Ambulance!
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
The vehicle has "CN System Engineering" painted on the side. From that, I'd guess it's an engineering vehicle of some sort; track inspection maybe???
Mike
ask for an ice cream cone or a band-aid and my money is on the band-aid.
Anyone else get the feeling it might be full of clowns?
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Murphy Siding Anyone else get the feeling it might be full of clowns?
Oh Oh, an ice cream truck with clowns that deliver .... I wonder what those Sperry trucks have ???
The ultimate railfan RV.....
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Apparently not a rail detector. Could be a corrugation and railhead profile analyzer. What is peculiar is what's on top. CN taking a stab at some GIS level mapping ? (don't see a conventional GPS antenna up there.)???
Nah its a canadian foamer thats escaped the railpark at Deshler.
stay safe
joe
Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").
tree68 The ultimate railfan RV.....
That would be an ultimate experience letting us railfans ride the rails with our own RV
I was tempted to try to make some jokes about UFO's - esp. after looking at the inset shot, until I realized that the the round objects are not satellite-dish-type antennas but instead the backs of signal targets, and that the yellow thing down below is some kind of off-track equipment . . .
Railroad version of the "Snap-On Tools" distributor guy, maybe ? Can I have a calendar, please ?
My 1st guess is that it's used to take videos of the line for use in training simulators or presentations, etc. However, considering that it's Engineering Dept. equipment, more likely it's to measure and record clearances, such as in tunnels and under bridges, etc., to maintain that database for high-wide moves, etc.
I doubt that it tests track components or geometry. The only things down on or near the rails are the rubber tires, the steel "hi-rail" wheels, and the little "sweeps" just in front of them. There's no sign of any of the "sleds" or carts being deployed that are usually used to test for either 1) internal rail defects, 2) surface rail defects, such as rail corrugations and wear, or 3) between-rail track geometry parameters, such as gauge, cross-level, alignment, etc. Further, there's no sign of any of the cranes or lifts or other attachments that are usually needed for such equipment. I don't understand how what I'm suggesting can actually be done with that cowl or housing on top in place - except for maybe a little peephole for the video camera to look out of ? - and even that seems a little too high above the rail to me to be where a locomotive engineer would be. If CN is building a GIS (= Geographic Information System) database, there are easier and less expensive ways to do it, without using up so much "on-track time", either. Back in the government-ownership days, sure, but not now, as a "lean'n'mean" privatized company. It'll be interesting to see what the real answer is.
- Paul North.
mudchicken Apparently not a rail detector. Could be a corrugation and railhead profile analyzer. What is peculiar is what's on top. CN taking a stab at some GIS level mapping ? (don't see a conventional GPS antenna up there.)???
The inset photo appears to be obscuring the view of a boom mounted out the front of the van on top in the main photo- can't tell what's mounted on it, but you can see some of it in the inset (looks sorta like a couple of "fans")
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
Sharp eye ! I thought the white object was just another industrial building in the background with an odd shadow . . . . Now I'm really curious !
Bu t I still think the "fans" are the backs of signal heads.
Spare tire - rear view mirror ????
Surely a CN person will help us soon.
Supposedly it's a "CN Laser Clearance Vehicle - "checks all fixed features that could cause obstruction to dimensional loads" " (my 2nd guess above), per several other forums. See a much better photo of it at:
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/cn_laser_clearance.jpg
I found the posted photo at www.trainweb.org/russian/ and it is exactly as shown above. The original photographer did himself (and everyone us, including us) a huge disservice by covering up the most interesting part with the inset, which shows exactly nothing more that would be of interest or useful.
Further, he also noted - probably truthfully, but unintentionally misleadingly - that this vehicle was following a Sperry rail test car or truck. That had me thinking that it was either a support or follow-up vehicle of some kind - like to carry a small contingent of MOW people and their light equipment (hand-held or carried) to make repairs - such as applying temporary joint bars or making replacement thermite welds, etc., or similar - where defects are found. Alternatively, it might be to immediately record and forward data about the defects found to implement "slow orders", compile and schedule the permanent repairs in near-"real time", etc., but that can be done from on the Sperry vehicle or any other MOW truck just as well.
I'll see if I can find some other info on it. Note that the number appears to be CN 070832 (possible the last digit is a 7 or 9, but I doubt it).
railroad police swat team
Lets just hope it knows when a train is approaching.
Looks likeRobin Williams driving.
Looks like it escaped from a James Bond movie!
Paul_D_North_Jr Supposedly it's a "CN Laser Clearance Vehicle - "checks all fixed features that could cause obstruction to dimensional loads" " (my 2nd guess above), per several other forums. See a much better photo of it at: http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/cn_laser_clearance.jpg
It looks like that arm on top will swing from side to side to point it's laser through a bridge or tunnel. It seems to have two struts on that arm to keep it oriented straight ahead while it swings. Also I'm sure the lid is protecting the apperatus to measure overhead clearance. I'm not sure what that thing is on the front bumper. It might to be two lasers, one pointed in each direction to measure width down low.
The silver box at the end of the boom looks like it rotates. I'm guessing it can do a 360 sweep, and probably does, creating a plot like a marine depth finder, only all the way around.
sure untill another train came along!!
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