http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/loca ... 62230.html
This is why we insist that everyone face the direction of travel.

>sighs<
http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=38236&hilit=handcar

At this rate one day everything will be behind an inch of plexiglass and a railing. I suppose the insurance people are going to have a field day over this....

So maybe riding a handcar at 60 mph is not such a good idea?

I would not ride a bicycle at 60 mph.

Look at the numbers: 410 feet Uphill, 20 to 30 seconds, 60 mph??? Who are they kidding?

I have a hard time imagining 60 MPH. Our handcar, the handle would be moving like a blurr.

What he said...

0 to 60 in 400 feet? Maybe if you have a motor hidden in there.

Let's do some quick back of the envelope math. 410 feet with a best elapsed time of 20 seconds. That means 258 seconds per mile, or right about 14 mph if it was constant. They go from a standing start, so let's assume constant acceleration beginning with 0 and call it 28 mph at the finish line. I think the math would work if it was linear, and the resulting speed seems reasonable.

This article mentioned a top speed of 26, another source said 32. All seem plausible enough.
http://www.si.com/vault/1992/09/21/1272 ... -on-a-roll

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2vu55qiEno (World speed record for a hand car from an un said year)

The world record is about the same distance and on level track. I don't think there is any where they were hitting 60 MPH!

Years and years ago at my local museum we had a couple of visitors, brothers, as a matter of fact, taking a handcar down the track and were seeing how fast they could get it to go. Needless to say, they didn't make it anywhere close to 60; but when one brother suddenly lunged down on the bar, he sent his counterpart (on the head end of the handcar) flying. He landed safely, just in time for the oncoming cart to pass over him, leaving grease marks on his forehead from the large driving gear that had come much too close for comfort. Thankfully no one was hurt.

The handcars were locked in place not long after.

Handcars are not meant for joyriding. Any organization that I know of operating handcars always has a trained staff member riding along, and they don't do much more than a walk. Anyone who has operated one knows that the distance it takes to stop one is surprising.
It may "only" be a handcar, but once you add up the weight of it and it's passengers, you soon realize just how much moving mass there is for just a couple of guys to control.

I did the math, and the world record holders in this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2vu55qiEno) were doing an average of 22 mph, if that. Not to mention this was with four burly guys and 900 feet of track.

Is it known this is actually a handcar for sure? I searched online and couldn't find any references to the event and what they did, and nothing on what the car really is...

There is a Facebook site as well as YouTube videos of the festival and
handcars. Sounds like a popular event in that area.

Yes it was a railroad handcar. Here is some past footage of the event https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAoKFtHUTQ0 Note how the people are riding facing each other.

Too many people try to jump on our handcar and go off with it (I can see the kids but I would think the adults would know better). They will first notice the trigs and sometimes remove them and try again before noticing the lock.

The speed is an interesting discussion, but mostly irrelevant, as it's plain that whatever speed the handcar was doing can be lethal. (I do get that someone is going to see that speed reported by a 'reputable' news source and conclude that handcars are even more dangerous then they are). However, the rules I posted on the other thread would mostly prevent this-
No getting on/off moving car.
Trained brakeman at all times.
Don't let go, until the car is stopped.
No faster then a walk or jog.

The other thread talking about moving from car to car, just shows to me, if you want to remove ALL the threat, everything will be stuffed and mounted. I think most of us consider that to be an unacceptable solution.....

It should be noted this happened July 18 of this year. I just assumed in my mind that this 'just happened' since we just heard about it. Not so.....

Riding a handcar can certainly be a very fun activity and is a great thing to experience for those of all ages. In fact I would encourage more museums with handcars and tracks to offer some sort of handcar ride (within reason of course). However at the same time, handcar rides must be made very safe and all rules must be well established to the rider/participants. If nothing else, this story is proof of the dangers of handcars.

After watching some youtube videos of the Wilkeson Hand car races, I can tell you without any doubt in my mind that this an extremely unsafe operation. You can watch some of these and make a determination for yourselves. I especially like their launching mechanism, which can be seen very clearly in the third video linked below. Watch and enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAoKFtHUTQ0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt9iYgaYA0I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btbwIylE0zs

-Andrew

At my organization everyone must be facing the direction of travel. We explained in the old days they faced each other so each one could see if a train was coming then we mention since we don't have to worry about that we all like to travel in the same direction so if somebody falls off they get left behind instead of run over. We also explained that you must hold on at all times even if I say stop pumping still hold on what about not getting off in holding on at all times has already been posted. https://youtu.be/6laoUXvfC7o

Well for what it's worth, this Sheffield ad seems to endorse the practice of having everyone face the same direction, so facing each other can't have been universal.

-Philip Marshall