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My grandfather was a MOP section foreman and in about 1920 bought a "kit" from Fairmont to motorize his hand car (out of his own pocket). From: "Sam Cook trains@sjcook.com [CBQ]" <CBQ@yahoogroups.com> To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2015 4:22 PM Subject: Re: [CBQ] Motorised push car FYI:
1947 Fairmont brochure/catalog.... http://sjcook.com/trains/fairmont/ -- and good shot of M&StL putt-putt with my grandfather in center-front.... http://sjcook.com/trains/msl/employees/cole0031.jpg (and it has brakes) -- Sam Cook, Milan, MO =================== 'Douglas Harding' doug.harding@iowacentralrr.org [CBQ] wrote: > [Attachment(s) <#TopText> from Douglas Harding included below] > > Rupert, yes interesting and very early. It shows the ingenuity that propelled early development of railroad MOW equipment. The photo shows essentially how Fairmont got > started. In 1907 Fairmont developed a small single cylinder engine they hoped to use in agriculture applications, ie pumping water, etc. The story goes a railroad section > hand contacted them about mounting their engine on his hand car. He had seen one on another railroad built using an engine from a firm in Kansas, but had not been able to > secure an engine from the Kansas company. Fairmont worked with him, motorized his hand car by mounting the engine on the deck and using a chain drive to power the axle. > Soon other railroaders came to Fairmont with similar requests. By 1909 Fairmont had done business with 48 railroads in every state. (Fairmont History by Orlin Foss). > > Attached is a photo of an early Fairmont motor car or speeder, showing a motor and chain drive mount. The company also developed a belt drive, using a wide leather belt. > > Doug Harding <snip> __._,_.___ Posted by: "John D. Mitchell, Jr." <cbqrr47@yahoo.com> __,_._,___ |