Quirky Electric Car Rides the Rails

3 hours ago

Matt Spears modified his Spira vehicle to ride on abandoned railroad tracks in the western US, upgrading it with a go-kart rear axle, custom wheels, a new braking system, and a 5 kW electric motor.
The test run was successful, allowing him to travel farther on the abandoned rail, including over a trestle and into the wilderness, despite initial setbacks like a destroyed front axle.
Comments discuss the persistence of abandoned tracks in the US due to factors like low salvage value, land rights preservation, climate conditions, and legal deterrents against theft or unauthorized use.
Differences in rail management between the US and UK/EU are noted, including scrap value, identification of rail alloys, licensing requirements for recycling, and land reversion laws.

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