Spring-2023

Riding the Rails at the Former For t Ord B Y M I CHA E L CHAT F I E LD M ason Clark came by his love of railroad handcars naturally. His father, Todd, operates a website for railroad enthusiasts and ran a rail business that carried thousands of passengers on private railroad cars. Today, Handcar Tours gives people the opportunity to ride former Fort Ord rails aboard handcars designed and built by Mason. Mason built his first handcar at 12, based on a design built by the Kalamazoo Railway Supply Company. He was building and selling handcars worldwide by age 16. While earning a degree at Cal Poly Pomona’s Mechanical Engineering program, he refined his design into the vehicles the family uses today. The tour begins at the corner of Del Monte and Palm in Marina. Four riders, facing two by two, power the car by push/pulling on a handle. The route runs through part of the former army base, offering unique views of the dunes and Monterey Bay. The ninety-minute ride covers about six miles. Yes, it’s a bit of a workout and requires some level of fitness, but the Clarks have a solution for that. “We’re debuting a whole new electric assist design,” Todd says. “These run at about nine mph, and everyone will be able to ride.” For more information, visit www.handcar.com or call 831/204-5000. SHORT CUTS BUSINESS Mason Clark built his first handcar from a Kalamazoo Railway design at age 12. Later, he developed and built his own design, which he now uses for Handcar Tours. 72 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 3 Photo: Kelli Uldall