Unknown pump car

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History

Railroad hand cars first appeared on our country’s railroads in the 1860s. They were built to get men and materials to work sites. Initially they were built by the individual railroads in their own shops. Starting in the early 1880s, manufacturers such as Sheffield (later Fairmont, Morse & Co.), Buda and Kalamazoo began building the cars for the railroads. Hand cars were initially propelled by a hand crank mechanism that was spun to propel the car. The crank system proved to be very dangerous and there were many injuries and fatalities.

Technical Information

Brakes: foot pedal
Engine: hand pump

Weight and Dimensions

Length: 6’ 0.00"
Width: 4’ 1.00"

Additional Images

Kenyon F. Karl on 07/06/19