Is it possible to drive a truck on train tracks.?

Question

One time I had saw a pickup truck driving on the rails, with train wheels! How is this possible? Can I do this also with a pickup truck?

Answer 1

You can't unless you install that special adapter.  Those are maintenance crews with (probably very expensive) special equipment on the truck.

Answer 2

Well, just some guy can't. But for around $3,000 you can get a thing, that has wheels and a hydraulic lift, you pull up to speacail enterance ways, or a road crossing, and you push a buttton. It lifts the truck enough, just so the rubber of the real tires are touching the rail, thats where the power comes from. I heard the front is higher (front road tires are lifted a few inches higher then back) so the turning is easier and safer.

    I park next to one of these everday I go to work. I was told for Union Pacific, the Hi-rail trucks have a speed limit of 25 mph, but mostly has to stay around 15-20.

From my own exsperiance, the guys driving these trucks think they have the right away of trains, but they don't.. or I just liet them through, when crossing a street..

  if you would like to go on tracks with just a truck, no hi-rail, it will work. Just keep two wheels inside track and other two outside. and to get off, you need 4 wheel drive. (I'v tried it, anf with two wheel, I had less cances of geting out that same day, so with 4x4 I got out fine.

Answer 3

Many railroad-owned vehicles are equipped to do this.

For YOU to do it, you will need permission to get on the tracks as well as having your truck modified to add the track-compatible wheels and controls. Normally if you're not in a train, you should not be ON the tracks.

Answer 4

Yes called a high rail or hi-rail vehicle.

They are adapted in many forms for maintenance of way work.

Answer 5

Special train track inspection truck.  It has a set of train wheels on hydralics which lower to ride on.