Handcar: meaning, definitions and examples
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handcar
[ ˈhænd.kɑːr ]
transportation
A handcar is a small railway vehicle powered by human effort, typically used for maintenance purposes on tracks. It consists of a platform and is propelled by a pump handle or similar mechanism, allowing a small crew to move it along the rails.
Synonyms
pump car, railroad handcar
Examples of usage
- The workers used a handcar to inspect the railway track.
- We saw an old handcar being restored in the train museum.
- During the off-season, the handcar was the fastest way for crews to travel between maintenance sites.
Translations
Translations of the word "handcar" in other languages:
🇵🇹 carro de mão
🇮🇳 हाथ गाड़ी
🇩🇪 Handwagen
🇮🇩 kereta tangan
🇺🇦 ручна коляска
🇵🇱 wózek ręczny
🇯🇵 手押し車
🇫🇷 voiture à main
🇪🇸 carro de mano
🇹🇷 ellek aracı
🇰🇷 손수레
🇸🇦 عربة يدوية
🇨🇿 ruční vozík
🇸🇰 ručný vozík
🇨🇳 手推车
🇸🇮 ročni voziček
🇮🇸 handvagn
🇰🇿 қол арба
🇬🇪 ხელის ვაგონетка
🇦🇿 əllə çəkilən sərnişin avtomobili
🇲🇽 carro de mano
Etymology
The term 'handcar' originates from the combination of 'hand' and 'car', reflecting its manual operation by hand. Handcars first appeared in the early 19th century, a time when railways were becoming instrumental in industrial transportation. Workers utilized these vehicles to transport tools and supplies along rail tracks, making them an essential part of railway maintenance. Over time, as rail technology evolved and the operation of trains became more mechanized, the use of handcars declined but they still hold historical significance. They are often associated with maintenance crews and the early development of railway infrastructure, representing an era of human-powered transportation on railroads.