“Speeder” by Monkey Run Creek railroad crossing between Owego Apalachin Middle School and Bus Transportation Garage.
What is that ‘Thing’ on the Owego Hartford Railroad tracks? That’s a Railroad Motorcar, sometimes called a “Speeder.” Smaller models were used routinely to inspect the many miles of track for defects. Use of motorcars has been phased out over the past couple decades in favor of Hy-Rail vehicles that can operate on road or rail.
Monday’s Central Tioga County excursion covered 26.7 miles on the Owego Hartford Railway from Owego to Hartford Mills. These scenic areas of Flemingville, Newark Valley, Berkshire, and Richford are impossible to see from the highway and thus provided an experience not available by other means of transportation.
Inside the “Speeder” motorcar.
Visit www.narcoa.org for excerpts about the Motorcar Hobby from NARCOA. With permission of the railroads, members of North American Rail Car Operators Association (NARCOA) operate their motorcars on excursions from one day to over a week in all parts of the U.S. and Canada.
Motorcar operators are licensed. They operate on days there are no trains. At highway crossings motorcars yield the right of way to automotive traffic.
NARCOA members pride themselves in maintaining an extremely high level of safety. Most cars have a top sped of about 35 m.p.h. Most two-person motorcars have a 20 horsepower Onan 4 cycle engine.
Outside the “Speeder” motorcar.
The motorcar fraternity is a very mixed and friendly group from all walks of life and most have good mechanical skills.
Riding in a motorcar provided a perspective on rail travel that most people never experience. Travel is relatively slow, generally, less than 20 miles per hour.
I have an engine from a motorcar. Would like to see a complete car/talk to someone.thanks. bob
I have a summer place in Newark Valley and happened to be up there and crossing the tracks at Blodgett Road when these zoomed by. I was so excited to find out what it was and immediately thought they were doing something new with excursions on the rail line. It has taken me 2 years to stumble upon this and find out that I happened to witness the 2 minutes that these might pass by once a year! So glad I witnessed it but so sad it is not a more regular thing. I miss the old historic line that ran out of Owego and hearing the horn blaring through the valley.
I have a summer place in Newark Valley and happened to be up there and crossing the tracks at Blodgett Road when these zoomed by. I was so excited to find out what it was and immediately thought they were doing something new with excursions on the rail line. It has taken me 2 years to stumble upon this and find out that I happened to witness the 2 minutes that these might pass by once a year! So glad I witnessed it but so sad it is not a more regular thing. I miss the old historic line that ran out of Owego and hearing the horn sounding through the valley.