The Doodlebug Disaster
Added 2023-09-19 10:15:59 +0000 UTCDoodlebugs have pretty much disappeared from our railways now, apart from a few that are maintained for heritage purposes. There are still diesel-powered engines in use in some countries, but they’re generally not referred to as doodlebugs. As such it’s safe to say that the doodlebug, as a means of transportation, is consigned to history.
It so happens that the gasoline-powered train isn’t the only unusual means of transportation known as a “doodlebug” that has been lost. The name was also used for a tiny, lightweight personal mini-car designed by pilot and inventor Frank Brogan.
Brogan also came up with a lightweight plane that could be towed to and from the airfield behind your car, and several other mini-cars and scooters. Alas, none of these quite managed to survive to the present day, even though they were extremely practical and cheap to run. Even his doodlebug car was abandoned due to production costs: another doodlebug that, like the train, had a relatively short lifespan.
Comments
A very different kind of doodlebug... but I'd love to learn more about them too at some point!
Fascinating Horror
2023-09-25 16:18:32 +0000 UTCFirst thing which popped into my head was the V1, I was expecting a war story. I had never heard of these trains, and I do love trains, so thank you!
Dungeoneer
2023-09-24 11:23:37 +0000 UTCThanks! Glad you enjoyed :)
Fascinating Horror
2023-09-21 18:40:18 +0000 UTC
