Comments on: A car that can run on the road or the rails

By: suburbanhick

suburbanhick — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 02:02:00 +0000

When I was a kid, one of our neighbours who ran a maintenance crew for Canadian National Rail had a pickup truck like this. As a 12 year-old, I thought it was just about the coolest thing I’d ever seen. Not just a half-ton – a half-ton you can RIDE ON THE FREAKIN’ TRAIN TRACKS!

By: baronkarza

baronkarza — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:41:00 +0000

Taconite is the secret ingredient in Taco Bell and Jack In The Box tacos. You thought that hard shell was made from corn flour, but it’s mostly taconite.

By: Vince Pugliese

Vince Pugliese — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 23:59:00 +0000

Here is an interesting video of the Rio Grande Southern fleet of Galloping Goose(s):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2_3TcpYopM

.vp

By: Rob Butler

Rob Butler — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:36:00 +0000

Here’s one with a motorcycle http://youtu.be/oI6oJaxIJgU

Youtube’s also full of people modifying bicycles to run on the rails, just search for “rail-bike”.

By: dculberson

dculberson — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:52:00 +0000

Hy-rail? More like Hyrule, amirite?

By: Ito Kagehisa

Ito Kagehisa — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:24:00 +0000

Here in Delaware, my neighbor drives one to work every day. It’s a white pickup with a Conrail logo on it, I think.

By: Taylor Jessen

Taylor Jessen — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:24:00 +0000

Where does taconite come from? Well, who better to ask than Sven Foosball.

“It, eh, comes from the ground, dere.”

By: efergus3

efergus3 — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:16:00 +0000

Still waiting for the video of one being chased by a 96-car train to the sounds of yakedy sax.

By: technogeekagain

technogeekagain — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:09:00 +0000

And New York…

By: drublin

drublin — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:28:00 +0000

Any vehicle set up for rail travel is called a hi-rail.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road-rail_vehicle

By: ChicagoD

ChicagoD — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:17:00 +0000

Yes. The pick ups are standard equipment. We see them on UP, CN, Norfolk Southern, etc. etc. all the time. This one is only unique in that it is a badassed mobile.

By: A Nonny Moose

A Nonny Moose — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:08:00 +0000

This is the first modern (post-WWII) rail inspection car I’ve ever seen that isn’t a pickup or suburban (small s). I heartily approve!

By: Eric Garner

Eric Garner — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:04:00 +0000

yep:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taconite

By: Elliottw

Elliottw — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:03:00 +0000

Jeeps were commonly fitted for rail travel during WWII and after: http://www.willysjeep.com/forum/gallery/image/175-on-the-rails/

By: Nonesuchplace

Nonesuchplace — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:01:00 +0000

Does anyone have a picture from behind? I have a friend that does some awesome paintings of the backs of classic cars, and this is exactly the kind of thing that she’d love to paint.

EDIT: I am Ron Burgundy?

By: Dan Hibiki

Dan Hibiki — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Well, any car can be converted as shown by Top Gear… it’s just not that good of an idea.

By: Feargus Stewart

Feargus Stewart — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:56:00 +0000

Texas too.

With that said, that Pontiac is WAY better looking than those maintenance trucks.

That’d be riding in style.

By: ciacontra

ciacontra — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:56:00 +0000

Tell me that ‘taconite’ is a real mineral

By: No

No — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:56:00 +0000

And before there were full road vehicle “Hy Rail” kits, there were custom built inspection cars. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiT6gpq-H3Y

They used a “hit and miss” gasoline engine (nicknamed “putt putt cars” from the distinct sound), and are a BLAST to run flat out on rail.

By: Amorette Allison

Amorette Allison — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:49:00 +0000

Here in MT, the railroads have long had pick up trucks that can either run on the rail or the road. See them all the time.