A small self-propelled railway vehicle or lightweight motorized train designed to operate on regular railroad tracks.
Compound from 'auto-' (self, or short for automobile) and 'rail' (railroad track). The term emerged in early 20th-century transportation as engineers developed compact motorized vehicles that could use existing track systems.
Autorails were basically the original 'rapid transit' solutions—small motor-powered trains that could move people quickly without needing a huge steam locomotive, popular in rural areas and industrial sites.
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