This week, the Washington man put his homebuilt “steam speeder” up for sale on the online auction site eBay and Bendixen says it’s already getting a lot of attention.
“I just took a speeder to the next level and added a boiler to it,” he tells Trains News Wire.
Bendixen worked as a metal fabricator for 38 years and owned a shop until eight years ago, when he started building boilers for steam engine enthusiasts. He says he sells about one stationary engine and boiler every month, mostly to steam hobbyists. Bendixen first got interested in steam engines back in the mid-1990s when his wife got him a small table top engine.
Bendixen first built a steam-powered speeder in 2012 and he soon sold it to a man in Pennsylvania. About a year ago, he finished his second steam speeder. Like the first, Bendixen built it from the rails up. The boiler can be fired with either wood or coal and it can operate at about 80 psi. The speeder can go forward and reverse. Bendixen says he’s run the speeder a few times but he’s never opened it up to find its top speed.
Although Bendixen says a lot of people are interested in the steam speeder no one has put a bid up for it so far. The asking price is $14,000 and the auction closes on March 1. Bendixen says once he sells this one he’ll get to work making a third. Even though the steam speeders are not flying off the shelves (Bendixen says he’s put this same speeder up for sale on eBay multiple times in the last year), he says they are fun to build. He adds that he only knows of one other person who has ever constructed a steam speeder in the United States.
“I build these because they’re just so fascinating,” he says.
Of course, anyone who does decide to buy their own steam-powered speeder will have to follow the rules of the railroad, just like any other motorcar owner. Owners and operators of motorcars, speeders and rail bikes should always get permission from the owner of a rail line before operating their vehicle, even if they think the line is abandoned. State and local laws on pressure vessels (boilers) may also apply to these unusual rail vehicles.
I could see that going down the NEC
Mighty cool, and a close reincarnation of Mr. Zaruba's steam motor car of the late 19th century—never called "speeders" then—on the Arcata & Mad River Railroad in Humboldt County, CA. Photos exist of that one, and this 21st builder darn near "nailed it." One has to wonder, though, if FRA boiler certification would be required for use on any property but a completely private spur without other rail system connections.
I SO want to buy it but alas, the spirit is willing but the checkbook is weak! That and I'd first want to build a good shed to store in in to keep it out of the weather.
That thing is SO cool! Like a "Tom Thumb" for the 21st Century!
Wish I had 14 big ones to burn, looks like a real work of the craftsman's art.
In the East, we have been lucky to enjoy the operation of two separate steam track inspection cars. A fellow from Northern Virginia installed a boiler he found from a small dairy and it ran very well. His main problem, I believe, was that he overworked his volunteer fireman as it was a two man job to run it. Seem like he was always in need of a fireman. He ran it on the Delaware & Ulster at Arkville, NY up a 3.4% grade and one damp night it was a wonderful sight to watch its sparks like a Roman candle and listen to its chugging which could be heard over the noise of a MT19 ahead. This VA steam car was also operated on the Hobo RR at Lincoln, NH in June 1994 and was joined by one larger steam track car, as they ran together to Weir Beach and back. A fantastic, real steam inspection car of the 1880s era is on display in the Shelburne Museum south of Burlington VT. It has very classic leather seats up front ahead of the steam boiler serviced by an engineer who ran it for the bosses.
The buyer should take notice that this car for sale might have sharp or thin flanges and he must consider the cost of replacing them with proper MCB wheels. All flanges must be 1-9/16” thick to have proper back to back spacing of the wheels to pass safely through guardrails at every turnout.
It may be interesting to some that all steam boilers in railroad maintenance service never came under the law for Federal Inspection by the ICC. The boilers of Steam Rotaries, Steam powered cranes, steam wrecking derricks, steam pile driver, steam snow melter, and steam powered spreader or ditchers were never looked at by the Interstate Commerce Commission. They did not conduct transportation or haul commerce. And they did not come under any state inspection because they moved from state to state over the lines of the connected national system of commerce which was beyond the states jurisdiction. They were only under the jurisdiction of the management of the owning railroad company or contractor.
Regarding track cars, they were exempt from the Safety Appliance Act as the first exemption was 4-wheel cars. Also next was Steam locomotives used exclusively in logging service-Exempt. A steam track car is exempt from any FRA jurisdiction as well, but it must not in any way endanger any interstate commerce which the FRA polices
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Hopefully this product has the power to keep up with the rest of the NARCOA members. Next we will be watching for a STANLEY Steamer track car.
Love it, if only I had 14 grand to throw away.
Up in Sammamish Country, I'd be concerned that this beautiful work of art might rust out…