Cargo Trams

[carnej1]

Although non hi-rail equipped rubber tired vehicles are used to switch railcars, I very much doubt such a system would work for hauling cars any distance as the rubber tired tractor would have a tough time staying on the rails without the rail wheelsets for guidance.

All of the experiments I have read about utilized equipment like this:

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/22132463@N07/6900315931/

The unit shown in the picture is working in MOW service but an Australian freight RR did use the same make of Hi-rail tractor to haul grain cars in branchline service for a trial period.

[daveklepper]

Rubber-tired vehicles moving freight cars work fine ----- with track in pavement.

[carnej1]

daveklepper

Rubber-tired vehicles moving freight cars work fine ----- with track in pavement.

Indeed, PRR was a pioneer in using such contraptions for moving freight cars on street trackage:

http://prr.railfan.net/RubberTiredSwitchers.html

 

[narig01]

Have you seen a picture of an Australian road train? Triple 15 meter trailer behind one tractor. Now think of this setup on steel rails with steel wheels. The power unit both capable of pulling a small train and pulling a single trailer on rubber tyres on a 5th wheel down a street like a semi truck.
First time I saw a road train my thought was why not on steel tracks. Of course if you want excitement watch one being driven in Western Austrailia down a dirt track at 130 or 140 kmh(or faster) by a typical aussie driver. First time I saw one I thought it was a double cause I couldn't see the third wagon through the dust.

Thx IGN

[carnej1]

narig01

Have you seen a picture of an Australian road train? Triple 15 meter trailer behind one tractor. Now think of this setup on steel rails with steel wheels. The power unit both capable of pulling a small train and pulling a single trailer on rubber tyres on a 5th wheel down a street like a semi truck.
First time I saw a road train my thought was why not on steel tracks. Of course if you want excitement watch one being driven in Western Austrailia down a dirt track at 130 or 140 kmh(or faster) by a typical aussie driver. First time I saw one I thought it was a double cause I couldn't see the third wagon through the dust.

Thx IGN

Whay you are describing is kind of like this:

http://www.silvertipdesign.com/#BladeRunner

Note that the model is the "bus" version, they also propose using the dual mode tractor to pull roadrailer type trailers..

[narig01]

This is an Australian road train. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Road_Train2.jpg
Think of something like this on rails.
Separately Australians have done crazy things with trucks. Some of their records were initially furled by too much beer (don't ask).
Also this is the wikepedia entry. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_train
I'he seen these out in Western Australia. While they were supposed to have a speed limit of 100kmh. The reality was that drivers would go like mad, especially on private roads. One would see a big cloud of dust coming down the road and one would find a side track and pull off the main road a ways and let them go past. Usually at speed the 3rd trailer would be whipping all over the track.
I asked my boss why the company just didn't put in a railway. He said that the mine owners were never sure of how long the mine would be able to economically produce. Just think about some of the locomotives that GE sold down there. Also GE initially developed DPU for an Australian mine operation.
Thx IGN