The recent estate taken by the Md. Rail Heritage Library brought in two "mystery" photos, including the railbus or inspection car seen below.



We CANNOT ID the railbus in this photo, as much as we may have tried with the best books on rail buses out there (the Keilty trilogy). The closest we can come is Four Wheel Drive Co. built several buses with substantially identical wheels. The only potential clue is the possibility that someone can ID the engine make; we can make out "CYL _NG ORDER 1-5-3-4-2-6" (I think) on it.

The other photo is of an apparent station or office of the railroad, and the chap wearing the derby on the bus shows up in that photo as well.



Any well-educated guesses based on actual evidence and not just guessing?

And why, pray tell, does the railbus need a steering wheel?

Early railbuses, etc that were based on a motor vehicle often had steering wheel that were used to apply the parking brake vs a handlever. The wheel was turned and tightened the chain.

Since the rail car is most likely home built, they probably didn't know how to set up the ignition advance and choke. These were typically mounted in the steering wheel of brass era cars.

Steering wheel is still in place because throttle and timing controls are probably still located on it. (You can see at least one lever on the photographer's side) Also the engine and drivetrain were probably adapted from some other use, just easier to keep it in place than relocate those levers someplace else.

How else do you change tracks?

The driver looks very much like Henry Ford. Did he build inspection cars?

"And why, pray tell, does the railbus need a steering wheel?"

Sometimes the wheel was used to apply/release the brakes.

Lee

The firing order is not going to be allot of help, according to my old shop teacher all straight 6's have the same firing order. 1-5-3-6-2-4 he also taught an easy way to remember it. 15 she's to young,36 she's to old, 24 she's just right. I have still to see another straight 6 with any other firing order. I've rebuilt allot of very different str 6's

Looking at the frame it Looks to me as if it was purpose made rather than a conversion.

My first thought was FWD but the radiator is wrong and its chain-drive. The liitle bit I see of the engine suggests a Dorman 4 cylinder or perhaps a Peerless?? I can see some writing cast into the manifold but I can't read it.

I think I may have an exception to that rule - my big six cylinder T-head Wisconsin (1925, 1091 c.i.d.) is 1,4,2,6,3,5 (so I have been told) Haven't had a chance to prove it yet... still in pieces.