Neil Buxton, of the Association of Community Rail Partnerships, said: ‘We see them as a way of moving the rural railway into the 21st century. We may well be able to increase services if they are brought into Britain.
As far as the movers and shakers in the rail industry are concerned, lightweighting is the future. The train builders, Network Rail and the Department for Transport have all been seduced by the idea of lighter trains…
Parry Peoplemovers

Studies have shown that for every dollar invested in rail rapid transit, the local economy recovers between $4 and $8. At TRU (Transit Riders United, Detroit) we like to use the figure $6.
Bus vs. Rail vs. PRT

In the past decade, significant developments have taken place that have the potential for reducing the cost and increasing the value of LRT. These include “Track sharing”, the interworking of heavy rail and LRT on the same tracks, and “Ultra Light Rail”, the concept of using much smaller lighter vehicles and considerably cheaper systems where demand is less. There is also scope for making much more intensive use of existing urban rail networks by conversion or track sharing and extending them into city and town centres as LRT.
Memorandum by AEA Technology Rail

Using strategic niche management to evaluate and implement urban transport policy instruments
Author(s): P. Ieromonachou, S. Potter & M.P. Enoch
Pages: 10 Size: 543 kb Price: US$ 30.00

What is Recreational Railroad Coalition?

Recreational Railroad Coalition Inc. (RRC) is a Mutual Benefit Corporation, 501) 7, organized to preserve America’s historic railroad corridors that would otherwise disintegrate into oblivion.

Railroads are a part of the original fabric of our communities. Many of these railroad corridors fall under the ownership of short line railroads. Some are ending up under the auspices of local governmental entities that are unsure of how to use this aged resource. RRC offers to retain or return a rail activity on these ribbons of history for their educational, historic and recreational value by operating antique, privately owned, track inspection “speeders” handcars, velocipedes and other human powered rail conveyance

Motorcars, speeders and handcars
* Alberta Motorcar – Motorcar photos and manuals
* Australian Society of Section Car Operators Inc – Group dedicated to the safe operation of motor section cars (speeders, trolleys, quads, or trikes)
* Folsom Handcar Derby – Annual handcar races in Folsom, California
* Handcar.Net – Handcar history, stories, movies with handcars, current uses, how to build one, and places to go that have handcars and/or rides
* NARCOA: North American Railcar Operators Association – Dedicated to the preservation and safe, legal operation of railroad equipment historically used in the maintenance of way; sponsors excursions for over 1,600 members worldwide
* Pacific Northwest Tour 2003 – Motorcar Operators West 2003 tour in the Pacific Northwest, with an Aussie flavour
* Pacific Railcar Operators (PRO) – Provides railcar excursion coordinators a safe, legal, and professional environment for sponsoring excursions on North American railroads
* Volunteer Railroaders Association Inc. – Operates children’s train rides and motor car excursion trips as fundraisers for the New Jersey Transportation Museum and other railroad historical preservation causes; Hawthorne, New Jersey

And many many more on the Rail Serve site

Find out more about Railbiking on this site

The rail is a way to move through spaces and to get to places that otherwise can’t be gotten to, or only thru excessive sweat and the tripping over sleepers even if one is awake.

First though: tell me about how stable it is, and how much it’s been tested.

What are its failure modes, and how much friction loss is there? Are the wheels of the type used in inline rollerskates? Do the wheels have bearings?

What is the highest tested velocity, and are there problems with self-vibration at high velocity?

I have a standard 10-speed with 700×28c wheels; will it mount to my bike?

Then, how much will it cost for you to build me one?

Craig

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