Railcar

Look up railcar or motor car in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
This article is about a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. For unpowered freight cars or passenger cars, see railroad car.
"Railcars" redirects here. For the band, see Railcars (band).

A railcar (not to be confused with the generic term "railroad car" or "railway car"), or motor car is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The "self-propelled railcar" refers to a railway train consisting of a single coach (or carriage, car, unit), with a driver's cab at one or both ends. In its simplest form, a "railcar" may also be little more than a railbus or motorized draisine.

Self-powered railcars were once common in North America; these "motor cars" were often called doodlebugs. Some railway companies, such as the Great Western, termed such vehicles "railmotors" (or "rail motors"). Self-propelled passenger vehicles also capable of hauling a train are, in technical rail usage, usually called "rail motor coaches".

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