DIY Pump Handcar for Abandoned Railroads
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.ค. 2024
- This is kind of a throwback to the 1800s, a human-powered pump railroad car! This type of handcar is often seen in old movies, cartoons, and games, but they were a legitimate rail vehicle 150 years ago!
Mine is made with wheels from Railriders.net, who were so interested in my railroad speeder projects that they donated a used set. Big thanks to them for making this video possible! You can find their products at www.railriders.net/
As with all my railroad vehicle projects, this is being done on completely abandoned tracks that are physically disconnected from any other rail line and are not used by any railroad. Some of the tracks were left as decoration in a local park, and others are on the way to becoming a bike trail.
As this is a part 1 video, we'll have some follow-up with improvements and hopefully longer trips!
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"I'm not abandoning this project, it's 90-95% done" - story of my life lol
I always know I’m done with a project once I say I’ll finish it later lol.
LOL
The sirens kicking in at the jumpcut at 9:39 made it look like you ran into trouble offscreen then started running away. 😂
I also thought that! I found it hilarious!
GTA V and Red Dead Redemption had a Baby, and they called it Save It For Parts Channel 😆
he saved something he shouldnt have for parts and had to bail lol
_Nasal cackle_ You'll never catch me alive, coppers! _Twirls mustache_
I wanna make a little edit that has a GTA star blinking into view at the jump cut
A railroad guy told me years ago you can tell how often a track is used by the amount of rust on top of rail. Happy railroading
I came for the satellites, I stayed for this! Love it!
Awesome project mate, very American style hand car, the ones we have here in New Zealand a different in that you sit down and the hand lever works side to side instead of up and down, allows for greater leverage and user comfort. have done many rail trips on them, often days before the lines were ripped up. sadly there is no publicly accessible abandoned railway tracks here, they scrap them, and if you were caught doing this on any of the other tracks its a $20k fine. you will find steel axles much better and i would also add a chain tentioner or idler wheel, as chain tention will be why it goes better in one direction than the other, as sprockets dont like being fed slack chain.
Enjoy all your projects mate and wish i could join in with most of them.
This is great. I was on a handcar once at the Elgin Trolly Museum. A few suggestions from what it was like: the A-frame could be taller so you're not breaking your back, and if you pumped at the same speed on an old one you'd go about 3 times faster (larger gear on your bike crank). Love the brakes; that's exactly what they were!
That's want I was thinking. With the A-frame at that height, the downstroke looks like it would kill your back after a short time.
Also the angle of the connecting rod between the pump and bike crank is not good, it makes the up/down speeds of the pump assymetric with a long dwell time in one position.
Actor Dick York suffered a freak tragic railcar injury during a shoot that tore up his back. Literally derailed his acting career with chronic back pain and painkiller addiction
It's weird how much I love your channel. It's not my usual experience. Thanks.
I totally know what you mean. I’m addicted. There just plain old fun.
Same!
You have to account for Gabe's animal magnetism.
this guy is incredible
you are living the American dream!
I really enjoyed seeing you getting back out on the rails again. I see you have taken a more ‘serious’ approach to safety and allowed Donny to conduct a thorough assessment before giving you the okay to continue as well…thank you for the latest adventure Gabe, looking forward to seeing what you have planned over the remainder of the summer time and further on. Best wishes
These pump cars are fun, I recall as a kid we went to some railroad museum that let you ride one for 100 feet or so. Would be cool to go for miles, maybe with a small assist motor once you get it up to speed.
every video you post makes me say "this guy..." in the BEST way possible. keep it up.
I'm glad you pre-emptively fitted a belt drive pulley wheel. You're going to get bored pretty quickly of hand-cranking, head down,, so you don't miss the stroke and crunch your arms / levers. Letting a little put-put two stroke take care of business while you sit back and enjoy the view seems far more the way, if you're going to go places on this rig, with those pro-level wheels. OR, turn it into a recumbent cycle powered dingus.
You making my child dream ❤ Love your videos
Yes!! Your railbike videos are what introduced me to your content. BTW if you ever need any specialty tools or even some machining done, feel free to reach out to me. We actually live in the same neighborhood!
My kind of video! A mechanical build, Donny and a Ma and Pa Kettle reference...
I wish there were some long abandoned stretches of railroad too here in the south of Germany
Love this channel. Just discovered it and the sat stuff just blows my tiny mind
Montage!!!! I can't remember if I found this place because of Sandland or the railcars, but thanks again.
I think I saw some fairly new power tools here. 🤔 Nice brake system.
I'd love to see this as a little electric speeder you can use to explore some super cool abandoned railways... perhaps it could also be made to have changeable gauge too so you could run it on abandoned standard and narrow gauge rails. Love this project!
I love your track vehicles, man. Looking forward to next stage on this.
Thanks for your videos.
now THIS is classic Saveitforparts!
i have inspected a real, old handcar. they are normally using a chain and a special mechanical construction beneat the car to do the racheting actions.
Your rail riding videos are what introduced me to your channel, i thought it was really neat what you were doing and yeah, i'm still here lol
Suddenly, I have an urge to watch a Ma and Pa Kettle movie!🤔
As a railfan, I can appreciate your Gandy Dancing car.
Over the years, I have pondered upon my own thoughts of design. Not too dissimilar, I might replace the motive of power with a small engine, swap your center A-frame with a tall lounge table with beverage cutouts, and install a couple of secure bar stools and perhaps a potted palm over in the corner.
Naturally, mine would also be coupled to another small flat car trailing behind, fully equipped with a wet bar and a very cute cocktail server that also provides cigar services.
Please feel free to use any of these ideas if you happen to have any of them lying around your garage. I look ➡️ to your continuing saga on this project. Cheers!🍸🍸🇺🇸
OOOOOH! COOL! Lets go be the boxcar children!
Needs steel axles and a support bearing in the middle of the axle next to the sprocket to resist bending from the chain tension when pumping. With the large wheels there is a lot of room under the deck, you could make a hybrid power rail car with a motor and batteries with pump backup. Some kind of clutch to avoid back driving the motor when pumping would be useful.
So Awesome! Thanks for sharing! Can't wait for more video's and updates!!! :)
Love it that there is such a thing as a pump handcar community; absolutely riveting and inspiring.
Cool wheels and prototype! I've never heard a pillow block be called a penguin bearing before. :p Maybe you can get away with an extra one supporting the axle next to the gear? Or whatever random bearing that will fit in there to pull against should help some. Great work!
An extra bearing in the middle of the axle is exactly what's needed with such a thin axle. Alternatively make a larger diameter axle (maybe from tube) and just have reduced diameter at the ends for the wheels, though that would limit the minimum sprocket size.
Props to cameraman
Good job. Now a seat and a motor and you will be golden.
_Techno build montage!_
Very interesting video. Btw...Train wheel riding surfaces have to be conical to be able to negotiate curves.
Thanks saveitforparts.
I enjoy the ghetto science put into it. I love the show.
Honestly you are uploading so much you can drop the "wecome back to the save it for parts channel." I never left XD.
My favorite Minnesota TH-camr!
I'm happy the algo recommended this channel. So much variety of interesting stuff! Thanks!
Cool stuff buddy! Keep going 💯👀
Gotta put a track sander on that bad boy
Every time I watch one of your railway escapades I think of ways to tweak the project. Put in chain derailleur system like a ten-speed bike? Use a small engine from a lawn mower and gear it down for torque? LED ground effect lighting?
Cool stuff.
i randomly decided to read the Dark Tower Stephen King books for the first time and right off the bat The Gunslinger has a railcar in it, even though it takes someone from a different universe to tell the guy what it is...
This is far better built than the submarine
Man, your stock of parts to build from is glorious, it lives up to the name off your channel.
I just stumbled across your channel. Pretty cool!
Great video. Looks like a lot of fun 😊
Your channel and Practical Engineering and my buddy Randy,a civil engineer,are my favorite engineers.
I gotta tell you, you impress the hell out of me seem like a really good guy and you love tinkering like I do. I like figuring things out but I don't have your skills. Loved the video.
You have a interesting wide range of hobbies. Nice handcar, perhaps the deck should be a little longer in case you get carried away pumping the handcar too fast
pretty cool man thanks for the vid!
You need to get the freewheel off that bike for it too. Let it coast when you're not pumping.
amazing stuff you are making
Great video! Your railroad videos are personal favorites of mine (I love abandoned railroad tracks). I'm not good with my hands at all, so seeing you work hard at all these rail carts impresses me so much.
Why do I have to think about Rich Evans, when I see your videos? ;)
Anyway - great, as usual - thank you very much and greetings from Germany! :)
You can always adjust the sprockets sizes!
I was looking at a disk brake rotor and wonder if they might work as well. They also can be found at junkyards, and even add small tires for off-rail use.
Great work! I love the versatility of your projects!
Good job, love your stuff😎😎
Dude, that's epic!
This was an excellent build even if it didn't come out perfect on the first try. Never knew these were even a thing so thanks for sharing!
Love this video❤❤❤
I love that you have a leash on your kitty 😺
Cooler than the other side of the pillow man!
See if Vevor will give you a MiG welder. They're remarkably useful, and you can teach yourself fairly quickly.
Looks like good exercise.
Your level of jank is super-impressive. Absolutely love your channel and every single piece of content!!!
From tunnels to Railroads Gabe is at it again!
Construction adhesive and screws work really great together.
This turned out really well. Impressive build, man!
Looking forward to updates in the future.
Love the looks of those hand cars. Looks like a fun way to excercise. It would be funny (and awesome) to make an elliptical machine out of that for your living room. 👍
Awesome
Your dedication never ceases to amaze me. This thing is awesome!
I love all of your stuff man! EXCELSIOR!!!
Awesome project, found the channel from radio and satellite videos, stayed for all of the other awesomeness.
Even went to my local version of Axeman, American Science and Surplus this weekend, not as good as axeman but very similar
Sweet
This is the kinda nerdy genius yourll need around when the Apocalypse inevitably happens. Great video
I don't comment on videos I watch, but exception here. Pretty neat stuff you are up to. Keep up the good work and subs will come.
Thanks! Glad you like it 😊
The construction edit with the music was top quality editing :)
A very historical concept, it's a beginning. I'm curious to see how it progresses.
Man jerry ringed or not this is more then most people accomplished in a year it does look awesome btw keep up what your doing your now the only reason I have TH-cam
I would extend the handlebars upwards so you don’t have to bend forward, present model looks harmful to the back. Nice work!
Love these videos
You are on to something there my friend, nice job! A few more tweeks and you'll be zooming down the rails in no time. Looking forward to seeing the final product, peace.
tuck that one lit dish
😎👍
"Why shore..it's just like worshin clothes." 😄
...Get on ArcDroid's radar.......Imagine all the sheet stock you'll be saving for parts... 😉
I always watch your videos with a mind to failure points. Yep, I saw a few.....
Yep, there are always a few. As usual my projects usually go through a few prototyping phases.
I haven't seen a single mice in the video. Donnie has been doing his job well ❤
REALLY great, man! Pause on that, but definitely do come back. That looks pretty fun 🖖🐰🍷
Hey Guy. Hope you're doing well. Enjoyed the video - the editing w/music during fabrication played well. I'll trade you something for that Carhartt jacket. That thing is great. Be safe.
My Carhartt jacket is pretty thrashed! I actually need to get a new one soon.
yay
OMG, thank you. Those reviews were boring in comparison. Edit: The aluminum will eat the torque built in the chain drive. Make the other handle swing another cam, I'm thinking more power strokes to even the torque.
Your railroad stuff is what I'm here for. Some of the other stuff is good. Don't any viewers of this, live near you want to come and help? Like the guy who welded that sprocket, could you have put him in the video for 10-15 seconds? Get him some youtube exposure? If I lived near you I'd want to come help. I probably have parts I saved you could use.
I've been meaning to get back to this pump car, it's actually on my calendar to work on it this week. Re showing friends in videos, I usually ask, but not everyone wants to be on camera!
No wonder they were so iconic of anyone could build one. Of course it still takes a lot of skill and effort to make obviously
You might have realized this by the end of your video but the most likely reason why it moves better when your weight is off the drive wheel side is that your weight is causing deflection in the aluminum axle causing misalignment between the bearings and a lot more friction in the whole system. Essentially every time the axle rotates you're bending it in a full 360 motion which is also going to work harden it and cause eventual failure. It also has to be putting stress on your wheel connections. Even poor steel has more "springiness" and elasticity than aluminum. See if you can find some old used well drilling rod for axles.
If you make the bike part pivot on the axle, you can raise and lower the peddle end above/below deck and then you will have 2 modes of operation.
Hand pump and peddle power.
Attaching the bike frame to the axle will prevent the chain from putting bending force on the axle. This might also give you the option of engaging the peddle end to a gas engine..
Also, if you want to improve efficiency of the hand pump. Use a second chain going up to the handle and try to find a racheting gear for the handle end. I do not know if they make a double ratchet gear, but what I am thinking is one that catches on both strokes.
Flywheel, need a Flywheel !
. ;)
Coat the wheels in rubber for traction and attach a small generator engine
I wonder if adding a flywheel would help, or be an immense failure.
Ever think about making your own beer at Sandland? 🤔🤔🤔
I haven't gotten into home brewing, although a couple of my friends have done it. They've brought a few brews out to Sandland to cave-age, but it seems like they sometimes just cave-explode from ongoing fermenting 😅