number 22
152 of these railcars were built by McKeen Company of Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A between 1904 and 1930. Powered by a six cylinder petrol engine ( 200 hp.) they were cheaper and more powerful than battery-powered vehicles, more flexible than steam locomotives and could operate at competitive speeds.
A distinctive feature of the railcar was a knife shaped or "windsplitter" nose, a rounded rear end, entry doors in the centre and round porthole windows along both sides. It slightly resembled a submarine on wheels. Two lengths, 55 and 70 feet (17 and 21 m), were offered, and both could be configured with either a large or small mail sorting area ahead of the center doors, or fully fitted with seats, which provided a maximum passenger capacity of 64 or 105 respectively.
The McKeen was popular between 1915 and the 1930s throughout the United States, the cars were featured on the Union Pacific and the Southern Pacific, also exported to Australia and operated by Victorian Railways
The Nevada State Railroad Museum has completed restoration of McKeen railcar number 22 from the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. The original engine and transmission did not survive, they had always proved very unreliable, replaced with a modern engine and drive system which allows the railcar to transport museum visitors on its 14 mile track. ( carsonrailroadmuseum.org )
( thanks to Steve, Jeff Wharton and Lesley Doubleday for re enactor photo and carsonrailroadmuseum.org for rail motor photo )
number 22
152 of these railcars were built by McKeen Company of Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A between 1904 and 1930. Powered by a six cylinder petrol engine ( 200 hp.) they were cheaper and more powerful than battery-powered vehicles, more flexible than steam locomotives and could operate at competitive speeds.
A distinctive feature of the railcar was a knife shaped or "windsplitter" nose, a rounded rear end, entry doors in the centre and round porthole windows along both sides. It slightly resembled a submarine on wheels. Two lengths, 55 and 70 feet (17 and 21 m), were offered, and both could be configured with either a large or small mail sorting area ahead of the center doors, or fully fitted with seats, which provided a maximum passenger capacity of 64 or 105 respectively.
The McKeen was popular between 1915 and the 1930s throughout the United States, the cars were featured on the Union Pacific and the Southern Pacific, also exported to Australia and operated by Victorian Railways
The Nevada State Railroad Museum has completed restoration of McKeen railcar number 22 from the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. The original engine and transmission did not survive, they had always proved very unreliable, replaced with a modern engine and drive system which allows the railcar to transport museum visitors on its 14 mile track. ( carsonrailroadmuseum.org )
( thanks to Steve, Jeff Wharton and Lesley Doubleday for re enactor photo and carsonrailroadmuseum.org for rail motor photo )