Trackside Caption: All Aboard!
– Posted on January 31, 2012
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It was a tough lesson but I learned to never bet someone that they; “Can’t make a car handle like its on rails.”
That tiny little topolino! It’s scary enough being tailgated by a Suburban in one, imagine what it feels like being tailgated by a locomotive!
I met a guy who had taken an Austin 1100 without tyres and driven it onto the local railway (way out in the country), they were having a great time until one spotted a train headlight! They were preparing to bail out when they came across a level crossing just in time and were able to drive off the tracks before the train caught them.
Italian austerity measures have put a damper on future high speed rail plans.
“Patience, my child. Someday soon you too will be a locomotive.”
“I’m going to push the button to ignite the rocket. Ready?”
Hey! Doncha know “Von Ryan’s Express” is my favorite movie?
“Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.”
I suppose the similar quote from BTTF3 is actually more appropriate:
“Remember, where you’re going, there are no roads.”
One unexpected side-effect was mentioned by Phillip after his initial test drive: “The steering wheel seems to have a mind of its own now. And I definitely need to install a larger horn as well.”
Train coming! What do you MEAN, pull over on the right and let it pass?
“One of Fiat’s lesser-known ventures was the manufacture of amusement park rides. They approached Disney with their Topolino-coaster idea but were rejected.”
Neat trivia: Topolino (Little Mouse) is what Mickey Mouse is called in Italian.
In a bizarre translation error, Italy’s two-years-later Traction-Avant became the Traction- Averse.
King Victor Emmanuel III soon lost patience with Beppe, his practical joker of a travel secretary.
Fabrizio decided he was going to finally do something about the bad roads and traffic jams on his commute. But he hadn’t considered the question of where to park it.
Wide-Tracking, Italian style.
I hadn’t noticed that.
Given that standard gauge is 4′ 8-1/2 inches (1435 mm) that’s a very, very narrow car there.
Trivia: The Jeep XJ Cherokee had a track that almost perfectly lined up. The contracting company that I started my railroad career with, had one with hi-rail equipment…hardly ever used; it was useless as a work vehicle; but it was able to keep its wheels and tires for the purpose.
Most rail-going trucks have to have wheels and tires with exaggerated inset, so the tires ride on the rails. Heavy trucks use heavy dollies to lift the front axle clear, and get traction on the rails from the inside dual tires.
I noticed the same thing when I had an XJ. I used to fantasize about having hi-rail on it, for bopping down dead or near-dead lines. I’ve got a fascination with doing that, somehow. There’s rigs to convert bikes to run on rails.
Wiki states the width of the Topolino as 1275 mm (50″). That’s a bit less than the track width, but in my eyes, not that much less.
Spain uses a wide 5’5 2/3″ gauge. I’m guessing this picture is from Spain, where Italian cars were common. It may be that the Topolino was even license built in Spain (SEAT?)
Trust me, you’re happier that you didn’t. A light truck with the heavy hi-rail gear on the extreme ends, doesn’t drive well. Most of the time, we used a Suburban, and driving that in town wasn’t much fun.
Not much fun on the rail line, either. The BNSF, like most major lines, clamp a 20 mph speed limit on high-railers. And the operator either has to be rules-qualifed to run on the line he’s on, or have a pilot. And a radio. And a track warrant.
And, frankly, nerves of steel. I had a couple of close calls, in yards where you’re operating on verbal authority. And, years later, when I was with Conrail out east…our Safety Wall always had a couple of photos of hi-rail trucks that didn’t clear up.
…Bikes on rails? Be interesting to see how they’d negotiate a switch. Wear your knee-pads…and a helmet…
I’ve wondered about that too, looking at the seldom-used-looking rails in the country between Corvallis and Newport.
NZ Railways uses Suzuki Jimny 4wds as their hi-rail vehicles. I don’t know if these are/were available in America? We still get them new, they’re sought-after by farmers due to their lightness and overall capability. Our railway guage is a rather narrow 1067mm (3 ft 6), and the Jimny’s narrowness proves perfect without modification (except for the hi-rail gear):
The 1:17 pm Economy Special from Rome to MIlan now boarding!
Bob paid dearly for purchasing the Fiat for his honeymoon, rather than taking the 20th Century Limited.
Postwar budget problems significantly reduced the opulence of the Prime Minister’s special railroad car.
“In Italy the trains run on time.”
I see why Wellingtons new train set was ordered from Korea not Italy.
Benito Mussolini’s attempt to evade his pursuers did not end well.
I’ve been lurkin’ on the railroad,
All the livelong day….
The last person to actually be ridden out of town on a rail.