I’ve never seen one up close and in person, really not even a good picture of one. How close to the mainline rail are the ends of the rails of the speeder shack? Do they butt right up to it or is there a gap for some reason? How is the speeder turned at right angles ready for use?
Jarrell
The speeder’s rail tops were level with or below the running rails. They might have been iron, but they could have been wood. There were planks between the running rails, like a grade crossing. The speeder had 2 long 2x4 handles that extended lengthwise from the car’s ends. Each was a single, long handle. The operator stopped the car in front of the speeder rails, walked to the rear of the car and pulled the handles out, to the rear. He then lifted the rear end and turned the car 90*, and set the wheels on the speeder rails. He then pushed the handles back in, walked to the front of the car, pulled the handles to the front and lifted the front end onto the speeder rails. It is easier to do than it sounds.
Thanks Billy Dee, I didn’t know that about the planks between the running rails but it makes sense to have something for the operator to walk on that was stable.
Jarrell
Mechanized speeders often had “turntables” underneath their frames. The turntables would be dropped, speeder raised, speeder rotated, and process reversed. Speeder sheds were typically about 14-feet distant from the closest rail.
Hello Jarrell …
I posted my model of my shack for speeders and track maintenance supplies in “Show Me” thread on July 7. It is based on pictures and photos I recall.
Here’s a couple of mine:
Most are closer to the track than is prototypical, but layout depth is limited in most areas.
Wayne
Great! Thanks for the pictures Wayne! Love those speeders, who is the maker and are they kits? All I have is the little Walthers yellow job that I’m not real happy with but will do till I find something better.
Jarrell
[quote user=“doctorwayne”]
Here’s a couple of mine:
!http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/doctorwayne/Latest%20Photos/2007-01-10162.jpg
Wayne … your sheds are outstanding!
Jarrell … Here is a photo of my MofW shed.
The handcars and trailers/pushcars are from Tichy, and are kits. There are six of each in the package and the handcars can be built with or without the crew seating.
Wayne
Thank You.
Typically they had wooden rails that lead to the track, and there was a small platform between the rails. They push the car onto it and use it turn the car and set the wheels onto the rails. Back when men were men and did this using brute force.
Probably not allowed anymore.
That is why the speeders have those handles that slide under the car, so you can handle it like a wheelbarrow when needed.
LOL
Aren’t those little yellow Walthers speeders lovely?
Rich
Sorry DoctorWayne. Those look like handcars, not speeders.
You’re correct Mark, although I think that I did refer to them as such. A couple of our guys on a long downhill run can certainly put them in the category of “speeders”, though. [swg]
My late '30s layout uses mostly handcars, but does own a couple of speeders. There’s one seen here, at the head of the line of handcars between the inspection car and the loco:
Here’s the other one, which may be a bit too modern for my era. Still, the Northshore was a very progressive line:
Wayne
Neat! Wayne, I like your speeders’ paint scheme. Obviously, your railroad’s officials and painters like to spoil (treat real nice) even their MOW equipment.
A couple prototypes:
http://www.wrmrc.ca/proto50.html
http://www.wrmrc.ca/proto02.html
Thanks for your kind words, Mark.
The paint scheme actual dates to two of these old LifeLike (proto-no-thousand [(-D]) RS-11s:
They ran so poorly that I converted them to dummy units, which then required something powered. [:-^] When Atlas brought out their version of the RS-11, I picked up two which, of course, got the same paint scheme:
Those were follow by this Atlas S-4:
Then this kitbashed doodlebug (known locally as “The Bee”):
…and finally, a pair of Athearn USRA Mikados:
After some internal modifications to make them pull respectably, I acquired another two. Eventually, the diesels were sold off, with only the Mikes and the Bee still in service. Of course, in the road’s history, the Mikes came first, followed by the Bee, then the diesels. [swg] The paint scheme, if it isn’t already obvious, was inspired by the Nickel Plate, although it’s somewhat simplified.
Wayne