Currenty Used Methods of Railroad Track Condition Assessment

[samfp1943]

There is another Thread currently running onmthis Forum in regards to the ATACS processes of Track Condition Assessment used by CSX.

My curiosity is in regards to other railrooads?  What are methods being used to assess their Track Conditions; for MoW purposes, or other 'uses'(?) .

BNSF and their 'Friends' weblsite, has from time to time, llsted their corporate use of Drone Technology, Wind monitoring, [Flow of air ariound trains/lAnneomomiters on locomotives(?)] .

  A somewhat irregular 'visitor' here in SC Kansas, is, apparently, a track condition, monitoring train; usually, has  one locomotive, a secialized ex-passenger car, and 1 freight car on its rear end.      And, of course, a pick-up, a track inspector's vehicle, which seem to make regular trips through the area.

I am curious, as to what other railroiads use to assess their track conditions?  TRAINS   has shown photos, in past, of Dedicated track inspection (self-propelled) equipment used by other lines,and the Federal Government.  .

Has anyone else, seen some of these types of Track Condition (MoW(?); being used in their areas?  Thanks.

[BaltACD]

samfp1943

There is another Thread currently running onmthis Forum in regards to the ATACS processes of Track Condition Assessment used by CSX.

My curiosity is in regards to other railrooads?  What are methods being used to assess their Track Conditions; for MoW purposes, or other 'uses'(?) .

BNSF and their 'Friends' weblsite, has from time to time, llsted their corporate use of Drone Technology, Wind monitoring, [Flow of air ariound trains/lAnneomomiters on locomotives(?)] .

  A somewhat irregular 'visitor' here in SC Kansas, is, apparently, a track condition, monitoring train; usually, has  one locomotive, a secialized ex-passenger car, and 1 freight car on its rear end.      And, of course, a pick-up, a track inspector's vehicle, which seem to make regular trips through the area.

I am curious, as to what other railroiads use to assess their track conditions?  TRAINS   has shown photos, in past, of Dedicated track inspection (self-propelled) equipment used by other lines,and the Federal Government.  .

Has anyone else, seen some of these types of Track Condition (MoW(?); being used in their areas?  Thanks.

The REQUIRED method for observing track condition is the FRA required manned inspection by qualified personnel on a regular periodic basis with written reports being submitted with the results of those inspections.

Everything the carriers like CSX are doing are in excess of their statutory obligations regarding track condition

[Overmod]

CN uses track-geometry boxcars with either laser scanning or a laser array in what behaves like a line across the track and roadbed.  It's dramatic to see at night.

Sensors then assemble a longitudinal 3D picture of the geometry, presumably at appropriate precision for gauge and railhead condition.

I expect to see the minimum interval between FRA mandated inspections reduced, and the reporting requirements made more stringent, in the reasonably near future.  My guess is that attempts will be made to have 'human review' of the automatically warehoused and pre-analyzed scanning be part of the required inspections, and include these data in the requested report material.  As with Sperry cars that used to mark defects in the rails, these systems will assemble a model of the track, remember where the defects and problems are, and probably schedule inspection and maintenance operations.

I believe NS runs at least one track-geometry train (the one with the Tuscan-red car and the converted six-motor locomotive) and I have been lucky enough to see it periodically at various times on the ex-Southern line here.