Riding the Rails in Dayton

If you drive through Old Town Dayton and see the speeder car out on the tracks, stop and ask for a lift! Dan South with the Historical Society of Dayton Valley loves sharing the history of the railroad and giving people a thrilling ride down the rails.

Speeder cars (aka motor cars and putt-putts, among others) date to the late 1800s and were used mainly for rail track maintenance and inspection. Less than 10 feet in length, these carts would typically carry 4-8 Gandy Dancers (railroad workers) but could haul up to 16 people, albeit not comfortably.

The Historical Society model is a 1911 Fairmont S2 speeder – a one-cylinder, 2-stroke, 1500cc engine – a simple machine that does not break easily and can reverse direction on the tracks. They have an “observation car” attached for rides during Dayton Valley Days and other events – or any day Dan can interest folks in a joyride!