Does anyone have experience in hyrail trucks for fire watches? Our run is 6-8 miles, and turning them around can be a chore several times a day. Has one tried to install a turn table on a truck with any luck? How about finding a way to make it drive backwards at 15-20 mph? If that could be done, would it stay on the tracks?

Any ideas welcomed.

Jim

Pacific Southwest Railway Museum
Jim@psrm.org

I have been a rider on several hyrail trucks....while driving in reverse at 10-15mph. I don't know if this practice is not recommended, or if turning the vehicle around is more a matter of operator visibility. It can, however, be done on atleast some models.

jasonsobczynski@yahoo.com

> I have been a rider on several hyrail
> trucks....while driving in reverse at
> 10-15mph. I don't know if this practice is
> not recommended, or if turning the vehicle
> around is more a matter of operator
> visibility. It can, however, be done on
> atleast some models.

Jim:

I have a friend who has owned two different Hyrail vehicles and had the pleasure to ride in them on a couple of occassions. When we have had to go in reverse, it is usually only until we come to the first road crossing where we can turn around. I don't believe this is necessary but more a matter of preference (you don't have to crane your necks looking backwards). After all, there is no steering involved. Back in Model T days when some railroads converted vehicles to railroad use, the cars had problems with overheating when running backwards as air was not entering the radiator. I don't think this would be a problem on todays vehicles but then again...

Les Beckman (HVRM)

midlandblb@cs.com