Too much work?

[major bill]

I had to do an hour in the room as a docent this week at the Michigan History Museum. I usually do not have to lead student through this gallery.

This looks like to much work for me ever want to use. Were these used during the Civil War? I take it this one is post Civil War, but not sure the era. None of the students asked any questions so I did not have to answer that I did not know much anything about it.

 

[jgoodguy]

Some links I found
Our Handcars - Whippany Railway Museum
Railroad Handcar History

 

[major bill]

Some links I found
Our Handcars - Whippany Railway Museum
Railroad Handcar History

These would be fun to ride on if I did not have to pump the handle or peddle.

 

[jgoodguy]

These would be fun to ride on if I did not have to pump the handle or peddle.

A thing to be the foreman on for sure especially up a grade.

 

[Stiles/Akin]

they said this was a typical handcar but as I understand it Fuller used a cart and poles to push it along.

 

[redbob]

The earlier edition of these carts were push carts in which you used a long pole to push you along, so these were a vast improvement.

 

[DaveBrt]

The first Confederate railroad chief was Major William S. Ashe, appointed in July, 1861. The former state Senator, US Representative, delegate to the Democratic National Convention and delegate to the North Carolina Constitutional Convention and current President of the Wilmington & Weldon RR was clearly a smart and active man. He did, however, make one BIG mistake.

On September 12, 1862, Ashe felt the need to hurry from Wilmington to his home, nineteen miles up the track. He and several others took a hand car, at night without a light or lantern, and met his fate when they were run over by the mail train. Ashe lingered almost 2 days before dying of his extensive injuries.

 

[connecticut yankee]

As the song kinda goes--"Still pumping after all these years..."

 

[Jimklag]

The first Confederate railroad chief was Major William S. Ashe, appointed in July, 1861. The former state Senator, US Representative, delegate to the Democratic National Convention and delegate to the North Carolina Constitutional Convention and current President of the Wilmington & Weldon RR was clearly a smart and active man. He did, however, make one BIG mistake.

On September 12, 1862, Ashe felt the need to hurry from Wilmington to his home, nineteen miles up the track. He and several others took a hand car, at night without a light or lantern, and met his fate when they were run over by the mail train. Ashe lingered almost 2 days before dying of his extensive injuries.

Oops!

 

[Southern Unionist]

This looks like to much work for me ever want to use.

Handcars are surprisingly easy, unless you have to go a long distance. It's a good way to demonstrate the efficiency of steel wheels on steel rails, versus rubber tires on pavement.

A thing to be the foreman on for sure especially up a grade.

Mainline grades rarely exceeded 2%, which is a piece of cake. This is why abandoned railroads make popular bike trails. Sometimes it's hard to figure out which way is supposed to be uphill.