A Trackmobile seen at the RIM (Rheinisches Industriebahn-Museum Köln-Nippes) on 12 October 2003. This dual mode vehicle runs forwards (and backwards) on roads and sidewards on rails (or forwards on rails and sidewards on roads, however you look at it...). At one "side" it has a coupler to move freight cars. Note the hydraulic arm under the coupler, it allows the Trackmobile to take over some of the freight car's weight onto it's own wheels. This enhanches the traction and allows to move up to 440 tons with an own weight of just 5 tons.

Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)