Dracar

The Dracar was a self-propelled gasoline railcar built by the Drake Railway Automotrice Company in the early 20th century.

Design
The Dracar was 56 ft long and could be operated from either end. The engine compartment occupied the front 7 ft, followed by a baggage compartment, and then two passenger sections. As delivered to the Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway, the Dracar was built with a removable partition to segregate black and white passengers. The white or "first class" section could seat 30; the "colored" section 14. Both sections contained a restroom. The design was based on cars built by the French Westinghouse company for the Arad-Csanad Railway in Hungary. The St Louis Car Company manufactured the car bodies and trucks. The car was designed for 25 mph operation; its maximum speed was 40 mph.

Drake also designed a larger type with a maximum capacity of 73 passengers. This car was powered by a 140 hp engine.

History
The Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway took delivery of several Dracars and employed them on 30 - 50 mi runs. Examples included Muskogee–Henryetta, Oklahoma, Durant, Oklahoma–Denison, Texas, and Muskogee–Wagoner, Oklahoma. By 1913 the MO&G had acquired five cars. Fuel efficiency was 3.3 mpgus. Each Dracar had a crew of three: motorman, flagman, and conductor.