Velocipede is French for "swift-footed." Handcar used in 19th and early 20th centuries. The most common early handcar was the four-wheel handcar which weighed about 600 lbs. In addition, there was a far lighter 125-150 pound style of handcar called a velocipede or Irish Mail which was used by some railroads. The three-wheel velocipede could carry one or two people over the rail lines to perform short errands.  It could attain a speed of up to 12 mph. The actual inventor of this style handcar is unknown, but George S. Sheffield has been generally credited with the invention in 1877. This style of handcar was manufactured until approximately 1947.