This is possibly one of the coolest things I've seen on the internet.

I really really want to do this.

That would be an awesome way to spend a week. I bet the enterprising individual could build that cart under a grand, haul a cooler and some camping gear... 

So, I'd definitely add some suspension. But that seems f.'ing awesome. 

Teh E36 M3 said:

So, I'd definitely add some suspension. But that seems f.'ing awesome. 

Railroad tracks are pretty flat and solid. I'm not sure suspension would make it ride any different. 

Steve_Jones said:

Teh E36 M3 said:

So, I'd definitely add some suspension. But that seems f.'ing awesome. 

Railroad tracks are pretty flat and solid. I'm not sure suspension would make it ride any different. 

Maybe a spring mounted lawnmower seat just to give you some support.

There was an old movie I watched one time, maybe fifty's era, where the kid had a bicycle with an arm on the front wheel that spanned the tracks and a drop down arm on the rear wheel wheel to keep it on the track. Both arms kept you on the rail and you just pedaled where you wanted to go. When done the both folded up. Thought it was the coolest ever when I was a kid.

Remembered this a couple years ago and went down the hole looking at diy carts to travel the rails. There is a lot of cool stuff out there

Teh E36 M3 said:

So, I'd definitely add some suspension. But that seems f.'ing awesome. 

I'd add an airboat prop for more speed and far less comfort and safety.

I SAID, I'D ADD AN AIRBOAT PROP

That is spectacular! (Looks like Banning).

4'8-1/2" man

rail cart becomes a pretty deep rabbit hole

Pedal versions:

Motor versions:

Bicycle versions:

Didn't one of our members here used to do that?

In reply to Lobsterpennies :

Boy's Life had a story about travelling on bikes like that, including instructions.

I can't be the only one looking for abandoned tracks near me at the moment. This seems like a great way to have fun

You can try it out by pedaling in CT:

Good speed rail bike excursion

Paging 914driver...

The Wx clan and a family we are close to went to Laconia NH to ride the low rail cars like John showed.  It was a ton of fun and you got to see a unique view of riding the rails.  I'd highly recommend it. We all had such a blast. 

I knew a guy years ago that claimed to ride the rails in a Ford Pinto with the tires aired down.  The track width is close enough, it was probably rough on the tires though.

There are clubs for people who own speeders (the little gas powered railcars used for maintenance) and they organize tours on old tracks around the country.

Even though they may be abandoned, the tracks still belong to some railroad company so it's best to get permission (and also make absolutely sure they aren't still in use...you don't want to be in a real life enactment of a Looney Tunes cartoon.  ) 

For lightweight laziness...  Poles out to support a hammock with a shade fly overtop it...

I haven't been on this one (yet) but friends say it's really cool, not cheap if you do the jet boat bit as well but it's on my bucket list ...

https://www.forgottenworldadventures.co.nz/

But first I need to repeat this which is a lot of k's (and a boat ride) in the opposite direction

https://highlands.co.nz/action-experiences/radical-u-drive/

We used the pedal type carts with a Honda engine but kept pedals just in case.  We also had a box on the back with tools, ropes, camping gear and weapons (in case of bears).  You can buy them ready to rock or make one, but you CANNOT use metal wheels; it trips the switches.  Make wooden ones?  Poly wheels will run you about $900.  The track we ran was bought by an enterprising person who runs the "Santa Train".

A club called North American Rail Car Operators Association runs bigger stuff.  

Enthusiastic, informed people, but show up with a pedal cart is like rolling a 914 into the Hollywood Porsche Club show.  More expensive & more maintenance than pedals.  Really hard to turn around on the track if something goes bad.

My family with young kids rode on one of those maintenance cars, it was like a single cylinder diesel powered picnic table.   The train we came to ride was broken so after loitering around the yard checking out trains and taking pictures we were offered a ride.   This fella opens a small shed, rolls out his speeder, with two poles hoists it onto the tracks.   We all climbed onto the planks and held on, It was great fun until we went over a bridge.  A bit scary rolling over a train bridge while sitting on the edge of a picnic table.  

Those unused rail tours sound fun to me.

If you find yourself in the neighborhood. =~ )

They also have four in Las Vegas, one each in Rhode Island, the Catskills and Cooperstown, NY.

Looks like there is one in Western Maryland too! Will have to check it out in the spring!

They still ran a version of this 20 years ago. That grade is STEEP.