McKeen motor car

McKeen Motor Car at the Southern Pacific Depot, Strathmore, California. Image taken 1911-1913. The motor car shown here was a US Mail Railway Post Office.

They were the first successful gasoline train cars, and were made from 1905 to 1917, while 152 were built, only three still exist, with one completely restored at the Nevada State Railroad Museum

One of their major failings was lack of a reverse gear. In order to back one up, the motor had to be stopped, the camshaft set to the reverse position, then the engine was restarted in reverse.

www.mckeencar.com  found on https://www.facebook.com/pages/Antique-Images-from-the-Collection-of-Michael-J-Semas/319722608043803?fref=photo

Southern Pacific Mckeen Motor Car Number 45 Sacramento California, 1931.
Found on https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRailway?fref=photo

Lots to learn about them, like the Australian narrow gauge 5 http://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/06/04/since-we-adore-streamliners-may-i-present-the-gorgeous-1910-mckeen-motor-car/2/

if you get the notion to see one, head to the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City, a post on https://www.facebook.com/terry.koenig1?fref=nf

Denny's Diner alongside a Richfield Gas Station in Carson City Nevada along Route 395. The good news is this railroad car is still around, here is some history. Denny's Diner was originally Virginia and Truckee Railway Motor Car 22, also called McKeen Motor Car 70, it is a gasoline-powered railcar at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City.

 It was built for the Virginia and Truckee Railroad in 1910 by the McKeen Motor Car Company and operated by the Virginia and Truckee until 1945, when it was sold off and became a diner.