Great photo of a neglected passenger car from the Pennsylvania line

Found on http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585&page=1041

Russian locomotive graveyard

For the whole gallery see http://englishrussia.com/index.php/2010/10/15/old-locomotives-from-a-storage-facility/#more-19715

Kiev subway construction railcars... that's a new variation I've never come across

Makes sense that the easiest way to get concrete into the subway where you need it is with a mixer truck... but I'd never thought about it..

from http://englishrussia.com/

great railcars (why a bus was made into a rail car is a mystery) found on the HAMB

I've never heard of a school bus being made into a railcar... I'd love to hear why this happened

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585&page=477

I often come across photos that I add to posts with similar items... but this time I'll just post the new stuff and links to where they would go

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search?q=weasel

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/12/photos-of-unusual-from-days-gone-by.html

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/11/inspection-cars-for-railroad-inspectors.html

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/03/few-more-from-shorpy.html

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/Disney

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/10/chuck-yeager-american-hero-drove-hot.html

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2006/11/only-time-super-sport-was-ever-applied.html

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TPFDobRLZUSBoPy9AVG4wmkiLafd4IxTZ5kmOlxGbIcB-ts8qXKQUXNl7BlO7Uhu7TCp5zIpt0kcTOD1spamBpuaI5kUB98hOfgUSmaTGGKJBAhernD4tW_P3MsW1TU0vvT_Dh-pJMc/s1600/1.jpg

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/10/one-wheel-trailer-trailcar-by-allstate.html

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/ms-linda-and-damn-big-shifter.html and http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/05/ms-hurst-linda-vaughn-and-chrysler-300.html

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/02/dealership-photos-from-20s-through-60s.html

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/11/rare-historical-automotive-jem.html

All those labels under these posts, and in the long column (about 1000) are there to help me, and you, find the stuff you are looking for. They sure help me find the things I recall having posted before, so I can add photos like these to the posts I want them in, or want to let you know where you can find similar things.

photos from http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585&page=270

Very unusual railcars, not from the USA, and quite old. A Robur and a Tatra

Wood rims, now that is old!

photos from Caradisiac http://www.forum-auto.com/automobiles-mythiques-exception/section5/sujet225087-3780.htm

I'd rather have a motorbike to ride the rails, but if you've got a ten speed, and a bit of time, this oughta work!

via: http://theokie.tumblr.com

Plaster City, 1947... but what the heck is going on with this 8 wheel double front ended railcar

former curator of the Imperial Valley transportation museum Steve wrote in the comments to inform us about this and said...

This was used for years to transport crews by rail over the narrow gauge railroad (last industrial narrow gauge railway in the state, if not the whole country) between the processing mill at Plaster City California, and the gypsum mine in the Fish Mountains 25 miles away.

With two front ends, it wasn't necessary to turn it around for the return trip. After it wore out it was acquired by the owner of the trucking company that hauled the finished sheetrock from the mill. About 12 years ago the vehicle was donated back to the company.

I can't reply by email to thank Steve because this blog set up doesn't require email addresses to comment. But I can thank you sincerely for providing me and all the readers with this incredible information that likely, you are the only person to know. It's astonishing that of all the people who might have known the information on the railcar, one reads my blog, and took the time to help us all know what this railcars history is.

My compliments, and applause! Thanks for sharing!

Wikipedia has a good article on narrow gauge railways, and confirms the part about the Plaster City line being the last "There is one narrow gauge industrial railroad still in commercial operation in the United States, the US Gypsum operation in Plaster City, California" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrow_gauge_railroads_in_the_United_States

For a post about the coolest old 1920's through 1940's railroad cars:
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/11/inspection-cars-for-railroad-inspectors.html

The coolest thing we'll see all week, an Indian motorcycle from the 1910's or 20's made into a railroad service car

http://www.flickr.com/photos/reweston-sat/2314428681/ for the original photo posted by Earl G Weston, who commented "This was my Grandfather's transportation when he was a telegraph operator on The Texas & Pacific Railway near Marshall, Texas in the early 20s"

via: http://megamoto.tumblr.com/

riding the rails in style

via: http://t-s-k-b.tumblr.com/page/130

Bikes, aren't they the wrong way to see the country by rail?

J. Graham Oates, the subject of the charming paperback 'Aurora to Ariel'

This was the first journey across the country by a vehicle with 'rubber tires', and as roads simply didn't exist for a thousand miles within the Canadian interior, railway lines were simply the only option available.

In 1928 Oates suggested that Castrol Oil sponsor him on an across Canada ride on an Ariel 500 cc motorcycle and sidecar. The trip had never before been achieved on a rubber tired vehicle. Oates began the trip at Halifax in July 1928 and soon realized that roads did not exist for many sections of the country and was forced to ride 800 miles between the railway lines. After 21 days of adventure, Oates arrived in Vancouver.

During the next three years, Oates remained in Canada and created a thriving motorcycle and boat dealership. In 1932, he returned to Britain and with the assistance of the editor of the Weekly Times, Oates planned his longest and most spectacular trip throughout England and Canada, this time to promote the sale of Empire Goods.

He was the first person to reach Hudson Bay on a rubber tired vehicle. There was still a lack of roads across the centre of Canada, but this time Oates was better prepared for rail travel. A small pair of flanged wheels were attached to the front and rear of the machine and the sidecar wheel axel extended outward to fit the gauge of the rails, making it possible to ride on the rails.

http://thevintagent.blogspot.com/2009/11/oates-and-ariel.html

For more rail cars: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/11/inspection-cars-for-railroad-inspectors.html

Inspection cars for railroad inspectors to look over the rails in style and comfort, Packards, Pontiacs, Buicks and more

Coolest new find in a railcar!: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/06/plaster-city-1947-but-what-heck-is.html



Above two are from http://www.sportschrono.com/

Above: a trio of DeSoto 4 doors and Below: A Willys

Saving the best for last, Nik just told me he'd posted a gallery from Life's archives of Alaska in the 1950's, and these were in his post: http://carrosantigos.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/life-photo-archive-parte-1/#comment-2770 Nik finds the coolest stuff!

Aint that cool?!

Sorta makes the next one look really big

For a very unusual rail car, a WW2 armored vehicle: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/12/marmon-harrington-4-wheel-drive.html

Above: 1929 Packard

Above: 1946 packard

1957 Pontiac Chieftain Safari Station Wagon that a family used to cruise across Canada

above and below 1947 Cadillac

Above: a Paige

above: late 1920's Packard

Above: 1934 Buick

above: 1930 Buick

Above: 1932 Buick

1938 Buick Special

Above: 1938 Chevrolet
Below: 1929 Packard and 1938 Buick Special

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/10/cool-road-rail-vehicles.html

and http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/Various/inspection.htm

For inspecting the rails with motorcycles, or just traveling by motorbike on the rails: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/12/bikes-arent-they-wrong-way-to-see.html