Testing Rail Car on Abandoned Railroad with 100 Year Old Tunnel and Trestles
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
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Therapist ? when a hyphen is added its More like "THE-RAPIST"
So jealous of your awesome adventures. Keep doing things while able. After you hit rock and bounced off track your back left drive wheel was bent and almost off track. Avagud1 mate
Rear axle was probably abit bent also causing rough ride after crash
A couple tips to help you out.
1. Use a combination of flat washers, split lock washers, and blue lock tite to help with fasteners vibrating apart.
2. Consider building a shock/vibe mount system for the cab to help prevent issues with shock and vibe.
Just a tip from an old mechanical engineer. Bolts go down whenever possible so if you do lose a nut, you still have the bolt acting as a pin for alignment. Anytime, anywhere that you may encounter vibration, use a quality lock washer, lock nut, or a thread locking adhesive (Loctite). Do not use loctite with nylock nuts. the Loctite wit react with the nylon and cause it to disintegrate. Loctite works well with lock washers. Keep it up. The bolt issue tells me you are teaching yourself. You are doing great.
Yes, use washers, its the main reason why you lost bolts after hitting a stone 😂
I came here to basically say the same thing. Spot on.
I have my original copy of Carroll Smith's "Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners and Plumbing Handbook" as a reference for exact scenarios like this. It may be an older book, but concepts like what you mention are well explained in that book and still very applicable today.
Good advice!
And alternative to loctite, especially if you want to remove it often, is nord-lock washers - they rely on the material they are fixing not compressing (more than spring washers do), so may not be good if the honeycomb is soft ... But for that you need to spread the load over a larger area with plates rather than just large plain washers
@@tomwinch9107 I used to work for Fastenal (fasteners) and I have never heard of Nord Lock washers. Interesting concept, I may have to try them
I couldn't help thinking "this endeavor is one wrong turn from becoming a survival situation". Then you hit a rock... and kept going... With damage of an unknown extent, no food, no water, and a long way back to a vehicle, I would not have made the same choice. I am glad you had fun and that it ended well. I encourage you to be mindful of risk factors stacking up on your future excursions.
I felt like that about taking risks after hitting his head but it really depends on how far out he is from others. The tunnel seemed to have road noise from above, there were frequented roads crossing his path, so maybe not isolated enough to be that worried? But yeah, I was thinking Helmet maybe?
@@mikepettengill2706 Obviously we, as observers don't always have the whole picture. But yeah, I definitely think there are lessons to be learned from this trip, and not just about the vehicle's shortcomings.
1. Take water.
I agree, I absolutely love the spirit of this trip and not knowing what's bound to happen, but absolutely hedge your bets, always ask "can i survive X days if I get stuck with what I have on me?"
@@NealFosterHD Always take water...
Engineer here: For the axle I would go with a tube, not a solid rod. A hollow tube with some radius increases your second moment of area with the fourth power of radius, HUGE benefit.
translate
@@leotutone Increasing the diameter of a pipe makes the pipe increase in strength far faster than you would intuitively expect for the same wall thickness. So fudging the numbers a bit as these depend on the exact size you use, you can have a pipe serve as an axle and get 90% of the strength at 10% of the weight of a solid rod of the same size. In the case of a vehicle like this, it means you can use a much larger axle that is much stronger without increasing weight very much.
This advantage does only get larger and larger the bigger the pipe is, but at a certain point you have reached the needed strength and durability to get the job done, and should start worrying about things like weight.
And that's an advantage why? He's not building a flywheel, nor a gyroscope. Why does the second moment of inertia matter?
@@M3GAprincess Second moment of area, not inertia....;))
The poor guy couldn't even lift the vehicle back onto the track, so any weight loss is crucial....;))
(note that the 'bypass' in this case was very mild, still offering track-bound shuffling/gliding....any larger rock and the trip would be finished....;((
(I imagine that turning it around at any end creates the same challenge & sweaty task....otherwise it's 100 miles in reverse, looking backwards....8-))
(hope he has a good rear-view mirror, to spot fellow travellers on the same track....:))))
As someone who grew up in the Rockies: if you're going out into the wilderness always take water, (more than you think you're going to need), food, an emergency blanket, a waterproof jacket, a wilderness first aid kit, a good fixed blade knife, and several means to start a fire. You kind of have shelter with you since you can sleep in the car in an emergency but still. A GPS beacon wouldn't be a bad idea either.
That aside: this was an amazing video! Look forward to seeing you do this again with an improved version!
Invest in a satellite phone if you're heading I to the wilderness. We don't want a grizzly man or 127-days scenario.
@@Night-Mayor you don't need a sat phone. Many common backpacking GPS beacons come with emergency communication included now. And they are far cheaper than a satillite phone service.
I'd probably bring some extra bolts with me so if I lost a few I could put in replacements on the fly
What is a GPS beacon?
@@jimsteinmanfan80 look up the Garmin InReach or the Zoleo communicator. Basically they are a pager size gps beacon that you can clip to your pack, and they often allow a form of satellite text messaging, as well as an emergency distress button. Basically if you fall and your legs are broken in the back country you can hit the distress button and they'll send SAR to come get you and air lift you out if necessary. They're super cheap and a must-have modern Backcountry survival tool.
People at that ATV crossing you got high-centered on are going to be so confused seeing signs of a "train" passing that intersection.
"I thought this track was abandoned..."
Thought that exactly.
Ghost train!
People ride these tracks all the time. Totally normal.
@@raptor31able Judging by how overgrown these abandoned tracks are I would say its not totally normal to see signs of activity on them
Had the same thought
@@raptor31able Maybe there were not any other rail-cars 'way out here, but I imagine that most ATV riders would know about improvised rail-cars, too, and so they would likely realize that this was what the dirt had been moved for; also, Matt didn't actually clear all of the dirt away, as would be necessary if any actual locomotives and cars had come through.
No food, no water, no GPS and map, no trip planning?! Boy Scout motto: BE PREPARED. Be safe out there! Make a plan with bail out contingencies. Good adventure though, the trestles and views are awesome.
There's no excuse for this lack of planning and readiness. "It wasn't supposed to be an all-day thing!" Yeah, well, it never is, is it? Drinks and snacks weigh nothing compared to this behemoth.
Planning is for nerds
A simple long pole to use as a lever would make it easier to re-rail. And a bit silly to travel all the distance with no water or back-up gear.
He didn't have any water!!!??? I swear these kids.
yeah that is crazy--as a outdoors guy and traveling man who lives in the middle of nowhere it still shocks me how unprepared people are--i guess that is why there is guys like me to help them out but i charge them!!
@@mtsky-tc6uw I had a similar machine machine planned out, but being in the UK, such great stretches of disused track are almost impossible to find. There was a reasonable stretch for a few miles right local to me (Wareham to Hamworthy Docks), but a week or so ago, it was announced it was being brought back into service, so that's my plan wrecked.
Not just a little bit silly, it's downright dangerous. He probably does not have a first aid kit either.
@@dallasarnold8615 I did dumber shit than that at his age.
No matter how many times I told myself that railway was abandoned, I still expected to see an old steam train coming towards you around every bend.
Yeah, or another enthusiast in a home built death trap atleast
I just had visions of Roadrunner and WilE Coyote!
Some of the rails look much too clean and shiny for them to have not been used recently!
Or Butch and Sundance...
@@markscully2342 yea I was seeing shiny rails and going ummmmm and the bridges were in pretty good shape. Im like Ummmmm maybe not used very much? but how they kept from rusting IDK.
As an old machine builder, I knew in the first minute of this video that a fiasco was coming. Axles and wheels too small, flange too short, wheels should be steel... welding an axle shaft of mild steel? Unheard of. Can't learn from your mistakes if the first one kills you! Get grandpa the retired locomotive machinist/ engineer to guide you from the local train museum. And make the cab rotatable so you can "Turn around" anywhere on the track. Gun, food and water and blankets essential as well. Maybe a seat belt too.
Smart
I like the rotatable cabin idea a lot! Great idea! The engineering would be complex and add weight. But if it could be done........
@@redryderaus lots of our on track equipment has rotatable cabs except for our section trucks most of the other equipment has swivel seats and a reverse gear thats just as fast as the forward gear
Yeah gun makes sense, who knows what kinda crazy person might consider federal or company tracks to be on "their" property and start threatening you, but even ignoring that, bear or mountain lion might take too much of an interest.
I have lived a lot of my life outdoors in the harsh American Wilderness…, when I wasn’t working of course. The other comments say it all. Your adventure is pretty cool, however, preparing for the unexpected is the way of an experienced outdoorsman. Your family expects you to return home, honor that commitment.
1st always carry a survival kit, food, water, duct tape, tarp and cordage. 2nd a wide range of tools is a must for anything mechanical, think of the most unlikely thing that might happen and the tools needed for it.
I realize this adds a good deal of weight but it could be extremely helpful when traveling alone. A tent would be an extra that might come in handy if you get stuck out in the middle of nowhere.
Just a thought 😊
This. The whole second car of his train with all the MOW tools is missing.
dont forget to add he needs to carry extra hardware in case parts get lose and fall off.
A bivy sack can work, as a lighter alternative to a tent. (I preferred carrying that in search and rescue, and I was just as happy sleeping in it as in a tent.) But a good quality pad helps enormously, not just with comfort but with saving your body heat from the ground.
How about Water! Lots and lots of water. 😮 😊
Yes. Plan on getting stuck, then go from there
I'm pushing seventy years old and you just inspired me. I recognize laboring for the pure love of it when I see it. Mr. Spears, I hope you become successful beyond your wildest imaginings.
You should install 3 important things, 1. a solar panel for energy resources, 2. a roof capsule which contains a single tent. 3. a box filled with food, water , medicine, a amateur radio with a dongle and huge antenna, huge knife, hammer, saw and a axe, even a lighter , flashlight, a signal gun and a rifle, plus some tools for fishing !
That's hardly 3 things 😅 and you forgot the kitchen sink! 🙄
A bicycle trailer on a hitch for all the items you mentioned... and some others. My son and I pull bike trailers with our hover carts - no problem. Also, a straight -up hydraulic jack and a three-point horizontal adjustable hydraulic jack to reset the rear axle on the track... sounds tough but actually easy to make.
One of the most dangerous things he was doing - which I haven't seen mentioned - was trying to slide the rear end across the jack for realignment on the rails... very easy to lose/damage fingers or hands... better have a med kit... but then you're injured and the car is still not on the track !
Play smart... Play longer.
3:10 next time use a branch as a pry bar and put it under the rear-end and lift and shift. Save that back my man
Thanks Joe.
@@bigc8300 L😂L "J0e"
We all know "j0e is not that smart.
Was thinking the same. Get a stick and a rock and make a lever.
AND, keep your fingers well away from where the jack connects with the frame, or someday it will all "collapse" with your finger between the metal bits, meaning that (alone) there won't be any way you will ever get your fingers unstuck, from between the jack and the frame, if you insist on putting your fingers at risk.
At risk that is, of you using something sharp - to cut them off, (amputate it's called) to allow you to move away and LIFT the unt back onto the tracks, without becoming trapped under, or by the jack.
THINK SAFETY at all times, not just before you leave home..
Leverage.... fulcrums.... pivot....lift....less work..... small floor jacks...etc...
I’m a precision engineer and machinist and have made all manner of special machinery over the last 5 decades or more. I have an instinct for how strong things should be and how they should be put together. My first thought when I saw his vehicle was that it needs some serious upgrades to the wheels, axles and ground clearance, which are all too small. Never weld the axles anywhere because that immediately creates areas where the crystallisation of the material on cooling introduces points for metal fatigue and cracking to develop. Also pay attention to putting bolts in from the top so if a nut does get lost, the bolt is at least still in place. Use proper locknuts and thread locking compound. No way would I have gone more than a mile on it as it was.
I wish I’d been there to help him design everything properly before he even started building. However, I have to give him credit for having a go in a day and age where most lads haven’t a clue how to do anything. I’m sure he’s learned a lot from the shortcomings of his design that have been highlighted by the journey, but he would’ve enjoyed it so much more (and us too) if he’d used more forethought and taken a little advice from a time served engineer or even someone who has built things like this before.
He also needs to think more about self preservation before setting out in this car again. He could’ve been in serious trouble if he’d derailed of one of the trestles. Even dead easy, simple things, like taking a flask of water and a sandwich or chocolate bar with him were overlooked. Like I said earlier though, thumbs up to him for having a go and for posting this interesting adventure for us to enjoy. I’m sure he’ll have made a few improvements by the time we see this car again. 👍👍👍
So true. Most do nothing.
If he changes the wheels to larger diameter say the same size as the rear ones, he should get Both more clearance to avoid those nasty rocks and a smoother ride that track is designed for a huge locomotive so he has plenty of room. He need a better way to retrack the vehicle that tiny jack was scaring the crap out of me eveytime he used it! Still awesome Video and at least he has the courage to just build that thing and go exploring.
….Mummzey?
You're no machinist, you know nothing so stfu
Yesvi agree,,Easy for us to sit an watch an see things,,But Great on him gor gettin out there in these days!! Good to see
I like seeing the comments about trying to help the kid learn from his mistakes, not by flaming him as you see normally in the "comments-sphere" Hopefully, he learns (and I'm sure he will) from the mistakes and gentle advice in most of the comments. Keep it up Matt!
Suggestions for the future: 1) research where the abandoned track that you intend to ride actually goes using survey maps. 2) tell someone so that if you don't report back in they come looking for you. 3) pack for food, water, and shelter for at least the day and overnight. 4) research the tools you'll need both to self-recover more easily and to do things like flip the rail switch for which track at a junction. 5) be prepared to abort if there's a problem.
A helmet looks like might come in handy too.
A little hand winch and rope would probably come in handy to help shift the car too.
A 5 to 7 foot piece of steel strong enough to give leverage when you get derailed and to operate the switches. Use the bar with the track as the fulcrum, you should be able to lift your car back on the tracks quite easily.
Did a little more thinking about this, one of the major flaws in the design of this vehicle is that it lacks a suspension relative to the tracks. Even real trains are sprung on suspension because rails, however good they are, aren't perfect. It would be a good idea to look at using a transverse mounted leaf spring for the front axle, and reworking the rear axle to add rail-compatible wheels in place of or in addition to the rubber tires on the factory rear axle. Suspension would help dramatically to avoid the ride being rough, and would offer a place for the vehicle to have give other than hard parts like the aluminum parts used in lieu of an axle housing, or the steel rod used as the axles themselves. That doesn't mean that a large bump or hard hit wouldn't cause problems, but a hit like the one that was shown in the video might not actually break anything if the vehicle can absorb some impact as it lands instead of landing hard.
And...be sure, to put gas in truck, extra camera batteries. Manage your adventure, be a top notch videographer, get sunburned, most especially have fun!
And seriously, bring water with, next time.
The best thing about TH-cam is watching other people go through the trial and error phase of a crazy idea you'd like to try. This channel is wall to wall that. 😊
This is Northern Pacific/BN/BNSF's mothballed Homestake Pass line east of Butte, MT. Last train to use it was Amtrak's North Coast Hiawatha in 1979.
Your trip ended right up at the pass, alongside the Interstate 90 interchange.
Makes you appreciate all the work that went into building these tracks, trestle and tunnel in the first place.
Yes, the drill holes in the ceiling of the tunnels were amazing proof that smart and hardy people built it. What a ride. Also, the kid is learning by burning. Next time he’ll be more prepared (fingers crossed).
It's some decent track work.
yup. People died building these routes. Always pays to remember that.
You've inadvertently demonstrated that even on rails, operating a vehicle while distracted by something (like a smartphone) at the very least can ruin a fun day out. 🤔😉
Exactly it just proves my point about people who are more concerned with likes and follows or a quick video while driving than driving a few thousand pound vehicle into a tree.
High lift jack, snacks, water, headlamp, zip ties, duct tape, spare parts (few common bolt/nut sizes, washers, o-rings, fuses, wire, etc), basic tools (good multi tool is handy), poncho, emergency blanket, 550 cord, basic first aid. Got me through many 'quick trips' when things didn't go as planned. With the exception of the high lift you can stuff all of that and more in a small emergency bag you always have with you for unexpected adventures. I enjoyed the video!
If ever you rebuild this, that floor needs a subframe. Bolting the axles directly to the plastic shell means the shell is the part that holds everything together and will always be the weakest link, but a subframe should make the structure a lot more rigid and less prone to damage as the axles would thence be rigid to a frame. You might need nylock or spring washers for the hardware, as well, and perhaps an aluminium tube welded through those bolt holes to allow for a lot more torque to keep it held fast on rough terrain without pinching the tube. I'd also put a spacer between the bearings which will add rigidity for not much weight. For a bonus, adding suspension on the rail axles would greatly reduce the subframe taking on all the bumps on the track, and a centre bearing will prevent the axle from bending so much to impacts.
I was thinking some kind of suspension / damping to reduce the unsprung load on the whole system.
@@DigitalDiabloUK the concept of the Spyracart is incredible but with a few minor tweaks it can be both reliable and easy enough to construct or dismantle if need be. I really like how the railcar parts aren't permanent fixtures so it can become a trike as needed.
1. Floor Jack - weld a square plate on the rear so you can use the floor Jack
2. Longer shovel
3. Fab a box for tools and a cooler for food and water
Bigger wheels so his axle doesn't bend on the first rock it hits
And spare parts, such as nuts and bolts.
And solar panels with deep cycle battery, 12v fridge, and a Rooftop tent 😂
A 3" thick timber pole about 5' long would be a useful accessory!
@@G-ra-ha-m That's what I was thinking. Give me a fulcrum...
That was so crazy! Wow what a ride. I can't believe you didn't bring food or water. I guess next time you'll bring extra bolts!!!
At least if you do it again and you'll know what to expect. And you have already dug out a lot of stuff. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!
It's a good idea to put lock washers on those axle bolts in the future.
Agreed. Or Nylock nuts. Or Threadlocker. Or both
Or double nut if nothing else is handy.
@@meme2287...and drill out the bolt's shaft and install cotter pins...
Drill holes in the bolts and use Cotter keys
@meme2287 Ever since I discovered Harbor Freight has threadlocker, I almost never not use it.
i guess a note for future trips: nylock nuts on everything and bring a box of extra nuts and bolts, and the jack handle lol
And get one of those pens where you can draw a line on the nut and bolt, just to see if they start to come loose.
(They probably have a name for this...)
a lot of time there becomes missing tracks. you really need something lighter. and another person.
Doubling up the nuts on the bolts can work too!
Could the bolts not have gone in from the top? If the nut does shake loose at least the bolt should stay in place. Also try wire locking the nuts together.
@@tomasviane3844 paint pen
I rode that rail as a child in about 1980 on Amtrak, before they shut that train down. Freight traffic had ceased several years before. About every 10 years one of Montana's senators brings up the idea of restoring Amtrak to this line. COVID shut down the last proposal, the Great Recession shut down the proposal before that.
It looked like Homestake.
The current efforts to promote rail service across southern Montana Tracks has several Cointies united to promote some form of Rail Service for Passengers connecting Montana's largest Cities.
The idea of personal vehicles using tracks seems to require a lot of setouts for traffic to actually work?
Fairmont Speeders had extendable handles that would allow leverage when removing them from tracks when a train approached.
The wheels did not seem real well planned to center the Unit on rusty Tails.
Nice taper but they looked too sticky to be effective at staying in the center.
This is the dream route for me!
@@TheKevinChaz I have climbed that Mountain many times, and the route over Pipestone Pass is a similar one with many lovely vistas to view......
The restoration of Rail services as the contemporary methods of creating profits appears to be fading fast, now seem viable?
How we approach the future seems to be up to Human ability to adapt?
@@danielhutchinson6604 What mountain is this?
I would like to add to the previous post on tools. A piece of solid plywood slightly larger than the better quality Jack you currently are using.. a long steel bar for leverage lifting when jack is not able to fit in tight spaces. A battery operated hammer drill with extra battery and masonry drill bit. Battery operated small chain saw.. for starters.,at least that way you will have a much better chance of traveling a much greater distance regardless of obstructions , and one more item, a sledgehammer of any size that can be used to break rock or even drive down rail spikes !!
Rock and Roll my brother !!! PS: I worked for Union Pacific Railroad for 10 years..🚂🚂🚂🚂 Rail lines have tons of scenic routes that highways never see!
I love it! Will for sure need to add those to my tool collection!
Install sweeper brushes on the front on separate battery / Moter. Get them moving fast and sweep sand and dirt off top of tracks as you go (slowly).
@@MattSpears A winch or come-along are going to save your day when you are off the rail and exhausted.
@@MattSpearspotential idea for your ride. th-cam.com/video/nGjHrtXXdJI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=hVSvIBeGdd-A1xWy
Oh dude, those axle/subframe bolts should so be the other way up, with a lock nut and loctite.
..... The weight of that open-wheeler is kinda terrifying. I'm not surprised something bent as soon as you hit anything, impressed it wasnt more.
Larger wheels with a deeper flange will help get through sand a bit easier, give you a smoother ride, and more obstacle clearance. I'd add some suspension or rubber mounts between the axles and chassis to reduce bone jarring vibration, too.
Trailer suspension units would work.
Watching this video, my entire thought was 'those wheels are too small for a cart that needs a jack to lift.' The rear should also have been extended out a bit further for leverage and balance, because it looks like the entire weight was on the back.
@@king5327 I'd keep the rubber wheels but ditch the flanged wheels.
I'd just add rollers to keep it on the rails :)
That doesn't work. Train wheels are designed like that for a reason, you'd be surprised how mild of a turn it would take to completely jam a cart without flanged wheels
@@Godmadius Kroesan English used rollers :)
Do please pack yourself a bugout bag (survival pack) which can aid you with shelter, 1st aid, water and food. Always bring it with you on these excursions in case you get stranded.
You could criticise that for planning, safety, resources, etc in every way. But mate, way to go for an adventure. Thanks for sharing that, thoroughly enjoyed it. You're a role model to your generation.
Boy you need some basic suspension lmao. Also it's nuts how that line is in such good shape. In New England, once a line is abandoned, it takes no time at all for the elements and forest to erode them away. I remember finding rails that were floating where the bed had long washed away
"Looking at the camera and smoked a rock", LOL, that could have a few different meanings 😆
Sounds like something Hunter Bide n would say😂
Goon rocks on the tracks
@@Brizzad82 I was just coming into this thread to say that... 🤣
@@Brizzad82and of Parmesan cheese from time to time
I was thinking that wasn't all he smoked
I really like how you stay positive under stressful circumstances
"didn't bring food....didn't bring water.....it's way late.....[trouble along the way]....." I did a similar trip boating down a river once. Awful time, good memories, much to learn.
Lessons learned (I hope)- carry a day's worth of food and three days of water; spare parts; JBWeld helps; have a survival bag (better to have one and not need it....); get a 4 lb. sledge hammer ("single jack) and a cold chisel; get taller rail wheels; have a pack of extra heavy duty industrial zip ties (trust me on this one); a spare battery source for your phone; and a few topo maps covering the area you'll be in.
Matt, you best be listening to what folks are saying, because you're getting a lot of valuable advise here!
Defenitely true! I think the same rule applies here as in aviation. The five P! iso 6. Proper (Preflight) Planning Prevents Poor Performance.
And a caboose to pull it all in. 😂
and a compass!
paracord, gaff tape and a tarp.
@@CRJHNB900 you forgot the p!ss - proper planning prevents p!ss poor performance.
Thanks for letting us join you on this trip. It was wonderful, and we’re glad you made it home!
Considering how often you may meet a "rock in the road", maybe carry a small version sledge hammer and a 3/4" cold chisel ? This is a unique channel, and I congratulate you on its quality.
That or a gasoline powered jack hammer.
Great video, great adventure. Possibly design a flange cleaner that rolls several feet in front of your vehicle to clean out the sand at crossings. Design it to pivot so it rides freely when sailing down the rails but can be engaged when needed. May also double as a hazard warning for hidden obstacles. Great engineering!
or some dynamite
Lawnmower blade underneath, it would make the return trip a little quieter
I see what you mean. Some kind of blade going across to cut down the weeds. He did come across some small bushes/trees. And that rock
It would take to much power he'd need a gas engine
Just a rebar bumper would help a lot. Move the impacts off the body and break the brittle shrubs.
Electric mowers don’t take much just needs a grinder to make a sharp blade he could turn it on and off
Im in phx building a rail speeder, i can help with some issues you been battling.
Tip, get a small electric compressor with a bottle jack, bolt the bottle jack on a hinge on either the frame or the axel somewhere and have a power hook up off the batteries that run the drive wheels. That way if you need to lift the vehicle, you’re not killing yourself doing it. Work smart, not hard 😉. Also, you should put some kind of water tank on there. Doesn’t have to be big, maybe 5 gallons. Something you know can sustain you if you get stuck for a long period of time or for unplanned extended trips. Also, maybe a wench wouldn’t be a terrible idea. You’d be surprised what a help a come a long can be in a pinch. And if you’re axel nuts and bolts are all the same sizes, bring some extras with your tools in case you lose any on the ride. If you put the bolts in from the top, you’ll only ever lose the nut and washer. And get some thread locker or nylock nuts with some lock washers for anything you don’t want coming undone.
One last thing for safety, look into The RECCO Backpack Rescue Reflector. You can be located with harmonic radar from a helicopter to pinpoint you exact location if you ever get hurt and can’t get out from where you are if you’re deep in the shizz. These are like $40 on Amazon, seems cheap in a life saving situation. Be safe and make good choices lol 👍🏼
Recap:
small electric air compressor and bottle jack,
Water tank
Wench/come a long
Spare commonly used important nuts and bolts.
The RECCO Backpack Rescue Reflector
I’ve seen rail carts and rail sleds, and even a Suzuki Samurai with lowerable rail wheels, but I’ve never seen a custom-built rail car. This is hilarious and brilliant.
If you packed a decent shovel, a hammer, a chisel, a toolbox, and an assortment of spare nuts and bolts and wheels you could overcome almost any emergency.
I've seen ebikes with a fold-out rail-guide that locks onto both sides of the far rail. Dudes doing 40mph on an ebike on abandoned rails.
He needs a weed wack and drill bit for when stuff is needed.
One tip, you should always put the nuts in the bottom and the screws from the top, this way if you lose the nut, the screw, normally, should stay in place and that's less problematic, because with the screws in place there's less chance for that is attaching to fall off. great video, keep it going.
Or bolts on the bottom welded in place. Nuts may come loose but at least they are in the tub.
According to aviation maintenance theory, the head of the fastener should be 'UP or FORWARD' such that gravity and/or relative wind will keep it in place if the retention device is lost.....so, yeah. They found this out in aviation long-long ago.....lotsa people died to make this tidbit well known.
@@ssnerd583 well, I guess he won’t get airborne with this contraption very soon. But if that’s the plan you’re absolutely right.
And use Nylon insert lock nuts
@@bartl9956 ...this matters for any vehicle that moves through the air, regardless of altitude......the principles apply, regardless.
If you don't mind a few suggestions. First on design. You have your axles mounted directly to the bottom of the car (the weakest part of the design and most likely to fail). I would suggest you weld up a frame that you can mount the axles to and then mount the car to the frame. It will be much more sturdy and reliable. Second, bring spare parts, you are in the middle of no where with only yourself and what you have with you. Spare wheels, tire, bolts, nuts, Loctite etc... Food and water would be a good idea as well :)
Loved the video, keep it up!
I was in for the full ride as soon as I saw this dude trying to split a boulder with a hand shovel. 😂
Lmao
Yeah, think I'd have edited that part out, lol.
That's a totally sensible thing to do depending on the type of rock it is (soft granite and sandstone for example will easily chip & crack from a metal shovel). Tell people you don't go outside much without telling people. 🤷
Unasked for advice, Install the bolts with nuts on the bottom, if they rattle free you still have the security of the bolt in there. Keep doing your thing man, love how you just keep going for it.
Sounds like something an aviation mechanic would say 🤔
@@Skinflaps_Meatslapper haha not me, just built a few go karts and things like that
@@ThiccolasCage It's actually outlined in the AMT as standard practice. Bolt head are inserted downward, inward, or toward the tail, depending on orientation. It's for the same purpose, in case you lose the nut, the bolt has a tendency to stay in place and at least keep the pieces somewhat held together.
@@Skinflaps_Meatslapper every day is a school day! Just makes sense doesn’t it haha
I'm a professional semi-retired jack-off, tip to the wise, always install an electric jack on any vehicle converted to a rail car that may need to be realigned with the track. Or use a huge log and use the rail as a fulcrum to lift the heavy vehicle.
@mattSpearsGiveawayy lol thanks!
We used to this as teenagers with a gocart me and my cousins built. When I moved up to Oregon to work when I was 23, I went clear back to Florida and got that hunk of junk and brought it there, put several gas cans on it and did exactly what you did. Was some of the most fun I’ve ever had. I ran a super old track like this but it was literally in the middle of nowhere. Once that thing broke I used some of the parts to make a bike that road the rails. It worked. But…Wasn’t as fun.
Anyway. I’m now in my 40s and seeing this made me think I should do this again. It was fun to do in Florida but we never went super far. I did that in Oregon, and really had a blast. Gave up on it tho as other things became more important but there is a lot of track out there and in California I still would love to hit.
You need to keep a box of extra bolts and extra everything incase you break down. Walking some of those lines can be sketchy when you’re in big cat territory…..
And you ARE in Big Cat and Bear country. Get a gun and learn to use it. Youve got a Lot to learn but hey you’re young…. Get a Bunch more tools and spare parts, complete survival gear, including GPS unit and maybe some flares. A Pickaxe, a Breaker bar, a 2nd jack, a strong come-along, a miner’s hammer, maybe even some dynamite,(cuz what do you do when you run into a House-sized boulder?) Keep having fun out there though. I have a feeling you’ll be fine…
Oh, and say a little prayer for Pearl and her trailer, etc. Because think about what sort of predicament She Saved You From…. And it’s NOT like “hey, I don’t owe her Anything. I gave her $50….$. Remember, she Still saved your ass regardless of whether or not you gave her $$
0:07 Y'know, Dude --- you'd have more battery power for your drive-system if you didn't have those huge headlights needlessly blazing during the daytime... :P
You pay less for insurance if they stay on continuously
@@user-um4ih2hy7b Well, he probably wouldn't even need insurance for a rail-bike, especially since he's merely using abandoned tracks to travel on. :P ;)
@@Quacks0Yeah, I heavily doubt any kind of insurance would cover a janky custom vehicle like this, traveling on abandoned tracks and potentially unstable trestles!
This was so cool!! But you need to bring some better emergency supplies. Especially food and water, but I would also recommend extra of all the sizes of bolts, nuts, and washers that you are using. Think how much easier it'd have been if you had a spare bag of bolts. Another idea, add padding to the roof/interior of your train, and maybe wear a helmet so that you don't smack your head on it even harder and get a concussion or something.
Always keep a steady eye on the top of the rails. If it is rusty = No traffic has used these
rails in a long long time. If shiny = Are you SURE this is an abandoned rail line?
!
Jea but with the big rock that close to the rails i think its quite sure those rails are currently not used
Why keep a close eye, if the rails are rusted at point A, I'm sure it's going to be rusty at point B. A train isn't just going to appear out of the blue in the middle of the track somewhere.
I think it's the old Milwaukee Road mainline through Montana. Hasn't seen a train since 1980.
I'll be blunt - A+ for the whole endeavour. You got off your arse, you built the thing and now you know what needs improvement and why. I know you did a couple RAs out there and kept pushing forward. You've got excellent spirit and attitude. Well Done.
They were stupid. No water, no food, no survival gear or first aid, a half-assed ride, and nobody along with them to make sure if something happens they're OK. Plus no helmet or safety precautions. This was stupid.
Thank you for living life more than I am and should be
"I'm worried we not going to make it back to the truck"... * Keeps going further.
😂😂
"Wow, it is really vibrating!" ...speeds up.
This guy's got a cognitive dissonance issue.
*How to break rock without a Sledge-hammer or tools* ---
Find a chunk of matching rock to hit the protruding edge ---- it should be about the size of your hands - 'preferably - 'V' shaped.
BTW - it's Basalt, which has a Moh's scale hardness of 6 - so you should be able to remove the protruding rock with not too much effort.
*Word of Caution - that chunk of rock is prone to more sliding* - so you'll need to be extra careful it doesn't dislodge when you're hammering it.
Rock vs scissors; rock vs paper; or-- Rock vs Rock!!
Near the end he says, “I could be worrying for no reason …”, dude, I’m worried. Haha. Great video.
Here I am sitting in my comfy German home, admiring the views and your adventure 🙌 I'm amazed and stressed at the and time, that you pushed on even with a banged head and no plan B on your return in seemingly a very remote place. Just want you to be safe, maybe take a bit more planning and caution next time 😊 thank you for taking us along for the ride!
EDIT: if nothing else, bring enough water with you, that should be a no.1 priority anytime you're out and about
He definitely drove beyond the Rubicon. Good for him.
You need a better jack and shovel. Buy yourself a rerailer from a railroad equipment dealer. Its basically a little ramp the wheel goes up and back on the rail. 24 years as a railroad conductor and they work like a charm. You need to bring extra bolts and nuts and a ratchet set.
You should do bigger wheels. Like, 24 inches. Get suspension.
Install a skid plate to the underside so that rocks don't do damage.
And please sort that wobble out. It was wobbling even before you hit the rock. 👍
You were almost lifting the back. Add a 6ft pole that projects behind the vehicle, and you'll just be able to lever her back onto the track. And seriously, I take a bag with a couple of water bottles, half a dozen meal-bars, some trail mix, and basic first aid to things like art shows and flea markets. Doing what you're doing, I'd have a 25lb backpack full of survival supplies. And maybe a small tent. If there wasn’t an emergency, you could park and camp…
Thoroughly enjoying this. Constructive criticism is that if those missing bolts had been installed "nuts down"' the bolts themselves may have stayed there. Then, when you cannabolized to have only one bolt per side, you installed it "nuts up". Easier but if the nut loosens, the bolt is gone. Love your attitude and fearlessness!
The old Fairmont track speeders had two handles front and back that were just opposite ends of the same aluminum bar that ran through the body of the speeder. When they needed to get a speeder on and off the rails and for turning around, the bars pulled out and the extra leverage made it possible for one person to do the job. You might also consider taking a floor jack so you can use the long handle on that to shift the rail car about on the jack. You wouldn't go wrong with bigger wheels with a more substantial flange either. When the rails need to be uncovered, the important thing is to clear off the railheads and the flangeway.
Hey Matt, not sure if you bothered with any suggested ideas to improve your car, but, maybe consider adding leaf springs to the axles that attach to the rails? Maybe tiny coil springs that flex for yaw to allow minor flex left and right for inconsistencies in rail width? If you don't take minor bumps and track imperfections into consideration, eventually the vibrations will destroy your car especially because it's made from that lightweight honeycomb material. Also, you mentioned it was electric which seems like a great choice for adventuring on abandoned tracks, is it solar powered? If it's not, seems like a missed opportunity IMO.
If you break something or something isn't working right, then the wise thing to do is turn around, not continue getting further away from where you started. Something that's broken will eventually fail. You got lucky.
Aw man! TOTALLY agree! Everytime something happened I was screaming at the tv, “TURN THAT THING AROUND!” No survival supplies, minimal tools and doesn’t appear to have a pew pew of any type for protection. Wild animals GALORE you get trapped out there. Mountain lions gonna be hunting out there for sure. Then would be just a sitting duck. Nuh uh. TURN AROUND!
I think once I got to the brush I’d be like, that’s it! I’m turning around.
Yeah i thought for sure once he hit the rock he would turn the rail car back and return
Helmet. Better shovel. GPS phone. Food and water. Extra bolts.
But . . . What a Great Adventure!!! I really enjoyed your video.
This is such a fascinating way to explore the wilderness and appreciate abandoned places that must have taken so much work to build in the first place! I think it would be possible to build a bigger vehicle with steel wheels, maybe salvage parts from an actual train car, and bring along a lot more equipment to deal with obstacles and derailments, as well as emergency supplies.
One mod you can do is to put an inverted hydraulic hand pumped cylinder in the rear.
Install it in the center.
Make sure it has a swivel foot.
Then you can put it down and push or pull, and it will lift and recenter your rig on the tracks.
Or just a trailer jack. Already has the lift capacity and the caster on the bottom to move it.
You'd have a bloody fright if someone had the same idea coming in the opposite direction 😂
😂yeah id dive out as this little smart car looks like adeath trap in a crash
Also, you should add something like shock absorber between the cart and the wheels...it will help greatly in reducing the vibration and prevent a lot of loosening of parts.....plus it will be a smoother ride.
you need trailer jacks on a wheel, Swing-Away Trailer Jack , also locking nuts and Loctite
I think a farm jack is more versatile. A bit bulky but it could probably be mounted at the back of the car, parallel to the axle.
Hi! As a "lover of all things that move" how could I not fall in love with this! How cool! You must have spent so many hours making this dream a reality and thanks for showing us - it was epic to watch!
tools you need right off the bat:
pickaxe and re-railer
edit: crazy thing would be installing a weed wacker on the front, either belt fed to extend to both sides for more accessibility or with a mobile gimble but its battery draining and probably noisy.
Vibrations visual assessment
the big problem with old rails is they are not calibrated to modern standards and have degraded, in modern rail lines there are people on the job constantly making sure the rails are in a proper condition. I believe these rails have a great chance at being the cause of the constant vibration, Im sure the plastic wheels probably help alot maybe even better than rubber but you never know. awesome video thats the truth keep it up !
So glad you're back home and doing full-time videos! Keep going, Matt!!! You're making it!
Please be careful not to hurt your back. I ruined mine in my 40s and am fused at the lumbar. Make sure you're using your abs and lifting straight up when moving that thing. Your show looks awesome! I bike abandoned rail ROWs (rail trails) a lot and love 'em. keep up the stellar work!
Growing up in the high desert around Moab Utah my friends and I always ventured out with provisions and we NEVER went out into the wilderness alone. Assisting the local search and rescue find people was a common thing in our town.
I suffered from fear, anxiety and depression most of my life. I was diagnosed with a rare hormonal condition which contributed to these difficulties. However, during my journey, I learned that eating had a lot to do with why my brain was manifesting all these outcomes. Since eliminating sugars and carbs, I have not seen any fear, anxiety, or depression return. In fact, it pretty much eliminates everything, my lack of sleep, my ability to build muscle, my type 2 diabetes, and various hormonal issues. Never felt this good in all my life.
When I was a kid, the railroad had a little jigger which one man road in to check on switches, and that little rail runner the man could take off the track with long poles he had mounted in it.
First! I love what you’re doing. Being an old retired designer of thousands of industrial machines a few suggestions.
Put your bolts in with head on top,helps keep you from losing them.
Use nylon lock nuts
Drill holes near end of bolts and use saftey wire or something similar.
Obviously I’m sure you’re now equipped with a spare parts bag. Lol
Build a complete framework and install can to it.
Make all your axles separate and short that bolt to frame. Carry extras.
There’s more but you appear to be intelligent enough to figure out as you go.
Enjoy that awesome hobby dude.
Man! I should have proof read. Lol or quit writing in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep. Lol
Reviving the nostalgic railroad westerns on abandoned routes. 😊👍
I'd go out there with enough supplies for a week and camp. That would be a wonderful quiet place to chill.
Brother, you're out there doing it! Thanks for sharing your adventures with us desk jockeys.
Point of order: Iron Rusts. Steel Rusts. Only tracks that are used regularly and often stay shiny and don't rust. Whoever said that was abandoned was mistaken. Because it only take a few days for that shine to be replaced with a fine powder of rust.
Engineers get to see these sights and many more every day. It is one of the nice things about the job.
Being alone and able to work 12 hours by yourself and seeing beautiful scenery, that is a nice job for people who don't like working with people.
What a great way to re discover a part of railway history that was lost to time. Views like these probably haven't been seen by anyone in over 100 years. Very cool!
This is what we need MORE of.....YOU! I completely stumbled across your channel and I am sooooo glad i did. Being an engineer I am sitting here going, OOOH he could try this or OOOH, he could put that on his setup (I love content that gets my gears turning...lol)
I would like to recommend to you if permitted is possibly a scissor jack or two with larger surface area for the axle to sit on. This way instead of having to jack and unjack your rig several times to move it onto the track, it could slide across the larger surface area and you can prolly do a "one and done" any time you come off the track. Welding a larger surface area on the jack would give you even more "play" going left to right/right to left on the track. Even going as far as putting bearing system on it so it just "slides....". You jack it up once, slide it right or left and BINGO....
THANK YOU for doing such AMAZING content/work!!
You need longer bolts. Drill a hole through the end, use a castle nut, and a cotter pin, or use an aircraft style tie wire to secure the nuts and to prevent them from backing out. You should also carry a full selection of spare bolts, nuts, washers, and other loose hardware. All of your issues are easily preventable. I'd also recommend making a mount for the back to carry a full sized shovel and pick.
I was thinking a battery powered chipping hammer would make short work of that stone.
Pretty Cool 😎 !!! It's refreshing to see a young person creating and exploring. I grew up in the 70s to 80s time frame. My generation was always doing stuff like this. Keep up creating. It will give you peace, joy, and good memories for a lifetime ❤️...
Couple of recommendations: Locknuts, scissor jack, shocks. The last would require some reengineering, but worth it. Garmin Inreach (pay for the rescue insurance), spare food, water, camping equipment.
MY only suggestion is to carry a "Spot" satellite communicator that you can pair with your phone and send texts to friends and family including a gps fix on your location. Had you fractured your skull or broke a bone it would allow for instant assistance from whichever direction is fastest. Cost about 80 bux and weighs about six ounces. I use one on my boat in addition to an EPirb unit.
Garmin InReach Mini2
I have an abandoned rail line near the house, with a very high tressel and a tunnel at the end. I tried to walk across the tressel so I could check out the tunnel, but there were too many rotted and missing ties and it was a long way down, so I chickened out and didn't even get halfway across the trestle. I envy your journey.
Damn
Jack became your best friend. Thank you Jack. Quite an epic adventure. That whole section of the journey is spectacular . It’s beautiful out there. Thanks for taking us with you. Note to self don’t go alone next time. And bring spare parts
Heading out into the mountains on an unfamiliar trail wearing shorts & T-shirt, no food, no water, no shelter, no sleeping bag, no means to summon help, on an untested vehicle with no spare parts, what could possibly go wrong? It's always good to have a plan B. Other than that, enjoyed your video. Thanks! You might want to carry an EPIRB with you on your next solo venture.
could have ended real real badly at 12:39 when he got speed and had potential to roll down the left side at over 25mph
Young man!! You are strong of body and mind. You definitely need it! Kudos on your channel. I had so much fun riding along. Having a big smile. I did something like this at your age, and it brought back memories. This old dude thanks you.
Wow What an adventure! Reminds me of being in high school taking off into the mountains on my motorcycle for the day with 1 coke, a sandwich, and my dad's .22 revolver! The unknown and exploration was the fun! Sure, Matt didn't have EVERYTHING he needed for EVERY contingency! (only supposed to be a '2 hour tour') What a cool machine! what a cool adventure! Dont tell anyone where it is and keep going Matt!
What FUN!!!
You might want to look into getting what’s known as a wrecking bar. The 1” hexagonal shaft of the bar is about six feet long, with one pointed end and the other a flattened chisel end.
Weld a couple of bits of pipe under the the rail rider to slid the bar into for storage. Extremely strong, it’s the last pry-bar you’ll ever buy, unless some twit borrows it, then leaves it on a job site, then you’ve got to run down to your nearest HD and pick up another one.
Really enjoyed watching this video. I’m going to check out the channel!
Cheers from Dallas🍸
I’d take a couple of 8’ or 10’ lengths of construction grade 2x4 as a lever (and a spare).. I’ve moved a smallish family car around with one; they’re cheap and don’t damage painted chassis parts etc..
I love the smell of running over sage. Really cleans the bottom side of truck too.
I got an idea for your wheels to stay on the tracks alot better , but you need wheels that will stay on the tracks no matter what. If the tracks are wider/thinner in different areas you will need 4 springs on the inner side and 4 on the outta sides of the new wheels that will never derail. The wheels will never fall off the tracks ever again. The wheels will follow the tracks and add smooth springs to the rail wheels for a smooth ride everytime???.
Also it looks like you might need to attach a lawnmower to the front or back if you know what I mean and a home made plow too.
You might want to always have food and water on board, but some spare parts would be cool. You might want to make a hand lift to move your unit when you derail. Kind of a long pry bar with a lift cradle.
Or, Have a rolling jack that allows you to lift and tilt/roll the cart sideways, as then the small wheels with their flanges can be lifted above the rails when moved sideways (oh and the fact that the rubber tires drop down slightly, means that they toostop you "shifting" just ONE wheel at a time?
It's a fixed frame fixed width - fixed wheels to axle machine, so ALL WHEELS near where the jack is being used "all" need to be lifted higher than the rails ON BOTH SIDES.
But the worst thing to see, is the fingers?
Keep them as far away from the "tilted over jack spigot as possible, because if you insists on using your fingers so close to the "leaning jack" as you did there, it won;t be too long before it "crashes sideways" falling off the jack , trpping or amputating your fingers as it does that.
New drinking game while watching Matt. You drink every time he says puppy or babe
Or holy moly???
Water, Rescu link, ham radio, peashooter with extra peas, baling wire, nuts and bolts, sledgehammer. Would love an explanation of the wiring on the telephone poles and other devices and how they worked. Where is this located?