Sort of a quiz

[tatans]

There is a word for the iron weight that horse powered vehicles used to attach to the bridle so the horse would not take off, what it is called I can't remember and probably never find out again, Now the question, as a child I knew the nickname used to describe railroad "speeders" as senility set in I had forgotten the nickname we used. Did any of you ever have or use a nickname for these little beauties? if so, lets hear from you. By the way, I did find out the name and will let you know at the end (or before) of this forum.

[rrgrassi]

My Great Uncle worked for the PRR and they called them Gang Cars. I have a real life A-4 speeder that was used on the SP. I'm working on restoring it so I can ride the rails. The A-4 holds 4-6 people including the driver and is powered by a Ford 198 ci engine. My father-inlaw has quite a few of them. I have been on a run on the McCloud Railway, and got to see thier #18 steamer in action.

[mecovey]

I think the only other words I have heard them called were handcars and velocipedes.

[tatans]

Handcars and velocipedes were hand powered, I meant those yellow boxes with motors. The word here in Canada was "jiggers" where the word originated, no one seems to know. there is a web site on these and track inspection autos that refer to that term.

[Anonymous]

Doodlebugs?

[trolleyboy]

Wow I haven't heard that term since I was a kid , but yah we did call them jiggers.Come to think of it I remember my mother telling me stories about her grandfather.He was a section man on the CNR and did track inspections between Listowell and on up into Palmerston.My mom and her brothers would walk home from school the long(along the tracks) and get a ride back into town with their grandfather.He usually had a hand car so all four of them would provide the horsepower.Mind you they refered to the handcars as jiggers too. Rob

[trolleyboy]

To answer your other question was not that weight refered to as a "yoke"? Rob

[espeefoamer]

Putt putts?

[tatans]

Wow, putt-putts, now there is a word I forgot all about, yes we called them that too, I also think I heard doodlebugs although in the U.S. I think it refers to a motorized railcar seats, baggage etc. "yoke" I've never heard, I think it's some other goofy word. Is "gang cars" the "official" word used by railways??? thanks.

[underworld]

We called them putt putts. I think due to the sound that the motors made as they went by. I think the most common one in my area (Toledo, Ohio) was The Fairmont Speeder.
The term Doodle Bug refers to the gas electric "trolley" type vehicles. They basically look like a passenger car with a cab/driving area. They were used for passenger and mail or cargo service.

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[trainboyH16-44]

85Db+ That's a large 'put-put'! Hearing protection required! Too bad I never saw one. I wonder if one went by, could I hear it from my house?(Don't answer that!)
Trainboy