We can’t get enough of railroad history and items here on Barn Finds. Most of us are super interested in these things and yet the tips don’t come in too often. I found this one a couple of days ago. This 1974 Fairmont M19-H Railroad Inspection Car is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Taylors Falls, Minnesota, and the seller is asking $8,000. Here is the original listing in case I buy it. I mean, in case someone buys it.
Who hasn’t dreamed about riding a deserted rail line with a powered rail car like this? 1, 2, 4, 14, 27. Ok, 27 people out of millions of Barn Finds readers, that’s about what I thought. We’ve seen a few speeder-type cars here over the years, most of them shown by yours truly. I can not get enough of railroad anything, basically: history, vehicles, books, movies, TV shows, etc. Having grown up in Duluth, MN, a big rail town with its shipping and iron ore history, it’s natural to like trains. Not to mention that Fairmont, Minnesota was the home of Fairmont Railway Motors, where a lot of these little maintenance or inspection cars were built.
And, Minnesota is only a border crossing away from Ontario, Canada, where this M19-H four-man (person) inspection car was used. Actually, Michigan would be the border crossing, since this inspection car was made for the Algoma Central Railway in Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario, Canada in 1974. Fairmont Railway Motors actually had a Canadian facility, so this l’il rig was built in Canada for use in Canada. All of the spec info says this would have been a 1 to 4-man railroad inspection car, but it appears to be more of a two-seater now. Although it predates this car by 30 years, here is one of the coolest brochures you’ll see this week.
With a hard top and side curtains, not to mention no heater, it would have been brutal using this in the winter months, but at least the side curtains might keep out some of the snow and cold wind as you’re speeding down the line to inspect the tracks to ensure safe rail travel. Fairmont catagorized its speeder cars as: Light Inspection, Inspection (which this is), Light Section, Section, Heavy-Duty Section, Gang, Extra Gang or B&B, or Large Extra Gang or Hump. Being an M19, this is an Inspection car, and the H designates the series number.
This car is NARCOA (North American Rail Car Operators Association) compliant and is ready to rock and/or roll. There are rail clubs where you can haul your speeder to a set of private or abandoned tracks and ride the rails without having to worry about a train bearing down on you or incurring massive fines for riding on private rails. This car has a 36″ wheelbase, is 85″ long, has 16″ wheels, and being made mostly of aluminum, weighs around 620 pounds. If you have three friends with very strong backs, you can lift it onto the tracks with the wood “handles” sticking out on the front and rear. I would not be lifting 160 pounds, sadly. That’s how I messed up my back 35 years ago.
There are no specific engine photos, but here’s a photo of what is listed on spreadsheets as an “RO-C.” Which, then in looking at other charts, spreadsheets, and period info, means a 9-hp belt-drive single-cylinder engine with three roller bearings, and this one has been converted to a 12V system. It’s said to run, drive, and stop as it should, and is fully inspected and ready to go. The trailer is included, of course. Are you one of the railroad fans here on Barn Finds, or do you like to stick to dusty muscle cars only?
Sorry to hear about your back Scotty. That brochure kicked tail! This would be a gas if you had some tracks to use. There is a guy about 10 miles from me with a couple of these and some track. It is pretty cool to drive by his farm as he has a Ferris wheel and other carnival rides also. I had to look about 10 times the first time I drove by seeing that small carnival in the middle of nowhere! He also has a older yellow Suburban with the rail wheels on it. Cool to see it parked at the saloon in the Village now and then. Take care, great article.
You can only run these on approved track age with permission of the owner. Running on ‘abandoned’ track is a felony and falls under Homeland Security as an act of terrorism. No kidding, it is that serious. They will cause you serious problems.
But go with NARCOA, an national group that organizes legal speeder meets with insurance and good social interaction.
The handles on these cars slide out the front or back. The axles are split so each wheel spins independently. One person can go to a grade crossing, extend the handles and pick up that end like a wheelbarrow and turn it around or get off the track.
Engine has a cloth belt drive with an idler tension pile for a clutch. To go in reverse, stop the motorcar, shut off the engine, flip the timer handle over and then hand crank the engine in REVERSE rotation. No, seriously. These hit and miss engines run in either direction. Crazy, huh?
I have a 1972 M19 from BC Rail and have put hundreds of miles on it with official trips. They are a blast to ride.
This is awesome!! I love it when you post any kind of railroad equipment Scotty. It always amazes me the variety of vehicles that cross these pages. I’d love to take a ride in something like this one day.
📢 All Aboard
I hear that train a comin’, it’s coming ’round the bend,,oh, Johnny, what happened? By the way, folks, I’ve learned the secret to Scottys madness, look under the “other” classification. I’m still looking for that motorized manure spreader. This invention revolutionized the rail maintenance, previously those hand cart jobs. I’m surprised no radio of any kind, I wonder if the handle were for the workers to take it off the tracks? I mean, in the middle of nowhere with no sidings, “Phil, did you hear something?” Usually 2 person, this was a great job, and I’m not sure what it could be used for today, highly outdated, I’m sure modern ones have a tennis court, but at the time, this was as good as it got. There are many rail museums and rides that could really use this.
Re: Bad back. As a truck driver, I wish I had a nickel everytime I heard of a “bad back”. I wear a back brace for any activity besides going to the bathroom myself. We were designed with bad backs. The old man had a bad back I inherited. I’ve known so many people with back issues, go through a rift of treatment, and NOTHING WORKS! Something everyone puts up with.
have few fairmont motors,they reverse like a golf cart,when the canadian.n.railroad gave up on these most went south,lots to texas,bought the spare parts,they went to texas
Another group that goes on rail excursions is WCRG.An excursion every couple of months. A very active group.
All these rail-riders with homemade contraptions, probably don’t know it’s a felony to ride abandoned rails! I didn’t either.
I think the feds may have more important things on their minds, now. But, we used to ride our ATV’s down the side of some abandoned tracks, and it usually were the homeowners who tattled to the local cops. Good times!
I always wondered if you took the tires off a motorcycle, if the rail would fit in the rim, and “ride the rails”. I suppose stopping might be an issue, and maybe those crabby homeowners liked the trains better,,,
A Large Extra Gang Hump inspection car ? I bet im not the first childish adult to ask that question . Job title is a gang hump inspector ?
My father worked part time for the Illinois Central as a switch man. Working “the hump’ was dangerous job and you really had to pay attention because your lifesaver in danger if you didn’t.