Railcar
Encyclopedia
A railcar, in British English
and Australian English
, is a self-propelled railway
vehicle
designed to transport
passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach (carriage, car), with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western Railway
, used the term Railmotor
. If it is able to pull a full train, it is rather called a motor coach
or a motor car.
In its simplest form it may be little more than a motorized version of a railway handcar
, sometimes called a speeder
.
The term is sometimes also used as an alternative name for the small types of multiple unit
which consist of more than one coach. The term is used more generally now in Ireland
to refer to any diesel multiple unit
(DMU), or in some cases electric multiple unit
(EMU).
In North America the term "railcar" has a much broader meaning, and the term is used to refer to any kind of railroad car
, including unpowered freight cars. This article concerns only the British
and Australian English
meaning of the term.
railcars of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad
, whose introduction allowed the discontinuance of steam passenger service on the line and prolonged its life considerably.
Railcars have also been employed on premier services. In New Zealand
, although railcars were primarily used on regional services, the Blue Streak and Silver Fern
railcars were used on the North Island Main Trunk between Wellington
and Auckland
and offered a higher standard of service than previous carriage trains.
In Australia
, the Savannahlander operates a tourist service from the coastal town of Cairns to Forsayth
, and Traveltrain
operates the Gulflander
between Normanton
and Croydon
in the Gulf Country
of northern Queensland
.
). The reason for this was to keep costs down, since small railcars were not always fitted with multiple unit control.
There are also articulated railcars
, with bogies under the point between the carriages rather than two pivoting bogies under each carriage (see Jacobs bogie
).
A new breed of modern lightweight aerodynamically designed diesel or electric regional railcars that can can operate as single vehicles or in trains (or, in “multiple units”) are becoming very popular in Europe and Japan, replacing the first-generation railbuses and second-generation DMU railcars, usually running on lesser-used main-line railways and in some cases in exclusive lanes in urban areas. Like many high-end DMUs, these vehicles are made of 2 or 3 connected units that are semi-permanently coupled as “married pairs or triplets” and operate as a single unit. Passengers may walk between the married pair units without having to open or pass through doors. Unit capacities range from 70 to over 300 seated passengers. The equipment is highly customizable with a wide variety of engine, transmission, coupler systems, and car lengths.
(FRA) regulations and, therefore, can only operate on dedicated rights-of-way with complete separation between railroad activities. This restriction makes it virtually impossible to operate them on existing rail corridors with conventional passenger rail service. Nevertheless, such vehicles may soon operate in the United States as manufacturers such as Siemens
, Alstom
and ADtranz
affirm that FRA-compliant versions of their European equipment could meet U.S. FRA standards.
in Saxony
) Germany amongst others, and also in the Netherlands
, Denmark
, Italy
and soon in Spain.
, a very lightweight type of vehicle designed for use specifically on little-used railway lines, and as the name suggests share many aspects of their construction with a bus
, usually having a bus, or modified bus body, and having four wheels on a fixed base, instead of on bogie
s. Railbuses were used commonly in countries such as Germany, Italy
, France, United Kingdom
and Sweden
.
A type of railbus known as a Pacer
is still commonly used in the United Kingdom
. New Zealand railcars that more closely resembled railbuses were the Leyland diesel railcars
and the Wairarapa railcars
that were specially designed to operate over the Rimutaka Incline between Wellington and the Wairarapa
region. In Australia
, where they were often called Rail Motors, railcars were often used for passenger services on lightly used lines. In France they are called an Autorail
. Once very common their use died out as local lines were closed. However, a new model has been introduced for lesser used lines.
After the cessation of mainline passenger service on BC Rail in Canada
, BC Rail started operating a pair of railbuses to some settlements not easily accessible otherwise.
In Russia
, Metrowagonmash
of Mytishchi
manufactures railbus RA-1 with a Mercedes
engine. As of the summer 2006, the Gorky Railway
planned to start using them on the commuter line between Nizhny Novgorod
and Bor.
A railbus runs on the Kalka-Shimla Railway
route in India. Another railbus was in service on the Shimoga-Talguppa route, but this was closed in June 2007 for gauge conversion from narrow gauge to broad gauge under Project Unigauge.
that can run on streets with rubber tires and on tracks with retractable HyRail
train wheels.
Railbus is also a term that refers to a bus that replaces or supplements rail services on low-patronage railway lines or a bus that terminates at a railway station (also called a train bus). This process is sometimes called bustitution
.
. Locomotive power is from the energy stored in a flywheel
. The first production vehicles, designated as British Rail Class 139
, have a small on board LPG motor to bring the flywheel up to speed. In practice, this could be an electric motor that need only connect to the power supply at stopping points. Alternatively, a motor at the stopping points could wind up the flywheel of each car as it stops.
William Bridges Adams
built steam railcars at Bow, London
in the 1840s. Many British
railway companies tried steam railcars but they were not very successful and were often replaced by push-pull train
s. Sentinel Waggon Works
was one British builder of steam railcars.
In Belgium
, M. A. Cabany of Mechelen
designed steam railcars. His first was built in 1877 and exhibited at a Paris exhibition. This may have been the Exposition Universelle (1878)
. The steam boiler was supplied by the Boussu
Works and there was accommodation for First, Second and Third-class passengers and their luggage. There was also a locker for dogs underneath! Fifteen were built and they worked mainly in the Hainaut and Antwerp districts.
and made by the Drewry Car Co.
in 1906. In 1908 the manufacture was contracted out to the Birmingham Small Arms Company
, gasoline, and diesel
, modern railcars are usually propelled by a diesel engine
mounted underneath the floor of the coach. Diesel railcars may have mechanical (fluid coupling
and gearbox), hydraulic (torque converter
) or diesel-electric hybrid transmission.
and interurban
systems. The Red Car of the Pacific Electric Railway
being an iconic example.
were used from 1911. In New Zealand, a battery-electric Edison railcar
operated from 1926 to 1934. The Drumm nickel-zinc battery
was used on four 2-car sets between 1932 and 1946 on the Harcourt Street Line in Ireland
and British Railways used lead-acid batteries in a railcar in 1958
. Between 1955 and 1995 DB
railways successfully operated 232 DB Class ETA 150
railcars utilising lead-acid batteries.
As with any other battery electric vehicle
, the drawback
is the limited range (this can be solved using overhead wires to recharge for use in places where there are not wires), weight, and/or expense of the battery.
An example of a new application for zero emission vehicles for rail environments such as subways is the Cater MetroTrolley
which carries ultrasonic flaw detection instrumentation.
British English
British English, or English , is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere...
and Australian English
Australian English
Australian English is the name given to the group of dialects spoken in Australia that form a major variety of the English language....
, is a self-propelled railway
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
vehicle
Vehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
designed to transport
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach (carriage, car), with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
, used the term Railmotor
Railmotor
Railmotor is a term which was used by several British railway companies for a steam railcar.-Overview:William Bridges Adams started building railmotors as early as 1848, but only in small numbers...
. If it is able to pull a full train, it is rather called a motor coach
Rail motor coach
A motor coach or motorcar is a powered rail vehicle able to pull several trailers and at the same time transport passengers or luggage. With multiple unit train control, one operator can control several “motor coaches” efficiently in the same train, making longer trains possible, it can be part of...
or a motor car.
In its simplest form it may be little more than a motorized version of a railway handcar
Handcar
A handcar is a railroad car powered by its passengers, or by people pushing the car from behind. It is mostly used as a maintenance of way or mining car, but it was also used for passenger service in some cases...
, sometimes called a speeder
Speeder
A speeder is a maintenance of way motorized vehicle formerly used on railroads around the world by track inspectors and work crews to move quickly to and...
.
The term is sometimes also used as an alternative name for the small types of multiple unit
Multiple unit
The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...
which consist of more than one coach. The term is used more generally now in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to refer to any diesel multiple unit
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
(DMU), or in some cases electric multiple unit
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
(EMU).
In North America the term "railcar" has a much broader meaning, and the term is used to refer to any kind of railroad car
Railroad car
A railroad car or railway vehicle , also known as a bogie in Indian English, is a vehicle on a rail transport system that is used for the carrying of cargo or passengers. Cars can be coupled together into a train and hauled by one or more locomotives...
, including unpowered freight cars. This article concerns only the British
British English
British English, or English , is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere...
and Australian English
Australian English
Australian English is the name given to the group of dialects spoken in Australia that form a major variety of the English language....
meaning of the term.
Uses
Railcars are economic to run for light passenger loads because of their small size, and in many countries are often used to run passenger services on minor railway lines, such as rural railway lines where passenger traffic is sparse, and where the use of a longer train would not be cost effective. A famous example of this in the United States was the Galloping GooseGalloping Goose
Galloping Goose is the popular name given to a series of seven railcars, built in the 1930s by the Rio Grande Southern Railroad and operated until the end of service on the line in the early 1950s....
railcars of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad
Rio Grande Southern Railroad
The Rio Grande Southern Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad which ran from Durango to Ridgway in the western part of the US state of Colorado...
, whose introduction allowed the discontinuance of steam passenger service on the line and prolonged its life considerably.
Railcars have also been employed on premier services. In New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, although railcars were primarily used on regional services, the Blue Streak and Silver Fern
NZR RM class (Silver Fern)
This article is about the New Zealand railcar service and the railcars themselves. For other uses, see Silver Fern .The NZR RM class Silver Fern is a class of railcar in New Zealand. The three air-conditioned and sound-proofed 723-kW 96-seater diesel-electric twin-set railcars were built by...
railcars were used on the North Island Main Trunk between Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
and Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
and offered a higher standard of service than previous carriage trains.
In Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the Savannahlander operates a tourist service from the coastal town of Cairns to Forsayth
Forsayth, Queensland
Forsayth is a town in Etheridge Shire, Far North Queensland, Australia, approximately 415km by road from Cairns. At the 2006 census, Forsayth had a population of 101....
, and Traveltrain
TravelTrain
Traveltrain provides long range passenger rail services in Queensland, run by Queensland Rail. Its flagships are the electric and diesel Tilt Trains, servicing Brisbane – Rockhampton and Brisbane – Cairns respectively...
operates the Gulflander
Gulflander
The Gulflander is a named passenger train in Australia, running from Normanton to Croydon in the Gulf Country of northern Queensland. Often described as 'a train from nowhere to nowhere', the line was completed in 1891 and has never been connected to the rest of the Queensland Rail network...
between Normanton
Normanton
Normanton is the name of several places:In England:*Normanton, Derbyshire*Normanton, Leicestershire*Normanton, Lincolnshire*Normanton, Nottinghamshire*Normanton, Rutland*Normanton, West Yorkshire**Normanton...
and Croydon
Croydon, Queensland
Croydon is a town in Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, the town and surrounding area had a population of 255.-History:The historic goldrush town of Croydon is located in the heart of the Gulf Savannah, 562 km west of Cairns. Croydon was a large pastoral holding covering an area of...
in the Gulf Country
Gulf Country
The Gulf Country is the name given to the region of woodland and savanna grassland surrounding the Gulf of Carpentaria in north western Queensland and eastern Northern Territory on the north coast of Australia...
of northern Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
.
Multiple unit and articulated railcar
When there are enough passengers to justify it, single unit powered railcars can be joined in a multiple-unit form, with one driver controlling all engines, however it has previously been the practice for a railcar to tow a carriage or second railcar which does not provide any power. It is possible for several railcars to run together, each with its own driver (a practice of the County Donegal Railways Joint CommitteeCounty Donegal Railways Joint Committee
The County Donegal Railways Joint Committee operated an extensive 3 foot gauge railway system serving county Donegal, Ireland,from 1906 until 1960...
). The reason for this was to keep costs down, since small railcars were not always fitted with multiple unit control.
There are also articulated railcars
Articulated car
Articulated cars are rail vehicles which are consist of a number of smaller, lighter cars which are semi-permanently attached to each other and which share common trucks. They are much longer than single passenger cars, and on the TGV Réseau, for example, 8 cars are joined this way...
, with bogies under the point between the carriages rather than two pivoting bogies under each carriage (see Jacobs bogie
Jacobs bogie
Jacobs bogies are a type of rail vehicle bogie commonly found on articulated railcars and tramway vehicles....
).
New-generation DMU and EMU railcars
Institutional/regulatory Issues
Contrary to other parts of the world, in the United States these vehicles do not comply with Federal Railroad AdministrationFederal Railroad Administration
The Federal Railroad Administration is an agency in the United States Department of Transportation. The agency was created by the Department of Transportation Act of 1966...
(FRA) regulations and, therefore, can only operate on dedicated rights-of-way with complete separation between railroad activities. This restriction makes it virtually impossible to operate them on existing rail corridors with conventional passenger rail service. Nevertheless, such vehicles may soon operate in the United States as manufacturers such as Siemens
Siemens
Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
, Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
and ADtranz
Adtranz
ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation , commonly known under its brand Adtranz, was a multi-national rail transport equipment manufacturer with facilities concentrated in Europe and the USA....
affirm that FRA-compliant versions of their European equipment could meet U.S. FRA standards.
Existing systems
The light regional railcars are used by a number of railroads in (ZwickauZwickau
Zwickau in Germany, former seat of the government of the south-western region of the Free State of Saxony, belongs to an industrial and economical core region. Nowadays it is the capital city of the district of Zwickau...
in Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
) Germany amongst others, and also in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and soon in Spain.
- Sprinter in San Diego, California
- O-Train in OttawaOttawaOttawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada - Capital MetroRailCapital MetroRailCapital MetroRail is a commuter rail system that serves the Greater Austin, Texas, area and which is owned by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The Red Line, Capital Metro's first and only rail line, connects Downtown Austin with Austin's northern suburbs. The line operates on 32...
in AustinAustinAustin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
, Texas - Ferrovia Trento-Malè in the region of TrentoTrentoTrento is an Italian city located in the Adige River valley in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. It is the capital of Trentino...
, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... - Ferrovia della Val Venosta in the province of South TyrolSouth TyrolSouth Tyrol , also known by its Italian name Alto Adige, is an autonomous province in northern Italy. It is one of the two autonomous provinces that make up the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The province has an area of and a total population of more than 500,000 inhabitants...
, Italy (→ it) - Ramal Talca-Constitución in the region of MauleMauleMaule may refer to:Places* Maule Region, one of the 13 Regions that make up the Chilean territory* Maule River, river in Central Chile, which gives name to the Maule Region* Maule, Chile, commune and town of Talca province in the Maule Region of Chile...
, ChileChileChile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
Manufacturers
Models of new generation multiple unit and articulated railcars include:- Alstom Coradia LINT
- Bombardier Talent
- Siemens Desiro
- Stadler GTWStadler GTWThe Stadler GTW, sold by Stadler Rail of Switzerland, is an articulated railcar for local transport. GTW stands for Gelenktriebwagen .-Description:...
- Stadler FLIRTStadler FLIRTStadler FLIRT is an electric multiple unit produced by Stadler Rail AG. The articulated trainset comes in units of two to six cars with two to six motorized axles. The maximum speed is 200 km/h...
- Stadler Regio-Shuttle RS1Stadler Regio-Shuttle RS1The Stadler Regio-Shuttle RS1 is the first widely-used, new generation, diesel railcar in Germany for local railway services. Its most characteristic feature is the trapezium-shaped window frames...
- Metrovagonmash
Railbuses
A variation of railcar is a railbusRailbus
A railbus is a very lightweight type passenger rail vehicle that shares many aspects of their construction with a bus, usually having a bus, or modified bus body, and having four wheels on a fixed base, instead of on bogies...
, a very lightweight type of vehicle designed for use specifically on little-used railway lines, and as the name suggests share many aspects of their construction with a bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
, usually having a bus, or modified bus body, and having four wheels on a fixed base, instead of on bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
s. Railbuses were used commonly in countries such as Germany, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, France, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
A type of railbus known as a Pacer
Pacer (train)
Pacer is the operational name of the British Rail Classes 140, 141, 142, 143 and 144 diesel multiple unit railbuses, built between 1984 and 1987...
is still commonly used in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. New Zealand railcars that more closely resembled railbuses were the Leyland diesel railcars
NZR RM class (Leyland diesel)
The NZR RM class Leyland diesel railcar or Midland railcar was the first diesel-powered vehicle to enter revenue service on New Zealand's national rail network. Two were built, RM 20 and RM 21, and they commenced service in August 1936 as temporary short-use vehicles that would operate until...
and the Wairarapa railcars
NZR RM class (Wairarapa)
The NZR RM class Wairarapa railcar was the first truly successful class of railcars to operate on New Zealand's national rail network...
that were specially designed to operate over the Rimutaka Incline between Wellington and the Wairarapa
Wairarapa
Wairarapa is a geographical region of New Zealand. It occupies the south-eastern corner of the North Island, east of metropolitan Wellington and south-west of the Hawke's Bay region. It is lightly populated, having several rural service towns, with Masterton being the largest...
region. In Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where they were often called Rail Motors, railcars were often used for passenger services on lightly used lines. In France they are called an Autorail
Autorail
The French word Autorail describes a single powered vehicle capable of carrying passengers. French designed vehicles are some of the most interesting made...
. Once very common their use died out as local lines were closed. However, a new model has been introduced for lesser used lines.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, BC Rail started operating a pair of railbuses to some settlements not easily accessible otherwise.
In Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Metrowagonmash
Metrowagonmash
Metrowagonmash is an engineering company in Russia.The company is located in Mytishchi, near Moscow and until 1992 it was known as Mitishi Machine-building factory ....
of Mytishchi
Mytishchi
Mytishchi is a city and the administrative center of Mytishchinsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, which lies to the northeast of Russia's capital Moscow, on the Yauza River and the Moscow–Yaroslavl railroad. The city is the oblast's largest center for industry and education...
manufactures railbus RA-1 with a Mercedes
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
engine. As of the summer 2006, the Gorky Railway
Gorky Railway
The Gorkovskaya Railway is a subsidiary of the Russian Railways headquartered in Nizhny Novgorod ....
planned to start using them on the commuter line between Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod , colloquially shortened to Nizhny, is, with the population of 1,250,615, the fifth largest city in Russia, ranking after Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg...
and Bor.
A railbus runs on the Kalka-Shimla Railway
Kalka-Shimla Railway
The Kalka–Shimla Railway is a narrow gauge railway in North-West India travelling along a mostly mountainous route from Kalka to Shimla. It is known for breathtaking views of the hills and surrounding villages.- History :...
route in India. Another railbus was in service on the Shimoga-Talguppa route, but this was closed in June 2007 for gauge conversion from narrow gauge to broad gauge under Project Unigauge.
Road-rail vehicles
The term railbus also refers to a dual-mode busBus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
that can run on streets with rubber tires and on tracks with retractable HyRail
Road-rail vehicle
A road–rail vehicle is a self-propelled vehicle that can be legally used on both roads and rails. Combining the words "highway" and "rail", one is often referred to as a hi-rail truck or just hi-rail, sometimes spelled high-rail, HiRail or Hy-rail. They are normally converted rubber-tired road...
train wheels.
Railbus is also a term that refers to a bus that replaces or supplements rail services on low-patronage railway lines or a bus that terminates at a railway station (also called a train bus). This process is sometimes called bustitution
Bustitution
The word bustitution is a neologism sometimes used to describe the practice of replacing a passenger train service with a bus service either on a temporary or permanent basis. The word is a portmanteau of the words "bus" and "substitution"...
.
Parry People Movers
A UK company currently promoting the rail bus concept is Parry People MoversParry People Movers
Parry People Movers Ltd. is a British company manufacturing lightweight trams and railcars that use flywheel energy storage to store energy for traction, allowing electric systems to operate without overhead wires or third rails, and railcars fuelled by small gas, diesel or hydrogen engines,...
. Locomotive power is from the energy stored in a flywheel
Flywheel energy storage
Flywheel energy storage works by accelerating a rotor to a very high speed and maintaining the energy in the system as rotational energy...
. The first production vehicles, designated as British Rail Class 139
British Rail Class 139
British Rail Class 139 is the TOPS classification for PPM60 model lightweight railcars built by Parry People Movers, for use on the British rail network...
, have a small on board LPG motor to bring the flywheel up to speed. In practice, this could be an electric motor that need only connect to the power supply at stopping points. Alternatively, a motor at the stopping points could wind up the flywheel of each car as it stops.
Steam
- See also: RailmotorRailmotorRailmotor is a term which was used by several British railway companies for a steam railcar.-Overview:William Bridges Adams started building railmotors as early as 1848, but only in small numbers...
, for the steam-powered vehicles used by British railways
William Bridges Adams
William Bridges Adams
William Bridges Adams was an author, inventor and locomotive engineer.-Overview:He is best known for his patented Adams Axle — a successful radial axle design in use on railways in Britain until the end of steam traction in 1968 — and the railway fishplate...
built steam railcars at Bow, London
Bow, London
Bow is an area of London, England, United Kingdom in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is a built-up, mostly residential district located east of Charing Cross, and is a part of the East End.-Bridges at Bowe:...
in the 1840s. Many British
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
railway companies tried steam railcars but they were not very successful and were often replaced by push-pull train
Push-pull train
Push–pull is a mode of operation for locomotive-hauled trains allowing them to be driven from either end.A push–pull train has a locomotive at one end of the train, connected via some form of remote control, such as multiple-unit train control, to a vehicle equipped with a control cab at the other...
s. Sentinel Waggon Works
Sentinel Waggon Works
Sentinel Waggon Works Ltd was a British company based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire that made steam-powered lorries, railway locomotives, and later, diesel engined lorries and locomotives.-Alley & MacLellan, Sentinel Works, Jessie Street Glasgow:...
was one British builder of steam railcars.
In Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, M. A. Cabany of Mechelen
Mechelen
Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
designed steam railcars. His first was built in 1877 and exhibited at a Paris exhibition. This may have been the Exposition Universelle (1878)
Exposition Universelle (1878)
The third Paris World's Fair, called an Exposition Universelle in French, was held from 1 May through to 10 November 1878. It celebrated the recovery of France after the 1870 Franco-Prussian War.-Construction:...
. The steam boiler was supplied by the Boussu
Boussu
Boussu is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. As of January 1, 2006, Boussu had a total population of 20,058. The total area is 20.01 km², which gives a population density of 1,002 inhabitants per km²....
Works and there was accommodation for First, Second and Third-class passengers and their luggage. There was also a locker for dogs underneath! Fifteen were built and they worked mainly in the Hainaut and Antwerp districts.
Petrol
The first petrol driven railcar in the UK was invented by James Sidney DrewryJames Sidney Drewry
James Sidney Drewry was a British engineer, born at Clapton, London.-Family history:James Sidney Drewry was the son of Charles Stewart Drewry and Julia Fava Wood. He married Mabel May Hyde and they had two daughters, Barbara and Christine.-Career:J. S...
and made by the Drewry Car Co.
Drewry Car Co.
Drewry Car Co, strictly speaking, was a railway locomotive and railcar sales organisation for most of its life. Only at the start and the end of its life did it build its own products, relying on sub-contractors for the rest of its time...
in 1906. In 1908 the manufacture was contracted out to the Birmingham Small Arms Company
Birmingham Small Arms Company
This article is not about Gamo subsidiary BSA Guns Limited of Armoury Road, Small Heath, Birmingham B11 2PP or BSA Company or its successors....
Diesel
While early railcars were propelled by steamSteam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
, gasoline, and diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
, modern railcars are usually propelled by a diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
mounted underneath the floor of the coach. Diesel railcars may have mechanical (fluid coupling
Fluid coupling
A fluid coupling is a hydrodynamic device used to transmit rotating mechanical power. It has been used in automobile transmissions as an alternative to a mechanical clutch...
and gearbox), hydraulic (torque converter
Torque converter
In modern usage, a torque converter is generally a type of hydrodynamic fluid coupling that is used to transfer rotating power from a prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine or electric motor, to a rotating driven load...
) or diesel-electric hybrid transmission.
Electric
Single electric railcars on mainline electric systems are rare, since electrification normally implies heavy usage where single cars would not be economic. The exceptions to this rule are to be found on tramTram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
and interurban
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
systems. The Red Car of the Pacific Electric Railway
Pacific Electric Railway
The Pacific Electric Railway , also known as the Red Car system, was a mass transit system in Southern California using streetcars, light rail, and buses...
being an iconic example.
Battery-electric
Experiments with battery-electric railcars were conducted from around 1890 in Belgium, France, Germany and Italy. In the USA, railcars of the Edison-Beach type, with nickel-iron batteriesNickel-iron battery
The nickel–iron battery is a storage battery having a nickel oxide-hydroxide cathode and an iron anode, with an electrolyte of potassium hydroxide. The active materials are held in nickel-plated steel tubes or perforated pockets...
were used from 1911. In New Zealand, a battery-electric Edison railcar
NZR RM class (Edison battery-electric)
The NZR RM class Edison battery-electric railcar was a popular and successful railcar that ran in Canterbury, New Zealand for eight years. The prototype was arguably the first successful railcar in New Zealand but it was not developed into a class...
operated from 1926 to 1934. The Drumm nickel-zinc battery
Nickel-zinc battery
The nickel–zinc battery is a type of rechargeable battery that may be used in cordless power tools, cordless telephones, digital cameras, battery operated lawn and garden tools, professional photography, flashlights, electric bikes, and light electric vehicle sectors.Larger nickel–zinc battery...
was used on four 2-car sets between 1932 and 1946 on the Harcourt Street Line in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and British Railways used lead-acid batteries in a railcar in 1958
British Rail BEMU
The Battery Electric Multiple Unit was an experimental two-car multiple unit, built at the same time and in the same style as the prototype Derby Lightweight Diesel multiple units....
. Between 1955 and 1995 DB
DB
DB may refer to:In science and technology:*Decibel , a logarithmic unit of measurement in acoustics and electronics*Dubnium , a chemical element*DB connector, a size of D-subminiature electrical connector...
railways successfully operated 232 DB Class ETA 150
DB Class ETA 150
The accumulator cars of Class ETA 150 were German railbuses used extensively by the Deutsche Bundesbahn over 40 years. The driving cars were very comfortable to travel in because they were quiet , rode well on the rails due to the weight of the batteries and were pollution-free...
railcars utilising lead-acid batteries.
As with any other battery electric vehicle
Battery electric vehicle
A battery electric vehicle, or BEV, is a type of electric vehicle that uses chemical energy stored in rechargeable battery packs. BEVs use electric motors and motor controllers instead of, or in addition to, internal combustion engines for propulsion.A battery-only electric vehicle or...
, the drawback
Drawback
Drawback, in law in commerce, paying back a duty previously paid on exporting excisable articles or on re-exporting foreign goods. The object of a drawback is to let commodities which are subject to taxation be exported and sold in a foreign country on the same terms as goods from countries where...
is the limited range (this can be solved using overhead wires to recharge for use in places where there are not wires), weight, and/or expense of the battery.
An example of a new application for zero emission vehicles for rail environments such as subways is the Cater MetroTrolley
Cater MetroTrolley
MetroTrolley is a battery electric vehicle developed in response to zero emission rail car requirements in certain environments. Its aim is to replace the RRV Hirail-type road-rail vehicle used for ultrasonic rail flaw detection [RFD / non-destructive testing]. Previous trolley types do not have...
which carries ultrasonic flaw detection instrumentation.
General
- Air brake (rail)Air brake (rail)An air brake is a conveyance braking system actuated by compressed air. Modern trains rely upon a fail-safe air brake system that is based upon a design patented by George Westinghouse on March 5, 1872. The Westinghouse Air Brake Company was subsequently organized to manufacture and sell...
- AutorailAutorailThe French word Autorail describes a single powered vehicle capable of carrying passengers. French designed vehicles are some of the most interesting made...
- British Rail BEMUBritish Rail BEMUThe Battery Electric Multiple Unit was an experimental two-car multiple unit, built at the same time and in the same style as the prototype Derby Lightweight Diesel multiple units....
- British Rail RailbusesBritish Rail RailbusesBritish Rail produced a variety of Railbuses as a means both of building new rolling stock cheaply, and to provide services on lightly used lines economically.-Terminology:...
- Budd Rail Diesel CarBudd Rail Diesel CarThe Budd Rail Diesel Car, RDC or Buddliner is a self-propelled diesel multiple unit railcar. In the period 1949–62, 398 RDCs were built by the Budd Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States...
- Cater MetroTrolleyCater MetroTrolleyMetroTrolley is a battery electric vehicle developed in response to zero emission rail car requirements in certain environments. Its aim is to replace the RRV Hirail-type road-rail vehicle used for ultrasonic rail flaw detection [RFD / non-destructive testing]. Previous trolley types do not have...
- CPH railmotorCPH railmotorThe CPH railmotors were introduced by the New South Wales Government Railways in 1923 to provide feeder service on country branch lines.- Introduction :...
- DEB railcarDEB railcarThe DEB railcar or 900/950 class trains were a type of diesel multiple unit first used on the Coonamble railway line, New South Wales, Australia....
- Diesel multiple unitDiesel multiple unitA diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
- Doodlebug (rail car)Doodlebug (rail car)In the United States, doodlebug was the common name for a self-propelled railroad car . While such a coach typically had a gasoline-powered engine that turned a generator which provided electricity to traction motors, which turned the axles and wheels on the trucks, versions with mechanical...
- Draisine
- EIKON InternationalEIKON InternationalEIKON International is located in Montgomery, Alabama, and makes interurban cars, trolley cars and streetcars. EIKON also restores and manufactures other types of rail cars, including streetcars...
- Edwards Rail Car CompanyEdwards Rail Car CompanyEdwards Rail Car Company was located in the small town of Sanford, North Carolina, specializing in the manufacture of self-propelled rail cars.-History:...
- GWR railcarsGWR railcarsIn 1933, the Great Western Railway introduced the first of what was to become a very successful series of railcars, which survived in regular use into the 1960s, when they were replaced with the new British Rail "first generation" type diesel multiple units....
- HandcarHandcarA handcar is a railroad car powered by its passengers, or by people pushing the car from behind. It is mostly used as a maintenance of way or mining car, but it was also used for passenger service in some cases...
- LuxtorpedaLuxtorpedaLuxtorpeda was a common name of a famous Polish train, which ran on some of the most important rail routes of Poland in the 1930s. A Luxtorpeda consisted of a single, first-class only railcar, with its own internal combustion engine.- Name :...
- McKeen Motor Car CompanyMcKeen Motor Car CompanyThe McKeen Motor Car Company of Omaha, Nebraska was a builder of internal combustion-engined railroad motor cars , constructing 152 between 1905–1917....
- RailmotorRailmotorRailmotor is a term which was used by several British railway companies for a steam railcar.-Overview:William Bridges Adams started building railmotors as early as 1848, but only in small numbers...
- Railway brakesBrake (railway)Brakes are used on the cars of railway trains to enable deceleration, control acceleration or to keep them standing when parked. While the basic principle is familiar from road vehicle usage, operational features are more complex because of the need to control multiple linked carriages and to be...
- Road-rail vehicleRoad-rail vehicleA road–rail vehicle is a self-propelled vehicle that can be legally used on both roads and rails. Combining the words "highway" and "rail", one is often referred to as a hi-rail truck or just hi-rail, sometimes spelled high-rail, HiRail or Hy-rail. They are normally converted rubber-tired road...
- Rail car moverRail car moverA rail car mover is a road-rail vehicle fitted with couplers for moving small numbers of railroad cars around in a rail siding or small yard...
- some of which
resemble HiRail trucksRoad-rail vehicleA road–rail vehicle is a self-propelled vehicle that can be legally used on both roads and rails. Combining the words "highway" and "rail", one is often referred to as a hi-rail truck or just hi-rail, sometimes spelled high-rail, HiRail or Hy-rail. They are normally converted rubber-tired road...
. - SchienenzeppelinSchienenzeppelinThe ' or rail zeppelin was an experimental railcar which resembles a zeppelin airship in appearance. It was designed and developed by the German aircraft engineer Franz Kruckenberg in 1929. Propulsion was by means of a propeller located at the rear, it accelerated the railcar to setting the land...
- SpeederSpeederA speeder is a maintenance of way motorized vehicle formerly used on railroads around the world by track inspectors and work crews to move quickly to and...
- Stadler GTWStadler GTWThe Stadler GTW, sold by Stadler Rail of Switzerland, is an articulated railcar for local transport. GTW stands for Gelenktriebwagen .-Description:...
- UnimogUnimogUnimog is a range of multi-purpose auto four wheel drive medium trucks produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The name Unimog is pronounced in German and is an acronym for the German "UNIversal-MOtor-Gerät", Gerät being the German word for machine or device...
External links
- HyRail
- Fleet Body Equipment
- Rail-Gear (Boatright Enterprises, Inc)
- The Road Rail Bus, an experimental bus for road and rail in the 1970s
- HyRail truck
- North Central Railcar Association (in Pennsylvania)
- Rail Motor Society (NSW, Australia)
- Stadler Rail
- North American Railcar Operators Association
- Search site for railcar for photos of 1930s European and New Zealand Railcars
