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Caption: Back before trucks became the common method of rail travel for MoW personnel, these little "putt-putts", or MotorCars, were as common as flies on a summer day around the railroad systems of North America. I recall them referred to as "jiggers" which, once they became motorized, were known as "speeders" due to the fact they now ran faster motor-powered than "human powered". One thing we can call them is "relics of yesteryear" as the only ones existing now are in the hands of collectors & museums. Motorcar clubs are very popular. Members gain permission from certain railroads and groups of 10-20 vehicles will go on "tours of the line". In this image, however, the MotorCar was still a very necessary method of transport....note supply trailer behind the power for carrying tools and other equipment. The VIA waiting room pictured is rather quaint. It was brought in when the original Rothesay station, one of the oldest in Canada dating from 1859-1860, was closed and became a National Heritage Structure in 1976. The little waiting room is still in situ, despite the last passenger train departing the line back in 1994.
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This little things have always interested me, despite I’ve only seen them in museums.
The track motor car pictured here is a Fairmont model MT14. It is a 4-6 man section gang car with a 20 horsepower gasoline powered Onan CCKB 2-cylinder engine. The engine was coupled to a two-speed, hi-low geared transmission that transmitted the power through a chain drive and sprocket arrangement to the cars rear axle.
The single headlamp and large roof mounted amber ‘strobe’ light put this cars build date in the mid to late 1970′s. Beginning in the very early 80′s, track motor cars were delivered with a full front and rear lighting package consisting of two forward and two rear facing track travel lights, as well as two red marker lights on each end.
Note the fiberglass spring base radio antenna on the roof in the stowed position. The external radio speaker can been seen at the lower right corner on the front of the motor car. The railhead sweeps appear to be a little ‘worn’.
Thanks, Paul. He looks a bit cramped in there too !!
Yeah. Imagine with 2-3 more big guys in there!