An alternate means of transport for a SHTF scenario.

alternate means of transport for a SHTF scenario.

Railroad bikes, are a little known fascination with a niche group of adventures. A common rail road bike looks fairly normal but it has a few additions that allow it to ride on the rail ways. The additions include a guide wheel that goes on the bike just in front of the front tire and one that goes on just behind the rear tire. Most of the designs that I have seen look to be adjustable so that you can level the bike properly and adjust for different possible gauge sizes of the rail line. Adjusting to gage of rail seems to unlikely though due to the fact that almost all rail lines run standard gage, and only of few places such as mines or other private rails use other than standard. The third addition attaches to either side of the bike similar to a tripod to stabilize the bike on the second rail.
Benefits of using a rail bike for transport during a SHTF scenario:

1) No fuel needed

2) Does not use common roads, therefor avoiding manned road blocks, blocked roads.

3) Allows for a safe distance from town centers but close enough to allow for exploration.
I.e. most rail lines are on the borders of major town areas or in lower population areas.

4) repairs would be simple and easily found, also not under heavy demand like auto parts. 5)Increased speed of travel compared to rough, blocked road ways.


Cons of using a rail bike for transportation during SHTF scenario:

1) Physical fitness required for bike is greater than that of driving.

2) If bike breaks requires knowledge of basic mechanics.

3) Blocked rail lines may require portage.

Here are some photos for you to consider:









I thought this might interest the folks here at ATS, I found it interesting and honestly a justifiable means of transportation if all hell breaks loose.

What do you all think? Any modifications to the basic design? I know I would like to see a trailer addition so carrying of more supplies is possible…

Oh, BIG Star and Flag there OP. I'm adding this and what I can find for specifics to make them (measurements and materials suggested) to my PDF collection. It wins the blue ribbon for sheer "cool" factor before even getting into the pure utility of it! Abandoned rail lines would be beautiful places to run miles off on a bike like that! Without it, running the track bed would have to be the most physically abusive type of biking I can imagine ..but with a way to force it to remain on a rail? Oh...how much easier can it ever get (with dry conditions anyway)??

Thanks for this share! I've never heard of such a thing but now? I'll never lose the material for how to put one together, either! For obvious reasons, even high mountain crossings are on limited and very carefully surveyed grade %'s ...if it's by rail! I can think of no better emergency means and avoiding the streets of population as well!

reply to post by RobertF


In my neck of the woods the answer for us was pack mules and a burro or two. We no longer have an intact rail network so any attempt at rail or road travel will be, and is in some areas an impossibility.

My personal plan would be to stay as far away from any well established travel route as I possibly could, but then again I happen to be pretty far off the beaten path. The folks still in the major cities would need a quick way out.

That being said, I might consider using a standard electric bike motor that self charges when the tires are spinning so you wouldn't have to rely on the availability of an electrical outlet. This would also increase your towing capacity.

Penny

Awesome means


I picture alot of tailgating for in order to pass each person (going slower, ie) they would have to volunteerily have to derail

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


Thank you for your response Wrabbit.

The next thing I was going to look into was maps of rail lines, both new and old. Even abandoned rail lines would most likely still be usable for this purpose, as the bikes don't need as strict tolerances as a train would. Often rail lines may be abandoned but they will leave most of the track in place as it would be too costly to remove.

reply to post by tropic


I can't help but share what just came to mind to solve that little problem. A little squirt bottle of vegetable oil or olive oil would do the trick I think..... Reach behind and squirt squirt behind your own back tire? I'm thinking that would have someone spinning their wheels for a bit, eh? All kinds of interesting aspects to a shiny, smooth metal rail as a biking surface.

Originally posted by tropic
Awesome means


I picture alot of tailgating for in order to pass each person (going slower, ie) they would have to volunteerily have to derail

LOL, I didn't consider congestion in my ideal scenario, but it could be an issue. Good point though.

We would need to learn proper rail line etiquette.

Does it remind anyone of training wheels?

Originally posted by pennylemon
reply to post by RobertF

 

In my neck of the woods the answer for us was pack mules and a burro or two. We no longer have an intact rail network so any attempt at rail or road travel will be, and is in some areas an impossibility.

My personal plan would be to stay as far away from any well established travel route as I possibly could, but then again I happen to be pretty far off the beaten path. The folks still in the major cities would need a quick way out.

That being said, I might consider using a standard electric bike motor that self charges when the tires are spinning so you wouldn't have to rely on the availability of an electrical outlet. This would also increase your towing capacity.

Penny

edit on 26-4-2013 by pennylemon because: (no reason given)

The idea of a generator for power, and an electric powered motor to drive the bike is perfect. I love it! It wouldn't be difficult to supplement that with solar panels either to increase speed/distance, thank you for the idea.

You could disengage the motor on downhill sections to charge the battery for the up hill sections. You would need to peddle a little but the need for peddling would be significantly reduced. I don't know by how much but I am sure the more tech minded here on ATS could answer that.

Wow ATS is a great place for ideas.

A little 250cc trail bike could have the same mods. You also do not need such a large bike. One of the fold up ones would work just as well. You do need a rear vision mirror just in case a train comes along.

Better hope the light at the end of the tunnel is not a freight train!



P

ETA maybe a moped, use the engine uphill and coast down hill. Pedal on the straight.

Originally posted by pheonix358
A little 250cc trail bike could have the same mods. You also do not need such a large bike. One of the fold up ones would work just as well. You do need a rear vision mirror just in case a train comes along.

Better hope the light at the end of the tunnel is not a freight train!

P

I really considered a gas powered version of this, but shyed away form it based on the idea that parts and gas may be hard to find.

I focused on this (the man powered version) mainly because it was "man powered", and the repair parts are readily available.

reply to post by RobertF


Mo-ped then. When fuel is completely unavailable you can throw the motor away. A fueled bike allows you to get away from Dodge very quickly. Perhaps a motor bike to start with and carry a fold up bike with you. There are some very small fold up bikes. They won't do terrain at all well, but then, you will be sitting on a nice smooth rail so it won't be an issue.

P

reply to post by RobertF


In the case of a self charging motor like this you would need the trailer to act as a second bike charging a single battery array because a single bike does not generate enough power compared to the output to charge completely so without it you would need to "plug in" at some point. In this case the addition of solar cells would boost your charge. If I recall its something like 200 miles downhill equals 20 miles of available electric push power.

I could also see adding a small diesel motor and power that with vegetable oil for alternative power for long uphill sections of track.

Penny

Originally posted by pennylemon
reply to post by RobertF

 

In the case of a self charging motor like this you would need the trailer to act as a second bike charging a single battery array because a single bike does not generate enough power compared to the output to charge completely so without it you would need to "plug in" at some point. In this case the addition of solar cells would boost your charge. If I recall its something like 200 miles downhill equals 20 miles of available electric push power.

I could also see adding a small diesel motor and power that with vegetable oil for alternative power for long uphill sections of track.

Penny

edit on 26-4-2013 by pennylemon because: Late night grammar fiasco

Awesome information Penny, I am copying this to a text file by the way, for reference.

The Biodiesel is a great idea but I am personally trying to stay away from the combustion engine concept, for reasons of lack repair parts and my own knowledge deficiencies.

reply to post by RobertF


It seems like a good idea, but actually you would be limiting yourself to using just the rails.

I think a much better plan would be to obtain a well built mountain bike.
maybe even go so far as putting non-flatting tires on it.

Then you could ride the bike between the rails if you had to,
but lots of railroads have access roads for automotive vehicles
running right along side the tracks ,(just like in your bottom picture).
So just use the mountain bike on the access road instead of
trying to run on the tracks.

reply to post by RobertF

The Biodiesel is a great idea but I am personally trying to stay away from the combustion engine concept, for reasons of lack repair parts and my own knowledge deficiencies.

I'd tend to agree with avoiding engines and for much the same reason with a BIG one added in. First though, I'm as bad as you on mechanical talent. I'm the kind of guy who was the master of my bicycle and rode it for trips 10-15 miles or more each way (across orange county, Ca and out to the beach and back often enough via the Santa Ana River trail among others) as a teen ...but combustion engines? Well, I know how to call a mechanic! I'm not quite that bad, but close enough for this.

Secondary and perhaps far more critical to my thinking? We're assuming a SHTF situation right? So contact with other people may be good only by choice and when it's to your benefit. I.E. Making noise that can be heard from blocks away may be a real bad thing ..right? Where peddle power is basically silent or carries only a few yards from the tracks.

I'm thinking there are many rail lines that run apart from a town or city ...but still right through it or close enough to make noise a real issue when this would be most needed?

reply to post by RobertF


Never considered this idea before ..love it.

S&F for sure. Now you've got me thinking of looking for unused lines, making one of these and going on an adventure. Lol

reply to post by Wrabbit2000



Very valid argument.

Noise would alert "bandits" to your location. A silent entry would allow you to scout the area and then decide if further exploration was needed or even necessary.

Originally posted by amazing
reply to post by RobertF

 

Never considered this idea before ..love it.

S&F for sure. Now you've got me thinking of looking for unused lines, making one of these and going on an adventure. Lol

I know right..

I was thinking about alternate transportation for a SHTF situation, but in reality this could be a viable means of exploring your local rail lines at little cost. You could also use this as a means of transport for local camping, as long as you consider the rail schedule.

Safety is a major concern here though, be sure you can remove yourself and/or bike from the line before a train comes through.

reply to post by RobertF


Good way to get arrested very quickly.

They are not your rails!

P