Friday, May 2, 2014

Farewell is not Forever - Part 8: Speeders

IMG_2146 SamTrak Caboose #900
Speeders parked alongside the excursion train.

In addition to #700's train, a group had a number of motorcars, or speeders, available for rides to Milwaukie. Speeders were used by railroad work crews to travel to remote areas where trackwork needed to be done. As railroad routes became more accessible by roads and work crews began traveling longer distances, speeders were phased out in favor of more expanded use of hi-rail trucks: trucks with the ability to drive or roads and railroad tracks.

IMG_2145 SamTrak Caboose #900
Speeders parked alongside the excursion train.

As speeders were retired, they became available to the general public. Private owners of speeders arrange to use them on railroad routes that are out of service or see limited operation. Though several companies built speeders, and some railroads even built their own, most speeders were built by Fairmont.

Continue to Santa Fe Speeder

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