Double your fun: combine your C&V habit with another technology, sadly now retro
#2
Scott
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I built a rail bike but I didn't need the instructions at the site you posted. I don’t know what you mean by retro however. Anyway, I picked up a step-through frame bike with three-speed hub and coaster brake at a thrift store for a few bucks. I used 1" EMT conduit for the outrigger and 1/2" EMT conduit for the two outrigger support stringers. I had some flanged steel wheels from an overhead wench trolley I used for the front wheel guide. After getting that all setup I had to perfectly align the rear wheel in the dropouts so it would properly ride along on the track. I have a 12-mile section of abandoned track 4 miles from where I live so I enjoy getting out and riding that track. I also have a Fairmont rail car but the railroad company that has control of the abandoned track will not allow me to ride it on that 12-mile section of track. They don’t care about people walking or bicycling on it. There are several of us that use that track with rail bikes. I only get to use my Fairmont railcar on NAROCA sponsored excursions. https://www.narcoa.org/
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Looks like fun! I wonder how many abandoned train tracks there are around here.
Edit: this should probably go in the alt bike forum.
Edit: this should probably go in the alt bike forum.
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Last edited by kemmer; 01-25-07 at 10:54 AM.
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n4zou,
Before becoming a swtchman in the late 70's, I had spent 3 years working on the RR section. I rember pushing/rolling along on the old "dumpys."
These railbikes look neat. Time to get the brazing rods out.
Before becoming a swtchman in the late 70's, I had spent 3 years working on the RR section. I rember pushing/rolling along on the old "dumpys."
These railbikes look neat. Time to get the brazing rods out.
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By "retro" I only meant that railroads are currently seen as outdated, unneeded, backward, etc. Like bikes really.
(those rail cars look like bloody good fun.)
(those rail cars look like bloody good fun.)
Last edited by Katzenjammer; 01-25-07 at 11:52 AM.
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around here, when a section of track was bypassed and abandoned to combine two lines into one, the (leaseholders?) tore up one half of the track (that is, one rail) to discourage interested third parties from starting up an independent and competing service
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with my luck I'd be tooling along and find the line wasn't as
abandoned as I thought
abandoned as I thought
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Originally Posted by Katzenjammer
By "retro" I only meant that railroads are currently seen as outdated, unneeded, backward, etc. Like bikes really.
As a railfan myself..."OH, Shut up!"
Incedentally, while the concept of the railbike seems fun, the practicality of using one seems to outweight any enjoyable benifits it might have. Too much effort/hassle to get permission to use abandoned lines.
-Kurt
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with my luck I'd be tooling along and find the line wasn't as
abandoned as I thought
abandoned as I thought
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Wow! Sometimes you just have a moment that makes you realise there's whole movements going on that you know nothing about. This is just the sort of cool madness that appeals to me!
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Passing someone would be a little more involved than saying "on your left" (or right for Sammy), and picking up the pace a little.
Might be fun to try, but I'd rather stick to road cycling.
Might be fun to try, but I'd rather stick to road cycling.
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we have few "abandoned" rail lines here in ID as they are torn up for scrap asap after abandonment. There are several lines the have very limited use (and then at low speeds) and could be ridden. Some are very scenic. I don't need another project, but...
Take a look at this rail line, mostly abandoned,
https://www.wwvrailway.com/grangevi.htm
john
Take a look at this rail line, mostly abandoned,
https://www.wwvrailway.com/grangevi.htm
john
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Originally Posted by 99Super
we have few "abandoned" rail lines here in ID as they are torn up for scrap asap after abandonment. There are several lines the have very limited use (and then at low speeds) and could be ridden. Some are very scenic. I don't need another project, but...
Take a look at this rail line, mostly abandoned,
https://www.wwvrailway.com/grangevi.htm
john
Take a look at this rail line, mostly abandoned,
https://www.wwvrailway.com/grangevi.htm
john
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I live near a RR track. Unfortunately, CSX uses it for their main freight line from Wilmington and Amtrak uses it every morning. So I think I'll pass.
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Just sharing a little historic trivia: Back in the 1800's there was a bike railway from Mt. Holly, NJ to nearby Smithville which was a major enterprise center. The story has it, the workers would ride these bikes to and from work on this monorail affair.
Ha... found a link!
And a picture!
Ha... found a link!
And a picture!