Handcar

A small railway vehicle propelled by people using a hand-operated lever or crank. Railway maintenance crews and inspectors traditionally used handcars to travel along tracks.

Connect

Railway track: A guided path of parallel rails that supports and directs railway vehicles. The handcar’s wheels run on rails, which constrain its movement to the track.
Railway maintenance: Inspection, repair, and upkeep of railway infrastructure and equipment. Maintenance crews used handcars to reach work sites along the line.
Rail transport: The movement of people and goods using vehicles that travel on railway tracks. Handcars arose as small, human-powered vehicles within the expanding railway system.
Railway locomotive: A powered railway vehicle that supplies the tractive effort to move a train. Unlike a locomotive, a traditional handcar relies on its crew’s muscle power.
Crank (mechanism): A rotating or reciprocating mechanism that converts motion between circular and linear forms. Cranks on some handcars turn crew effort into wheel rotation.
Railway signal: A device that communicates instructions or warnings to railway operators. Inspectors could travel by handcar to examine signals and their operation.
Railway history: The history of railways, from early trackways to modern rail networks. Handcar use reflects the labor practices and technology of earlier railway operations.
Railway draisine: A light rail vehicle used for inspection or maintenance, powered by people or an engine. The broader draisine category includes handcars and other lightweight track vehicles.
Lever: A rigid bar that pivots around a fulcrum to transmit force. The pumping handle gives a crew mechanical advantage to propel the vehicle.
Track inspection: The examination of railway track for defects, wear, and safe operating condition. Handcars carried inspectors along sections of track for direct examination.