• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum

Just another WordPress site

  • Visit
    • Exhibits
    • Visit SLO
    • Model Railroad
    • Hours, Location & Directions
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Central Coast Railroad Festival
    • SLO Train Day
    • Excursions
  • Education
    • Railroad Resources
    • Modeling Clinics
    • Danny the Diesel
    • Railroading Merit Badge
    • Class & Group Visits
    • Collection
  • Get Involved
    • Membership
    • Volunteer
  • Museum Store
  • About
    • Our Story
    • Blog
    • Coast Mail Newsletter
    • Organization Documents
  • Donate
  • Member Login

 

Velocipede Hand-Car

Purpose: To provide transportation for railroad workers to and from work sites between the 1880’s and the 1950’s. These were ideal for individual workers such as Road Masters, Bridge Inspectors, Telegraph Line Repairers, Signal Maintainers, and Track Inspectors, or any worker who needed to go over the line at will.

Last Owner: Southern Pacific Railroad in San Luis Obispo

Builder: Sheffield Car Company of Three Rivers, Michigan

Built: Estimated to have been constructed circa 1890’s.

History: In 1877, George Sheffield invented the Sheffield Velocipede handcar, a 140 lb. wood and iron rail bicycle with a third wheel for balance. It is manually powered by both hand and foot levers. He soon formed the Sheffield Velocipede Car Company and produced about 4,000 cars.

Compared to the typical railroad section hand car, velocipedes survived in greater numbers for a much longer period of time due to their simplistic, lightweight design. A single worker could quickly place the car onto the track and ride to the end of a siding to align a switch for an approaching train. Modernization efforts in the 1970’s led to the closing of most stations, leading to the demise of the velocipede.

Footer

The San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum is a California corporation with a section 501(c)(3) status as a not-for-profit organization.

Plan Your Visit

Open Saturday Only
10AM to 2PM

1940 Santa Barbara Ave
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805-548-1894

Contact Us >
View More Info >

Stay in Touch

If we have your email, we’ll send notices of events and newly added resources. We never share your contact information with others.

Copyright © 2014-2023 San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum. All rights reserved
  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy
Digital Agility Media Logo Site By  Digital Agility Media