Editing Trackless train

{{Short description|Passenger transportation vehicle}}
{{Redirect|Land train|interconnected heavy-goods highway vehicles|Road train|interconnected rubber-tired public-transport vehicles|rubber-tyred tram|vehicles that could travel over almost any terrain|Overland train}}
{{Distinguish|tram}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2021}}
[[File:Loro Parque land train.JPG|260px|thumb|right|A trackless train for tourists in [[Tenerife]]]]

A '''trackless train''' — or '''tram''' ([[U.S. English]]),<ref name="vl">{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-lnwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA20 |pages=20–45 |title=Prime Archives in Transportation and Logistics |chapter=The Trackless Tram: Is It the Transit and City Shaping Catalyst We Have Been Waiting for? |isbn=9789390014026 |date=10 July 2020 |publisher=VIDE LEAF}}</ref> '''road train''', '''land train''',<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk/news/people/bridlington-land-train-service-extended-for-an-extra-week-until-sunday-november-7-3439850 |newspaper=[[Bridlington Free Press]] |title=Bridlington land train service extended for an extra week until Sunday, November 7 |date=1 November 2021 |access-date=24 November 2021}}</ref> or '''parking lot train''' is a [[road]]-going [[articulated vehicle]] used for the transport of [[passenger]]s, comprising a [[tractor unit|driving vehicle]] pulling one or more [[Trailer (vehicle)|carriages]] connected by [[Drawbar (haulage)|drawbar couplings]], in the manner of a road-going [[railway]] [[train]].
Similar vehicles may be used for transport of freight or baggage for short distances, such as at a factory or airport. Often depending on use, land train may or may not be [[skeuomorph]]ically styled to look like traditional, often [[steam train]]s.

==Terminology==
''Trackless train'' or ''land train'' are descriptive terms for the [[rubber]] [[tire]]d [[road]]-going vehicles to distinguish them from rail mounted [[train]]s.<ref name="vl" /> ''Parking lot tram'' is a common name in the US, reflecting its use in [[parking lot]] transport.

The lack of a widely accepted generic name for trackless trains often leads to them being called [[trams]], [[people mover]]s or [[road train]]s. Due to cultural terminology differences, ''trackless train'', ''tram'' and ''parking lot tram'' usages occur in [[North America]], while ''land train'' and ''road train'' are used in [[Europe]].

==Technology==
[[Image:Duxfordtransporter.jpg|thumb|[[Van]]-hauled trackless train at the [[Imperial War Museum Duxford]], [[England]]]]
A trackless train usually consists of a [[tractor unit]] pulling a number of articulated [[Trailer (vehicle)|trailers or carriages]] in the manner of a [[locomotive]]-hauled [[railway]] [[train]]. The tractor unit can be powered by an [[internal combustion engine]] or an [[electric vehicle|electric motor]]. Trackless trains using [[Human-powered_land_vehicle|human power]] are generally driven not only by the tractor but also by the carriages.

Carriages may seat between 6 and 40 persons, and can be roofed or not, featuring open or closed sides and various levels of interior comfort such as padded seats. If open, depending on climate they may feature plastic or fiberglass corrugated panels overhead, to divert rain and provide some measure of shade. Alternative designs may use a cloth [[awning]] overhead for similar purposes.

Carriages usually contain latchable doors or chains to act as safety measures to prevent exit while in motion. Carriages and tractor false bodies may be constructed in [[fiberglass]] or aluminum, and may feature levelling [[Suspension (vehicle)|suspension]].

As in a regular road vehicle, the tractor unit is steered through the front wheels by a [[steering wheel]] or handle bar operated by a human driver, and powered by its rear single or double [[axle]]. The following carriages are then steered through the [[Drawbar (haulage)|drawbar]] couplings between the carriages. Simple trains with few carriages or short in overall length may feature single- or double-axle carriages with just front-axle steering only. Larger or longer trains feature [[four-wheel steering]] by way of [[Linkage (mechanical)|mechanical linkages]]. Four-wheel steering ensures that longer trains need less side clearance while turning, as the carriages are able to maintain the same path, describing a constant radius of [[Arc (geometry)|arc]]. This adds to the impression of the vehicle being on rails. The drawbar connections of more complex trains may feature a [[shock absorber]] to mitigate the effect of [[acceleration]] or [[braking]].
[[File:PathDiagramThunerTrampelwurm.svg|thumb|Thuner Trampelwurm: path of the complete road train turning left 90°]]
The longest trackless trains appear to be human-powered ones. In 2007 a train of 93 tricycles was assembled and ridden for the purpose of setting a world record.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.hase-spezialraeder.de/64-1-world-record-2007.html
| title = World record
| date = 2010
| publisher = Hase Bikes
| accessdate = 2013-05-31
| url-status = dead
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20111007210608/http://hasebikes.com/64-1-world-record-2007.html
| archive-date = 2011-10-07}}</ref>
The train was formed by removing the single front wheels of the tricycles used as carriages and attaching their forks to the tricycle in front. This system developed for [[Hase_Spezialräder|Hase tricycles]] and others also allows the ad-hoc formation of shorter trains for practical use. The longest permanently set up human-powered trackless train is probably the Thuner Trampelwurm consisting of a tricycle as tractor with 10 driven trailers as carriages, in operation as a tourist attraction in the city of [[Thun]] since 1994. The chosen geometry of the trailer linkages result in good tracking at the cost of a low maximum speed, about 10 km/h without [[Speed_wobble|shimmy]].<ref name="BS4">{{cite book | title = Bicycling Science | url = https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262538404/bicycling-science/ | edition = Fourth | last = Wilson | first = David Gordon | author2 = Theodor Schmidt | year = 2020 | publisher = The MIT Press | isbn = 978-0-262-53840-4 | page = 489}}</ref>

==Public uses==
[[File:Tourists Road Train to York Minster - geograph.org.uk - 4115130.jpg|thumb|A trackless train service for tourists in the city of [[York]], England]]
Trackless trains are often used for the transport of tourists instead of other [[public transport]] modes. These may be seasonal services, linking attractions such as [[museum]]s and [[zoo]]s or other tourist destinations with central areas. Often, the train ride itself is a [[tourist attraction]], offering [[sightseeing]] along scenic routes as well as a transport service.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YygDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA69%22 |page=69 |title=Popular Science |journal=The Popular Science Monthly |year=1937 |volume=131 |issue=3 |issn=0161-7370 |publisher=[[Bonnier Corporation]]}}</ref> In the [[Switzerland|Swiss]] town of [[Gruyères]], a trackless train is the only vehicle allowed in the [[pedestrianized zone|pedestrianized]] streets.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/2011/sep/30/on-the-chocolate-track-296149.html |newspaper=[[New Indian Express]] |title=On the chocolate track |date=30 September 2011 |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> A similar train is also used to move students between the train station and the faculties in the Outer [[University of Alcalá|Alcalá de Henares University]] Campus.

Trackless trains are also used in shopping malls to entertain children while their parents are shopping. Trackless trains used for this purpose are commonly smaller and have less power.

A larger and faster form of trackless tram is the [[Rubber-tyred trams|rubber-tyred tram]] used as a public transport alternative to conventional [[light rail]], [[tram]] and [[bus]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Advances in Dynamics of Vehicles on Roads and Tracks |year=2019 |isbn=9783030380779 |publisher=[[Springer (publisher)|Springer International Publishing]] |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TXvQDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA531 |pages=531–536 |chapter=Investigation of the performance and potential of a novel trackless train with pneumatic tires |author1=Ning Zhang |author2=Xi Wang |author3=Zi-qian Zhao |author4=Wei-chao Zhang |author5=Guo-dong Yin}}</ref><ref name="vl" />

In some countries in [[Europe]] a [[Volkswagen]] [[minibus]] usually carries 3 [[carriages]], these trackless trains can often carry only 38 passengers.

==Private/Theme Park uses==
Trackless trains are also often operated for the exclusive use of customers of resorts or [[amusement park]]s, both as internal transport systems entirely within their premises either from parking areas and between attractions, or as rides in themselves. A particularly heavy user of trackless trains has been the [[Walt Disney Parks and Resorts]] where they are used to move guests between the outlying [[parking lots]] and the park entrances. 16 trams reside at [[Disneyland Resort]], and 28 trams reside at [[Walt Disney World Resort]]. [[Universal Pictures|Universal]], and other [[movie studio]] [[theme park]]s also use trackless trains on their [[Studio Backlot Tour|studio backlot tour]]s. Purdue University has the [[Boilermaker Special]] as its mascot.

==Appearance==
While some trackless trains are functional or modern in appearance, many are often constructed with false [[coachwork|bodywork]] and are [[livery|painted]] to look like nineteenth century [[steam locomotive]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://digitised-collections.unimelb.edu.au/handle/11343/75473 |year=1928 |title=Metro Goldwyn Mayer's 'Trackless Train' visiting Benalla |access-date=24 November 2021}}</ref> Others may feature decorative or fun paint schemes to appeal to [[child]]ren. Certain models of trackless train may look the same as [[Narrow-gauge railway|narrow-gauge]] rail guided amusement park trains, due to the common manufacture of both vehicles. Some [[fifth wheel]] coupled [[trailer bus]]es may also be similarly decorated.

==Airport baggage trains==
[[Ground support equipment#Baggage carts|Mechanized baggage trains−trams]], used at [[airport terminal]]s, have steering mechanisms similar to those on longer trackless trains, although the tractor units are commonly designed to be frequently detached from the baggage carts, to be used for other purposes. Individual baggage carts are also quickly detachable for parking in loading−unloading areas. Airport baggage trains are often also much longer than the passenger type.

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Boarding train at desert of maine.jpg|Trackless Train at the [[Desert of Maine]]
File:NishiTokyoBus C20782 New-Seishungou.jpg|A [[Hino Ranger]] semi-trailer bus in Japan
File:Petits trains touristiques chantilly.jpg|Two visitor 'trains' at the [[Château de Chantilly|castle of Chantilly]], France
File:Disneyland parking lot tram.jpg|Parking lot tram at [[Disneyland]], [[California]]
</gallery>

==See also==

* [[Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit]]
* [[Guided bus]]
* [[Rubber-tyred trams]]
* [[Overland train]]
* [[Tourist trolley]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Trackless trains}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Trackless Train}}
[[Category:Land vehicles]]
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