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CSX Autonomous Track Assessment Cars (ATAC)

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, November 26, 2020 7:50 AM

Lithonia Operator
Is it okay to hump one?

Any car CAN be humped - what happens when a DNH car is humped depends on the reasons the car had been identified as DNH.

In the case of these geometry cars - I suspect, it is felt the coupling speeds involved in the humping operation may damage the electronic and/or optical measuring equipment that the car contains.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Juniata Man on Thursday, November 26, 2020 7:25 AM

Lithonia Operator

Is it okay to hump one?

 

Your post reminded me of an incident years ago where the Santa Fe erroneously set a covered hopper into my then employers Carlsbad, NM potash mine.  Very clearly stenciled on both sides was "CONDEMNED - DO NOT LOAD".

And, of course, our guys went ahead and loaded the damn thing anyhow.

Curt

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Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, November 26, 2020 2:27 AM

zugmann
 
Lithonia Operator
Is it okay to hump one?

 

You can hump anything once. 

 

Don't forget your skate (singular - you already lost one), your caboose chain and your pole.Mischief .....what skate box? (if the mechanical department takes as good care of these as they do the on-board lubricators, they won't be around long)

What WILD detector?

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by zugmann on Thursday, November 26, 2020 12:11 AM

Lithonia Operator
Is it okay to hump one?

You can hump anything once. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by MMLDelete on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 11:54 PM

Is it okay to hump one?

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Posted by SD70Dude on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 9:43 PM

CN has some of these as well.  We also still have a test train and a Budd RDC fitted with geometry equipment.  

They are also installing automated inspection portals (aka "super scanners") to spot defects on cars, with the eventual goal of eliminating car inspectors and air brake tests.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 9:53 AM

When I was still working, CSX had equipped several locomotives with some track measurement equipment & GPS - when measured levels exceeded the levels that were deemed normal, the equipment would send a report of the happening to the Engineering desk with the Milepost designation where the anomaly was measured.  With the level of GPS that was being used at the time - the report stated 'all tracks' at the location should be inspected, as I suspect the GPS location could not specify the specific track in an area that contained multiple tracks.

The reports linked the GPS reported location to 'Google Earth' style aerial views of that point for display. 

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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CSX Autonomous Track Assessment Cars (ATAC)
Posted by rdamon on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 9:38 AM

Saw this on one of the NY webcams yesterday.

Found some good details at:

https://downloads.regulations.gov/FRA-2020-0013-0002/attachment_1.pdf

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