Railmotors

Kind of an upgraded "steam dummy"? Interesting.

There were some attempts at steam motor cars in the United States in the early part of the 20th Century but they were generally not acceptable.  Too much maintenance, requirement for a fireman. and the presence of a lot dirt and dust close in to passengers.   A more successful motor-car was the McKeen, experimented by the Union Pacific in also the early part of the century.  The McKeen had an internal combustion, gasoline engine, actually mounted on the front truck frame and connected to just one axle through a mechanical clutch and transmission.  These cars were also somewhat breakable because of the vibrations transferred to the engine and trans.  They were used, in a few place, however for quite a few years and there is one car that is currently restored out in Nevada and another carbody being considered for restoration, but in both case the cars will never have their original components for operation.

The best example of successful motor-cars, was of course, the gas-electrics that ran for quite a few years.  These cars,  had their internal combustion engine mounted on the main frame of the car where they were insulated from the vibration of wheels on track.  Power was transmitted to traction motors located in the trucks, much like contemporary trolley cars. Their design was actually the forerunner of modern diesel locomotives, with  the exception, of course of their ability to be MU'd.

Saw a scratch-built model, once, of an early steam motor car.  Pretty neat but, then again, it didn't have the heating, cooling and smoke problems of the prototype.

Paul Fischer

I am bashing one if these using a Walther's shorty combine kit and a Marx power unit. I photographed a photo of one in the Shelburne, VT. museum RR station.  Mine is freelanced off of that , but l have seen photos of several. Progress is slow, but the mechanical problems are solved.  It was finding a power truck and getting it to turn under the body. I had to assemble part and paint part before l wanted to. Much was procrastination, but finding the right power truck stalls me on a McKeen, also. 

Then there's the Doodlebug, an interesting car.  There's also the Galloping Goose, but the MTH model is not exactly scale sized.  However, obviously none of these were steam powered.

ALCo had made some steam motor cars but as stated above, very maintenance prone:

And Baldwin did some as well:

Of course, the people who made the Stanley steam auto produced the Unit Stanley steam railcar.  I want one of those, and a Baldwin in three rail...Please double bag the boxes and here is my credit card...