Handcar
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A handcar is a maintenance of way railroad car powered by its passengers, or by people pushing the car from behind. A typical design consists of an arm that pivots, seesaw-like, on a base, which the passengers alternately push down and pull up to move the car.
Handcars have been normally used by railroad service personnel for railroad inspection and maintenance. Due to their low weight they can be put on and off the rails at any place. Handcars have since been replaced by self propelled vehicles that do not require the use of manual power, instead relying on diesel or electricity to move the vehicle.
Handcars are nowadays used by handcar enthusiasts to organize races between handcars driven by five person teams (one to push the car from a halt, four to pump the lever).
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[edit] Bamboo cart
In Cambodia and other third world countries, local citizens sometimes make their own unofficial carts to transport goods along the railway tracks.
[edit] In popular culture
Handcars are a recurring plot device of twentieth century filmic comedy.
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[edit] References
[edit] External links
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