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Members of NEREX, New England Rail Excursions, LLC, toured the rail lines maintained by Conway Scenic Railroad on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018. (TERRY LEAVITT PHOTO)

Before the interstate road system and trucks supplied the country, railroads ruled, and their contribution to building our nation shouldn’t be overlooked. Like paving crews today that maintain miles of roadway, the railroads had their own group called MOW or maintenance-of-way, crews that regularly set out to inspect and repair rail lines.

By the mid-1800s, the need for a fast, small car to carry that crew down the tracks led to development of the hand pump section car.

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