Hey, Gandalf? Let me ask you something: what is it that's not exactly water and it ain't exactly earth?

QUICKSAND!!!

Oh wow. I've always wanted to do something like this on old disused railroad tracks. Ever since I was a kid and saw old spur lines leading someplace god know where I've wanted to be able to do this. There was a caboose parked on an abandoned spur near me, I wanted to live in it when I was 11. I wanted to use the old hand-pump work carts you saw in old movies to go down the tracks, now that I'm lots older a golf cart looks like a much better idea! Count me in when I can do this someplace closer than New Zealand!

Damn I know where I am taking the old Lady for our anniversary now, thanks subby )

ArkAngel: Hey, Gandalf? Let me ask you something: what is it that's not exactly water and it ain't exactly earth?

QUICKSAND!!!

"that was lucky, almost lost a $400 handcart"

Viaduct?

/vhy not a chicken?

Good Lord! How fast are we going now?!?!

In America they're called speeders. The National organization is called NARCOA. They arrange insurance and places to ride. Riding in one is cool as fark.

/Brother owns a Fairmont.

I don't always drive, but when I do I put pedal to the medal.

Why not not-walk into Mordor when you can not not-ride a golf cart?

That's friggin cool. I've ridden the Forgotten Highway (on a GSXR 1000 :D ) and I tell you, that's some remote bushland. I'd mention Whangamomona too, but I can't spell it. Fun to say tho.

90 miles at 12 miles an hour pushing the pedal the whole way? It sounds like it would get incredibly boring after a few hours. Not to mention painful for the ankle and annoying when you come up on the asshole in front of you who wants to stop every 100 feet to look around (I'm assuming the gold carts actually ride the rail and you can't go around someone).

if you stop then those behind you have to wait until you go again = MAXIMUM TROLLING OPPURTUNITY.

ArkAngel: Hey, Gandalf? Let me ask you something: what is it that's not exactly water and it ain't exactly earth?

QUICKSAND!!!

Petal to the Mettle.

Will they serve potatoes?

The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves: Will they serve potatoes?

Will they serve what?

Paging Buster Keaton...
Link

Video of the venture

Came here to say "metal".

Metal.

urger: In America they're called speeders. The National organization is called NARCOA. They arrange insurance and places to ride. Riding in one is cool as fark.

/Brother owns a Fairmont.

I was at my parents' place in rural eastern WA a few months ago and we saw these things go by on the track through town and were wondering what the hell they were. And now I know. Thanks.

Great headline.

Wow - this may have actually displaced the Route of the Hiawatha as my most wanted vacation destination.

Here's a bit of highly unofficial rail travel on Anglesey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nub6R IWJ8U

/not me
//alas

Monkeyfark Ridiculous: The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves: Will they serve potatoes?

Will they serve what?

most awesomely god damned stupid thing I have ever heard

How do you get a stalled golfcart off the tracks
how do you travel both directions at once on a single line?
How do you stop people from parking in the tunnels.
How do you GET to a dead cart when the rail line is full of stopped golf carts aimed both ways and you can't get to the railway except by the railway?

How many miles does a golf cart cover before the batteries are dead?
How much do those batteries weight?
How long does it take to charge them?
What's the cost and life expectancy?

A good 20% of the golf carts are going to be dead 20 miles into the trip and take six hours to charge up. So your actual speed, baring having to get off every few hundred feet and flip someone else off the rails, will be just over two miles per hour. That's forty hours sitting on a rubber seat with mosquitoes eating your face.

farking stupid.

prjindigo: most awesomely god damned stupid thing I have ever heard

How do you get a stalled golfcart off the tracks
how do you travel both directions at once on a single line?
How do you stop people from parking in the tunnels.
How do you GET to a dead cart when the rail line is full of stopped golf carts aimed both ways and you can't get to the railway except by the railway?

How many miles does a golf cart cover before the batteries are dead?
How much do those batteries weight?
How long does it take to charge them?
What's the cost and life expectancy?

A good 20% of the golf carts are going to be dead 20 miles into the trip and take six hours to charge up. So your actual speed, baring having to get off every few hundred feet and flip someone else off the rails, will be just over two miles per hour. That's forty hours sitting on a rubber seat with mosquitoes eating your face.

farking stupid.

Not sure about the one's in the article - but speeders are gas powered and very simple. If it breaks you can fix it if you're handy. As for how to get it off the tracks - you lift them. Strength is involved. Some have jacks underneath to help you but most depend just on you doing the work. The technology is 100 years old. It works. Range is up to 50 miles, depends on the model. Of course you can just carry more fuel too. On NARCOA trips if you break down someone else in the group will tow you. Speeders are designed to tow a couple of very heavily laden carts behind them so they have plenty of towing power. Oh - and my brother's goes 40mph+ not sure actual top speed. We were afraid to go faster.

IrieTom: SNIP

Awesome pictures Irie Tom!