Bill's Antique Railroad Motorcars


 
Motorcar Operation
 

Operating a railroad motorcar is, for the most part, just like driving a manual transmission truck; except of course that you don't have to steer.

The 4-stroke cars have either 2 or 4 speed transmissions with a clutch, throttle, brakes, and lights. The 2-stroke cars are driven by a flat belt. Applying or releasing tension on the belt acts like a clutch and the throttle and timing advance controls speed. One difference with 2-stroke cars is there is no reverse gear. Two-stroke engines will run in either direction equally well so to back up the engine is simply run in reverse.

 
Aside from having a motorcar that is mechanically safe, the most important thing for operating a motorcar is to have permission to use the tracks. All railroad tracks in the United States are privately owned. Even if the track is overgrown with weeds and there are small trees between the rails you cannot simply put the motorcar on the tracks and ride.
 
The North American Rail Car Operators Association (NARCOA) has developed a set of motorcar safety rules that cover the mechanical aspects of motorcars as well as operating rules.