A rail-car is a light Autorail, whose Roue S are equipped with special tires, developed by the company Michelin in the years 1930.
The name of “rail-car” was given thereafter, wrongly but in a familiar way, with all the Autorail S.
The tire-rail
This invention, due to Andre Michelin, aimed to improve the Confort of the travellers. It required the development of a hollow tire-rail special, able to roll on the reduced riding surface offered by mushroom of the Rail, to cross the Aiguillage S and so able to resist the load of railway vehicles. This tire whose first version was patented in 1929, will be designed thereafter with a more resistant metal structure. The guidance of the wheel on the rail is ensured by a metal roll interdependent of the Jante. It was also necessary to build rather light Véhicule S, by using Technique S come from the Aviation, with a case in Duralumin. The prototype first of rail-car was presented to the companies in 1931.To ensure the promotion of its invention, Marcel Michelin, the son of Andre Michelin, organized a demonstration record the September 10th 1931. The prototype Michelin n° 5 made an outward journey and return between Paris Saint-Lazare and Deauville, traversing with the return the distance of 219,2 km which separates both Gare S in two hours crushes, that is to say 107 km/h of average.
History
In 1932, was brought into service the “rail-car 24 places”, baptized standard 11, whose eleven specimens were manufactured. Very similar to a road vehicle, it was made up of a tractor with three axles (central driving axle) and of a Remorque equipped with a Bogie with two axles with the back. The case of the trailer was with covered framework in Aluminum Contreplaqué. As they had only one driver's cab to the front one, it was necessary to turn over them at the end of the course. The first were brought into service by the Compagnie of the railroads of the East the March 21st 1932 on the line Charleville - Givet. These rail-cars were withdrawn from circulation in 1939.Several rail-cars were built with the the United States by the company Budd (famous for its innovating use of the stainless steel).
In 1933, was brought into service the rail-car with 36 seats, type 16, of a railway type more traditional, provided with two bogies of three axles and equipped with an elevated driver's cab above the roof, which made it reversible. Its maximum speed was of 90 km/h.
In 1934, appears a model lengthened of two meters offering 56 places and equipped with two bogies to four wheels. this model was jumelable, but required two drivers, only the Frein being coupled thanks to a compressed-air general control (system Westinghouse). Between 1934 and 1937,52 specimens will be brought into service.
In 1935, a similar rail-car was presented by Dunlop, competitor of Michelin. This prototype, which did not have a continuation, had traditional metal wheels ensuring guidance on the rail and others, equipped with tires, ensuring the bearing.
In April 1936, Michelin presents a rail-car of 96 places (including 16 folding seats), the type 23, made up of a single case, 30,36 m length, assembled on three Bogie S of four axles. The bogie central, driving, could move transversely, the case resting on the bogies carrying ends. There was a driving cabin at each end. Maximum speed was of 135 km/h. These machines circulated in France until in 1952.
This type of material circulated on the lines of the old companies, then of the SNCF during many years. Rail-cars, adapted for the narrow gauge railway, will be brought into service also in colonial networks in Africa, Indo-China and with Madagascar.
There remain about it two specimens with Madagascar, where a service of tourist rail-cars is still in exploitation. A standard specimen of rail-car 22 to 56 places is exposed to the Cité of the train of Mulhouse.
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