How to build a Railway Hand car

I Teach you Step By Step on How to Build a Railway Handcar.

A handcar is a railroad car powered by its passengers, or by people pushing the car from behind. It is mostly used as a maintenance of way or mining car, but it was also used for passenger service in some cases. A typical design consists of an arm that pivots, seesaw-like, on a base, which the passengers alternately push down and pull up to move the car.

Handcars are nowadays used by handcar enthusiasts to organize races between handcars driven by five people team. (one to push the car from a halt, four to pump the lever).

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• frame,2 side rail angle, 2 drive support rail, plow brackets, steel rods, bearings, screws, sheet metal, plywood, 2x4 boards, pre-built rail car frame
• • 2 side rail angle iron 2 drive support rail (L/R) angle iron 2 idler bearing rail angle iron 2 motor mount rail angle iron 4 plow bracket (L/R) angle iron 4 plow brace thin-wall

1. 
    
   Wood Freight Car

   First start out with an already built wood freight car.
   you can choose to purchase one, or build one yourself out of wood.

2. 
    
   Chassis

   Start out with an un-sprung and un-equalized chassis.
   Make a modification to add springs allow one truck to swing. This will keep all 4 wheels on the rails. But it would cause a lot of frustration if not done properly.

3. 
    
   Equalizer Beam

   Install one equalizer beam
   * The motor used on it can be a 2.5 horsepower 120 volt DC treadmill motor.
   The controller is a DC to DC converter that operates on 24 volts. It produces 0 to 120 volts DC in 3 transitions

4. 
    
   Design

   Make sure that you have followed all the directions of Engineering plan to get the proper workability.

Tips & Warnings

• Focus on looking at the pictures it provides a more clearer understanding than the explanation itself
• Remember, you will be working with 1 to 2 horsepower on chain and sprocket drives. There will be around 1 kilowatt of electrical power. Use all appropriate safety measures when working with mechanical and electrical systems. Also observe all safety precautions when using tools during construction.
• keep your hands on the plumper arm at all times & NEVER LET GO!
• Place your feet away from the motion of the rocker arm, but not to fall off the platform!

Resources

• Design