Hi folks, I have an off-the-wall request for information.

I am looking for information on autos like the one shown here that have been converted for railway use. The one pictured, if I remember correcty, I photographed at the Mid-Continent RR during the late '80s

I am planning to build a 1:25 scale model of a similar vehicle, and so I would like some help looking for info regarding the special rims with flanges and those unusual tires. The name of the equipment manufacturer would be of help to me, as would any patent numbers. Dimensional data would be a bonus.

Also, kind or related, but have any of you, as museums or individually, had dealings with Harsco/Fairmont Tamper regarding your old maintenance equipment? I am asking this since I have been thinking of writing them for historical and technical data on some of their HyRail products and I wonder if they would care to deal with non-railroad folks like myself.

Any help would be appreciated.

Brian Austin

PS: I have been enjoying your various board discussions and debates. I am at the moment loosely connected to the Seashore Trolley Museum, and so appreciate the issues involved with preservation.



raylrhodes@aol.com

Hi Folks,

I'd, also be interested in information on Model T Ford inspection cars. I know railroads had them and I'm wanting to know how they were converted and pictures would be great, too.

Thanks,

Stuart

gnufe@apex.net

The B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore has an ex-Maryland and Pennsylvania (Ma & Pa) inspection car converted from a 1937 Buick. The Ma & Pa purchased the car in 1942 from a local funeral home and converted it into an inspection car.

It has a four wheel gruck on the front end, and two steel tires where the rear tires were. I don't have a picture, but perhaps their website (www.borail.org) might.

B&O Railroad Museum
kevingillespie@usa.net

The Pittsburg & Shawmut RR had four of these types of cars over the years. They referred to them as "service motors" and no doubt it was more comfortable to get somewhere in one of these on rails rather than on the rather poor parallel roads. The roster was:

#500, 19?? Chevrolet
501, 1928 Studebaker
502, 1929 Cadillac
503, 1931 Packard

The first two were scrapped, but at least one of the last two is reported to still exist. Contact me off-line if you want a picture (replace the - with the "i" to finish my e-mail address).

As an aside, we regularly order parts for our Fairmont motor car from the company.



n-ckdamore@penn.com

> I'd, also be interested in information on
> Model T Ford inspection cars. I know
> railroads had them and I'm wanting to know
> how they were converted and pictures would
> be great, too.

En route to the Regional FRA meetings for shortlines last month in Mt Shasta, CA, we stopped at Portola. They have a Model T "speeder" -- wish I had gotten some photos for you.

Issue 46 of L&RP has Railtown 1897's #8 on the cover and some information in the featured article.

--doc



Heber Valley Railroad
utweyesguy@aol.com

> Hi Folks,

> I'd, also be interested in information on
> Model T Ford inspection cars. I know
> railroads had them and I'm wanting to know
> how they were converted and pictures would
> be great, too.

> Thanks,
Several years ago the local Model T club stopped by at Camp 6 here in Tacoma. One gentleman converted his model T into an inspection car by driving onto the tracks, jacking up the car, then removed the wood spoked wheels and bolted on special railroad wheels. Between train runs, he gave rides in the car.
> Stuart


crisolite@aol.com