oo oo oo

[Big_Boy_4005]

Thanks for supplying more info for my photo Ed. BTW I have even seen one of these monsters cruising down the freeway, flanged wheels up, with coupler on rear bumper. I have even seen back hoes and other construction equipment fitted with drop down wheels. Cool stuff!![8D]

[edblysard]

Mookie,

The track wheels are on racks that fold up or down.

The hyrail truck is has a heavy duty frame, the wheel racks are mounted to it, and can move side to side some.

Drive up on a crossing, drop your wheels and lock them down, away you go, the rear truck tires provide traction and braking, most of the Hyrails are designed so the front wheels and tires do not contact the rails, the steel track wheels do the steering.

Need to get off the tracks, just stop on the next crossing, fold up your track wheels, and drive away.

Droping or lifting the wheels and locking them in place takes about a minute or two at the most.

Ed

[Big_Boy_4005]

Here's a photo of a much larger version of this type of vehicle. This thing has a coupler on it's rear bumper!!! This one belongs to the CP and is being used to pull a few gondolas to distribute ties for a replacement project. I have seen this exact arrangement used by the BNSF too.



Click on the photo to enlarge it, sorry it's a bit fuzzy.[:I]

[tree68]

And, depending on the width of the vehicle (and more specifically the distance between the tires) they may have special rims on the wheels so the tires will actually ride on the rails.

[CShaveRR]

Sis, they put those trucks on the tracks (or take them off) at ordinary grade crossings...just line the truck up with the tracks and drop the flanged wheels in place, and off you go. The rubber tires provide the traction on the rails. I remember seeing one of these trucks with very worn bands on the tire treads, many years ago.

As for the part about controling signals, etc., they can go either way. On the UP through town here, they do trip the grade crossing signals. I believe, though, that this can be prevented with some sort of shunting control. Perhaps Mr. Mudchicken will help us out on this thread; he's probably intimately familiar with this type of vehicle.

[BentnoseWillie]

They usually use a grade crossing to mount and dismount. Trackage that's been paved over (like in an intermodal terminal) will also work.

[Anonymous]

You know that is a good Question, But here is a fatc for you. The wheels are insulated so they won't set off Railroad lights or Signals.

Can't complete the track current, and that means less screw ups.

[Mookie]

keep forgetting to ask this question - Saw a pickem up truck with the regular tires and the rail wheels that run up and down the tracks? Like....a track checker....

Now....

Ready?

How do they get those wheels mounted on the rails so the pickem up can go down the rails?

Don't they ruin their tires in doing it however they do it?

Hmmm!

Probably should post this under Sunday Funnies, because clearly I am missing something obvious!

Mook