The official name of this vehicle is a Railway Motorcar. It is known as a "speeder", "jitney", "railcar", "track car" and "putt-putt" (for the noise the early one-cylinder two-cycle motors made). The motorcar was used for inspection and light maintenance of track and signals maintenance. Inspection and section-gang type motorcars weigh as little as 600 lbs. while gang cars can weigh up to 4500 pounds or more. The lighter cars have handles that pull out from the back so that they may be picked up like a wheelbarrow and moved on and off the track at a motorcar set-on or grade crossing. The heavier cars have hydraulic turntables that allow them to do the same. Motorcars are commonly powered by a two-cylinder, 18-hp air-cooled engine and are capable of speeds as high as 45 mph on well maintained rail; however, the normal cruising speed is less than 20 mph. Typically, a two-speed transmission drives the rear axle with a motorcycle type chain. There is a friction brake lever that is used to apply the brake shoes against the tread of each wheel. The wheels, hubs and brakes of motorcars are insulated so they will not activate signals and crossing gates as a train would.

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