McKeen railmotor
Encyclopedia
The McKeen Railmotor was a 6 cylinder petrol engine with a passenger capacity of 73. When McKeen Company
of Omaha
, Nebraska
, U.S.A.
first unveiled the car in 1915, the McKeen was among the first engines with a gasoline
-powered motor. Revisions to the McKeen car led to the modern self-propelled gasoline
rail-motor vehicle, and the "contours of the porthole windows, the front-mounted gasoline engines, and other features anticipated the streamline
concept."
in 1904 when Edward H. Harriman, the head of UP, began encouraging him to develop the machine. The results of his experiments that year was a "knife-nosed" or "windsplitter" unit with a distinctive pointed nose, rounded end, center-entry doors and porthole windows that slightly resembled a submarine
on wheels. Two lengths, 55 and 70 feet, were offered; either could be fitted out with a large mail and express area ahead of the center doors, a smaller mail/express area, or the car could be all seats for a maximum capacity of 64 or 105 respectively. Cheaper and more powerful than battery
-powered vehicles, the McKeen was more flexible than steam locomotives and could operate at competitive speeds.
The McKeen was popular from 1915 through the 1930s throughout the United States
, and the cars were featured on the Union Pacific and the Southern Pacific
.
Two McKeen railmotors were purchased and delivered to the Victorian Railways
in Victoria, Australia in 1911. They served throughout their life as a railmotor they ran the Ballarat to Maryborough
and Hamilton
to Warrnambool services. The railmotors had a poor record with many breakdowns, they only lasted around 3 years as railmotors. In 1919 they were de-engined and converted to passenger cars numbered as ABCL 1 & 2 for use on the Altona line until they were scrapped in August 1926.
In June, 1911, Queensland Railways ordered five self-propelled rail cars from the McKeen Motor Co of Omaha, Nebraska, USA, at a cost of £4500 per unit. They were delivered in May, 1913. Originally seating capacity was 75; this was later reduced to 69, 55 in the main section and 14 in the "smoker". Although popular on the United States Union Pacific and Southern Railroads, the McKeen Cars failed to meet QR's expectations. All five units were written off between 1929 and 1931 and broken up soon after at the Ipswich
workshops.
completed the of restoration McKeen car, #22 of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad
, a 70 foot car by 05/09/2010. The original powerplant did not survive, but it is planned to replace it with a modern engine and drive system to allow the car to transport visitors to the museum around its short track.
McKeen Motor Car Company
The McKeen Motor Car Company of Omaha, Nebraska was a builder of internal combustion-engined railroad motor cars , constructing 152 between 1905–1917....
of Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, U.S.A.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
first unveiled the car in 1915, the McKeen was among the first engines with a gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
-powered motor. Revisions to the McKeen car led to the modern self-propelled gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
rail-motor vehicle, and the "contours of the porthole windows, the front-mounted gasoline engines, and other features anticipated the streamline
Streamliner
A streamliner is a vehicle incorporating streamlining in a shape providing reduced air resistance. The term is applied to high-speed railway trainsets of the 1930s to 1950s, and to their successor "bullet trains". Less commonly, the term is applied to fully faired recumbent bicycles...
concept."
Background
William R. McKeen was the superintendent of motive power and machinery at Union Pacific RailroadUnion Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
in 1904 when Edward H. Harriman, the head of UP, began encouraging him to develop the machine. The results of his experiments that year was a "knife-nosed" or "windsplitter" unit with a distinctive pointed nose, rounded end, center-entry doors and porthole windows that slightly resembled a submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
on wheels. Two lengths, 55 and 70 feet, were offered; either could be fitted out with a large mail and express area ahead of the center doors, a smaller mail/express area, or the car could be all seats for a maximum capacity of 64 or 105 respectively. Cheaper and more powerful than battery
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
-powered vehicles, the McKeen was more flexible than steam locomotives and could operate at competitive speeds.
Usage
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and the cars were featured on the Union Pacific and the Southern Pacific
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
.
Two McKeen railmotors were purchased and delivered to the Victorian Railways
Victorian Railways
The Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
in Victoria, Australia in 1911. They served throughout their life as a railmotor they ran the Ballarat to Maryborough
Maryborough
Maryborough may refer to:* Maryborough, Queensland, a town in Australia** Electoral district of Maryborough, Queensland* Maryborough, Victoria, another town in Australia* The pre-1922 name of Port Laoise in the Republic of Ireland...
and Hamilton
Hamilton, Victoria
Hamilton is a city in western Victoria, Australia. It is located at the intersection of the Glenelg Highway and the Henty Highway...
to Warrnambool services. The railmotors had a poor record with many breakdowns, they only lasted around 3 years as railmotors. In 1919 they were de-engined and converted to passenger cars numbered as ABCL 1 & 2 for use on the Altona line until they were scrapped in August 1926.
In June, 1911, Queensland Railways ordered five self-propelled rail cars from the McKeen Motor Co of Omaha, Nebraska, USA, at a cost of £4500 per unit. They were delivered in May, 1913. Originally seating capacity was 75; this was later reduced to 69, 55 in the main section and 14 in the "smoker". Although popular on the United States Union Pacific and Southern Railroads, the McKeen Cars failed to meet QR's expectations. All five units were written off between 1929 and 1931 and broken up soon after at the Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
workshops.
Legacy
The Nevada State Railroad MuseumNevada State Railroad Museum
Nevada Southern Railway is a railroad museum in Boulder City, Nevada operated by the Nevada State Railroad Museum which is an agency of the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs....
completed the of restoration McKeen car, #22 of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad
Virginia and Truckee Railroad
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad was built to serve the Comstock Lode mining communities of northwestern Nevada. At its height, the railroad's route ran from Reno south to Carson City, Nevada. In Carson City, the...
, a 70 foot car by 05/09/2010. The original powerplant did not survive, but it is planned to replace it with a modern engine and drive system to allow the car to transport visitors to the museum around its short track.
See also
- Victorian RailwaysVictorian RailwaysThe Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
- Railroads in OmahaRailroads in OmahaRailroads in Omaha, Nebraska have been integral to the growth and development of the city, the state of Nebraska, the Western United States and the entire United States...
- Lakeside and Marblehead RailroadLakeside and Marblehead RailroadIncorporated on April 17, 1886, at Marblehead, Ohio, the Lakeside and Marblehead Railroad was a short standard gauge railroad that spanned about seven miles in length...
External links
- McKeen Rail Motor Cars Operating Manual from Victorian Railways
- Historic photo
