A Pickup Truck On Rails!? | Bachmann High Rail Equipment Truck | Unboxing & Review

Thanks for watching!

0:00 Intro
3:20 Unboxing
6:39 Prototype Info
8:09 Detail
12:45 Mechanism
15:32 Performance
24:43 Ratings
27:55 Conclusion

[lindaoffenbach]

Lol, totally bonkers 🤣 They are a thing in the US in real though indeed. Would be a fun project to rig a flashing LED into the roof 😆

[JB-ekyx]

In Britain they're known as road-rail rather than hy-rail & they're quite common for infrastructure work. A Landrover Defender is regularly driven up the West Highland line to Fort William to inspect for rockfalls & if you go to the end of the platforms at Kings Cross you can see where they are driven onto the tracks before lowering the rail wheels

[sharkymcsharknose]

Hi-Rail trucks are very common on North American railroads. They've replaced light rail-only vehicles like pump cars and speeders (think Wickham trolleys or Austrian x625). As you mentioned in the video they're mainly used for light maintenance along the right-of-way, and also as inspection vehicles to look for defects like sun kinks and debris across the tracks.

[jimmyseaver]

Ah, hi-rails. One of the more unique sights on the North American rail network. Usually these things and their crews are tasked with track inspection or to make sure things are otherwise clear for the MOW teams.

[andrewpalm]

As usual, Sam, thanks so much for reviewing a North American prototype. As many have already mentioned, these vehicles are very common over here. Larger versions can even pull a couple of hoppers or flats carrying maintenance of way materials. Besides maintenance and routine track inspection they are also used to scout ahead of a train if there is a concern about washouts or obstructions on the right of way immediately after a large rain storm or earthquake. Cheers from Wisconsin!

[themac]

I’m proud of you Sam! At 4:27 I expected you to go into a flying rage upon seeing the 326-page full-color combined Bachmann & Williams Catalog 6.5” x 8.5” Digest Size, but instead you were calm and collected when reading about it! You have quelled your traumas I suppose.
Joking aside, great review Sam! Whenever I see these vehicle on rail sets, it gives me the vibe of one of those icons like “when pigs fly” or “when hell freezes over”. Sort of like: “Ha! That’ll happen when cars ride on train tracks!”

[JBofBrisbane]

I bought a couple of Bachmann Tracksters back in the eighties - a box truck and a smaller van. On both, the guide wheels were plastic, and electrical pickup and drive were only from the two wheels on the rear axle. This had implications for insulfrog turnouts - only solutions were to replace ALL YOUR TURNOUTS with electrofrog, or fit some sort of analogue "keep alive" to the unit.

[caydenworley]

Here in the U.S there are tons of Hi-rails around here. Typically they’re Ford F-250 or F-350 pickups used by Amtrak or sometimes used by Norfolk Southern. Also that lever you pointed out in the detail section is actually a hood strap used to secure the hood down since it’s a clam shell style hood. Lots of larger American trucks have these style of hood for ease of maintenance on the engine and replacement since they’re mainly made of either very thin sheet metal or more commonly made of fiberglass. Think like how a Jeep wrangler has its hood secured.

[careerprofessional]

Hi Hi Sam, great Youtube as usual. Watching it on the TV. I just want to mention that suppression capacitors to reduce electrical interference are very important. I am an amateur radio operator otherwise known as a radio ham and my hobby has become increasingly frustrating to pursue with all the electrical interference from unsuppressed devices. Back in the day, radio hams were accused of interfering with peoples' TVs. Now we have unsuppressed LED lighting, TVs, laptop chargers, and all the other things that rely on switch mode power supplies ruining the amateur radio hobby. 10 out of 10 to Backman for fitting suppression capacitors. Keep up the good work Sam.

[billmmckelvie]

Great little wagon and good runner, adds a lot of realism to a layout! Add a few Network Rail stickers and you have converted it for the British scene! It would be interesting to see if it could have shunted a flat bed wagon around. Final point, it would be great to see if the motor fitted in Oxford Rail/Diecast hi-rail Landy which as far as I am aware is not powered! Thanks for the vid!

[Arkay]

It's always nice driving along and seeing a hi-rail truck, sometimes I see some that belong to the local rail company. Also fun fact, there are armored police trucks with hi-rail equipment.

[trackxorailfan]

I’ve seen plenty of High Rails, especially when it’s hot out

[awatt]

A radio controlled model that can transition to track could be a fun and challenging 3d printing project.

[UrMomsChauffer]

Bachmann makes a ton of variations of these. They have an inspection van, a pickup truck, they also used to make a Jeep and a Box style straight truck. I know they made more, I can't remember all the types.

[CustomiZe_]

If your good with electronics, this could be a great project. Flashing amber beacon, electric moving crane, plenty of potential.

[keitheglon]

Network rail use them on engineering works, especially when repairing the overhead line wires. Thought you might have know that Sam.

[TheMicksterdee]

I frequently watch the Virtual Railfan webcam at Fort Madision, in the US state of Iowa. Hi-Rail vehicles are a common sight at Fort Madison.

[jonahhex]

These vehicles are quite popular in the U.S. used mostly by CSX. Looks loosely like a generic mid 80’s GMC. Also that black “lever” you pointed out at 9:07 is actually the hood latches that keep the truck’s hood secured.

[diecast_MikeEspo]

Awesome, never seen one, it’s cool .
It looks great running on the track
WOW .
Big like .

[gordonmcmillan]

Hy-Rail is the current brand name. If you are old enough you will remember Evans Auto-Railers which were the originals. Less obvious uses included transporting Nitroglycerine from the manufacturing facility to the shell plants in facilities like the Ravenna Ordnance Plant. I have a set of Hy-Rail 307 equipment in the garage.