazoo handcar is a continuation of the Kalamazoo handcar line discontinued in the late 1950s. Aside from minor changes, the handcar offered in the 1950s was the same handcar sold in the 1890s.

dcars By: Bruce Gathman A handcar (also known as a velocipede, pump car, pump trolley, jigger, Sheffield, Kalamazoo, Buda, or draisine (a light auxil-iary rail vehicle) is a railroad car powered by its passengers, or by people . ushing the car from behind. It is mostly used for mainte-nance of way activities, but it was also used for pass.

May 23, 2024 · A handcar is a hand-powered structure built to run on railways. Handcars are generally used on railways for maintenance or inspection, but also can be used to transport passengers and for recreation.

Three-wheel and four-wheel handcars were—and are—work vehicles which have long had great appeal to popular imagination (remember that escape in Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? ?). There are numerous sources of information and many interesting collectibles out …

Several historic photos of handcars in service during the first half of the 1900's. We assembled a sizeable collection of factory drawings from the late 1800's. If operated properly hand cars are safe. However, turn your back on it and you might receive a visit from the Grim Reaper.