#Manpower kalamazoo number manual#

#Manpower kalamazoo number manual#

Handcars have since been replaced by self-propelled vehicles that do not require the use of manual power, instead relying on internal combustion engines or electricity to move the vehicle. Because of their low weight and small size, they can be put on and taken off the rails at any place, allowing trains to pass. Handcars have been normally used by railway service personnel (the latter also known as gandy dancers) for railroad inspection and maintenance.

Handcar designed to be operated by a single person, widely known in North America as a velocipede. Push trolley inspections formed a very important part of these visual inspections. The first rail inspections were done visually. Rail tracks have a tendency to develop various defects including cracks, loose packing etc., which may lead to accidents. Four people also required to safely lift the trolley off the rail tracks when a train approaches. The trolleymen take turns in pushing the trolley so that the speed is maintained and two people do not get tired. Then they jump into the trolley again, and the cycle continues.

When the trolley slows down, two trolleymen jump off the trolley, and push it till it picks up speed. It is a simple trolley, pushed by two or four people (called trolleymen), with hand brakes to stop the trolley. A typical design consists of an arm, called the walking beam, that pivots, seesaw-like, on a base, which the passengers alternately push down and pull up to move the car. It is mostly used as a railway maintenance of way or mining car, but it was also used for passenger service in some cases. Preserved railroad velocipede on exhibit at the Toronto Railway Historical AssociationĪ handcar (also known as a pump trolley, pump car, rail push trolley, push-trolley, jigger, Kalamazoo, velocipede, or draisine) is a railroad car powered by its passengers, or by people pushing the car from behind.