A Velocipede Visits the Museum
Spring 2003

The San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum was kind enough to loan us this velocipede for a while! The accompanying sign board reads:

"In 1883, George S. Sheffield of Three Rivers, Michigan invented the Sheffield Velocipede handcar, a 140-pound wood and iron bicycle with a third wheel for balance. The car is powered by both hand and foot levers. He soon formed the Sheffield Velocipede Car Company and produced about 4,000 cars. The velocipede was used throughout the nation and Europe for railroad signal inspection and maintenance. This particular handcar was used locally in San Luis Obispo on Southern Pacific rails in the early 1900s."

"Phil Gould, a member of the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum, has lovingly restored this velocipede from its original condition over the course of about 7 months. We thank both Phil and Vera, his wife, for their outstanding effort in reconstructing this historic rail vehicle."

The velocipede proved an impressive sight for a school visit.

The velocipede was also there for the 4/25/03 filming of the Museum for KEYT-TV's scheduled segment of "Santa Barbara Treasures" featuring the SMVRHM. It's scheduled to air on Saturday, May 3, 2003 at 7:00pm.


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