We should give credit to whoever signed the check for this one. Because Smart UK has spent some serious money to create a unique version of the Forfour seemingly solely so it can justify using the old “corners like its on rails” cliché in anger.
The Forfour in question was fitted with 22-inch-diameter solid-steel wheels profiled to allow it to drive on standard-gauge railroad tracks—which are 4 feet, 8-and-a-half inches apart. It was then unleashed on a privately owned railroad in the UK, where it was able to move under its own power, rolling past a steam locomotive that would, we presume, have crushed it like a tin can had the two come into contact with each other.
Weighing just 2150 pounds, the Smart Forrail is seriously lacking in tractive effort compared to a proper railroad locomotive. (For context, a U.S.-spec EMD SD70 freight hauler tips the scales at 390,000 pounds and can pull 5000 tons without braking sweat.) We’re reasonably impressed by Smart’s video proof that the Forrail could gain enough traction to move itself on steel rails, let alone pull anything else.
The one-off Forrail was built by Interfleet, a train constructor in Derby, England. Apart from the natty steel wheels it had its steering gear disconnected and had extra supports welded to lock the front wheels in position. It was driven on Bluebell Railway in Sussex, and has since been converted back to road-going form.
The question you’re probably asking is why. And after reading the entire release several times over we’re still not sure, beyond Smart’s claim to have created “arguably the most efficient, and fun, commuting machine in the world.”
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