horse-drawn rail car

[Brit]

Possibly not what was asked for, but...

"In Imrans new Pakistan 90 yr old horse train are still running".

https://www.youtube.com/watchv=2qJhbRrQbY4

B&W film of the last line in The U.K.:

https://www.youtube.com/watchv=RfO9ySKK3Ns

Both seem the sort of vehicles that could be built. The second one could even still exist as a Heritage Line somewhere still run by volunteers in T2K...

[Brit]

"The island of Spiekeroog, in Eastern Friesland in Northern Germany".

https://www.urban-transport-magazine.com/en/uncertain-future-the-horse-drawn-railway-of-spiekeroog/

Photo of horse drawn rail wagon:

https://parlington.co.uk/structures.lassoprocess=3&subProcess=struct5_4

Various WW1 photos but two on rails:

https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/horse-power-first-world-war

No horses but "Cambodia made trains out of bamboo":

https://yesterday.uktv.co.uk/blogs/article/five-things-you-didnt-know-about-trains/

[CraigD6er]

Wherever there are any changes in gradient that would otherwise prevent the trains continuing under horse/oxen power, install a station with cables. Build a winding house adjacent to the tracks, and run the winch off of either steam or alcohol power. The carriages can be hauled up or lowered by winch and the livestock moved either by trail alongside or even given a ride on special wagons.

[Brit]

I think this canal has a similar idea: "The inclined planes".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbl%C4%85g_Canal

Boats on railway lines... and powered via water wheels!

Featured, in The UK, on last night's 'The Architecture The Railways Built'.

https://uktvplay.uktv.co.uk/shows/the-architecture-the-railways-built/watch-online/6278051944001

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Architecture_the_Railways_Built

[Adm.Lee]

Interestingly, I found today that the part of Sweden that I'm setting my one-shot adventure, has a high-speed rail line, regraded and opened in 1997! So lots of smooth curves and double track (and/or very long passing sidings).

Sounds more likely for a horse-drawn line

May want to dig more and see if coaches are even light-weight than I thought earlier

[CraigD6er]

Back in the late 90's I worked at a rolling stock maintenance depot. We were just designing new EMU's (Electric Multiple Units). The older slam door stock, such as the Class 411, were 30-40 years old and were to be replaced by the then new 375's. The old stock was in the 160 ton range for a 4 car unit. The weight saving per 4 car unit was around 25-30 ton, which is quite a consideration without also stripping out anything unnecessary. I also remember that some of the equipment, primarily the traction motors I think, were based on Swedish designs and they had a test train in Sweden with an old 411 carriage and new traction motors and brakes to use as a test vehicle. It ran on a short track and our engineers were impressed that it was got up to speed and safely stopped in such a short distance, even on icy rails.

This is the idea I was thinking of for coping with inclines

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_railway

I avoided suggesting a funnicular style as that is generally 1 carriage going down as 1 comes up, which presumes a regular passing of carriages in your world to make it work.