Barrel Train

The Barrel Train is a kart from the Mario Kart series. The kart is a with elements of a railroad locomotive and a barrel, and it resembles the train from Kalimari Desert as well as the K64 from Paper Mario. Its horn makes the sound of a train whistle. Like any steam engine, the Barrel Train's exhaust pipe is a smokestack.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
The Barrel Train first appears in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! as a lightweight kart serving as the signature kart of Diddy Kong (although the Prima Official Strategy Guide claims it does not have any associated character ). It can be unlocked by winning the Star Cup on 150cc. The Barrel Train is the heaviest lightweight kart in the game; its weight is tied with the middleweight Red Fire and Heart Coach karts. It is also the only lightweight kart that can push around the middleweight Green Fire and Bloom Coach karts. According to the game stats, it is tied with the Bullet Blaster as the fastest lightweight kart. However, it also has the weakest acceleration of its weight class.

Although the game shows a four-star speed stat, the Barrel Train's top speed is tied with that of the Bullet Blaster, DK Jumbo, and Piranha Pipes, and its small size enables it to avoid most hazards more easily. It also has the weakest traction of all karts, as it still maintains its speed briefly after getting hit by the Lightning item. However, while it has a two-star acceleration stat, the Barrel Train accelerates equally to the Green Fire and Wario Car. Finally, the Barrel Train is one of the two four-star speed karts to lose the least amount of speed upon going off-road, with the other being the Piranha Pipes.

This kart is also one of the four karts to have stats "out of the ordinary" for its weight class, with the others being the Green Fire, the Boo Pipes, and the Turbo Birdo. The Barrel Train is one of the only four karts to have a unique engine sound, the other three being the DK Jumbo, Koopa King, and Parade Kart.

The train whistle made by the Barrel Train's horn is the same as that of the train from Animal Crossing.

Mario Kart 7
The Barrel Train appears again in Mario Kart 7 as an unlockable kart body. The main difference is that it can be ridden by anyone - not only small but also medium and large-sized characters - and it now lacks the green platform, and only contains four wheels of the player's choice, thus eliminating the second racer's place, and making the kart only for one racer. The star decals on the front and the sides are also removed, filled in by the selected character's emblem.

The Barrel Train offers a small speed and weight boost, while hindering handling. In fact, it is tied with the Bumble V and Bruiser for having the lowest handling of all kart bodies. In terms of its hidden stats, the Barrel Train offers one of the highest mini-turbo boosts (tied with the Bumble V and Koopa Clown), but it also has the lowest sea speed of all kart bodies.

Equipping the Barrel Train with Slim tires makes it resemble the original version, despite the missing platform.

Similar to the Tiny Tug, the kart has a low-revving diesel engine, and its sound is derived from an actual steam train.

CPU Donkey Kong can occasionally be seen driving in this body with the Wood tires.

Mario Kart Tour
The Barrel Train returns in Mario Kart Tour, classified as a Super kart. It uses its design from Mario Kart 7, making it the only kart originating in Mario Kart: Double Dash!! to not retain the item user's handlebar. The star decals return on the sides of the kart. It uses the Off-Road tires from Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (although a pre-release screenshot shows it with the Pipe Frame's tires instead). The Barrel Train increases the duration of Rocket Start boosts and the amount of points earned upon performing a Rocket Start.

The 2019 Paris Tour introduced a gold variant of the vehicle, named the Gold Train, which is classified as a High-End kart.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
The Barrel Train appears as a sticker in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. In The Subspace Emissary, it can be used on any fighter to increase their leg attack power by 19 points.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
A trophy depicting Donkey Kong in the Mario Kart 7 incarnation of the Barrel Train appears in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The Barrel Train returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as an Advanced-class support spirit that takes up one support slot. When used on a fighter, it boosts the power of their dash attacks. In World of Light, the spirit appears in the badlands region on the east side of the Light Realm map. The spirit's puppet fighters are Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, faced on the Spirit Train stage.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

 * Speed: [[File:Gold star.png]][[File:Gold star.png]][[File:Gold star.png]][[File:Gold star.png]]
 * Acceleration: [[File:Gold star.png]][[File:Gold star.png]]
 * Weight: [[File:Gold star.png]][[File:Gold star.png]][[File:Gold star.png]]

Mario Kart 7

 * Speed: +0.25
 * Sea Speed: -0.75
 * Air Speed: -0.25
 * Acceleration: 0
 * Weight: +0.25
 * Handling: -0.5
 * Sea Handling: 0
 * Air Handling: 0
 * Off-Road: 0
 * Mini-Turbo: +1.5
 * Stability: 0
 * Drift: -0.25