My buddy told me about Rail Bikes this weekend. anyone every try one or build/have one?

79000

That thing looks like it has no brakes...

They rarely need brakes. I have used railbikes on standard gage tracks at several mining operations and we only had brakes at the Idarado Mine in Colorado because the exit tunnel had a 1 1/2% downgrade for over a mile. A train nut claimed that a lot of rural trackage is technically public right-of-way and as long as you do not mess with the equipment you can bike on the tracks. If Canadian Rail ever goes on strike I'd like to take that bike down the Roberts Pass track with the underground loops and the mile after mile of free descent.

Sounds like a great way to get arrested or run over, actually.

Here's a link to some plans for sale for a Rail Bike.

http://rrbike.freeservers.com/#Bentley_RAILBIKE_Plans

We have a preserved railway line (3ft 6in gauge) not far from where I live. I wonder how difficult it would be to knock something up :innocent:

Also of interest......

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/03/railway_velocipede.html

60 or 70 years ago the railroad was big mode of transportation and shipping in my area. Consequently, we have hundreds of miles of unused track. Building a railbike sounds like a great winter project with spring riding in mind.

I don't see much unused track around here. When a line is officially abandoned, they'll tear the rails up for scrap metal. Until then, you may have one train a week going down the line, but it's still in service and you're trespassing to go riding on it. Could be especially hazardous on long bridges.

Could be especially hazardous on long bridges.

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

I thought it was obvious that these are to be used on abandoned/decomissioned rails and not active lines! :rolleyes:


THere's plenty of abandoned track in my area and they don't rip up the rails..they just let nature take it back. Also there are signs on any abandoned rail lines that say they are out of comission if they are.

check this site out...they sell special wheels that fit standard Railroad gauge and have some great pics of rail bikes and rail velocars

http://www.railriders.net/index1.html

check this site out...they sell special wheels that fit standard Railroad gauge and have some great pics of rail bikes and rail velocars

http://www.railriders.net/index1.html

Cool Bananas :thumb:

It is absolutely critical for your own safety to stay off operating rail lines, - I can't emphasis that enough. Around here it is still a sore point that the government of the day was hungry for the scrap value of the rails when the branchlines in this area were closed down and the rails were lifted with indecent haste. Fortunately the local preservation society was able to rescue much of the buildings and other infrastructure and preserve the part of the line that runs through the stunningly wild and beautiful Karangahake Gorge.
Soon it should be possible to ride the the old railway formation on a bicycle until you get to the preservation society station yard and then ride the train to the next township. I'm really looking forward to that :D

That Railriders.net guy sold me my recumbent. Really nice guy. he got my bike in trade on some wheels he makes. Turned it into a railrecumbent. got bored with it and sold it to me. I kind of turned my nose up at the deal first and he took me back to his parts room and got out a big box and started loading it up with parts till I was happy with the deal.
Nice guy, neat operation he's got.