Draisines

A draisine is a light rail-mounted vehicle used for inspection, patrols, and light maintenance of railway tracks. They are typically powered by human effort—hand cranks or pedals—or by a small internal-combustion or electric motor. In North America such vehicles are commonly called handcars; in Europe the term draisine is standard.

The concept dates to the 19th century and is linked to Karl Drais, inventor of the Laufmaschine (the earliest bicycle) in 1817. The name draisine was later adopted for lightweight railway maintenance vehicles. Early draisines were simple, pedal- or hand-powered devices used by crews to move along tracks, carry tools, and inspect lines. Over time some models accommodated two or more operators and introduced basic braking and stability features. As rail networks expanded and electrification progressed, motorized variants emerged while traditional pedal-powered draisines continued to serve on non-electrified or lightly used routes.

Design and operation vary, but most draisines share a lightweight frame with two or more axles running on rails, a seated operator area, and simple propulsion and braking controls. They are used for routine track inspection, patrols, minor maintenance tasks, and short-distance transport of tools and equipment along a line. On many networks they operate at low speeds and are guided by hand signals or basic safety systems.

Today, draisines persist mainly on heritage railways, rural or narrow-gauge lines, and in specialized maintenance fleets. Modern versions may be purpose-built motorized vehicles, while numerous historic examples are preserved in museums and by rail enthusiasts.