RIDIN' THE RAILS WITH THE DEFECT HUNTERS

Railroad track is often seen as an unchanging part of the landscape, but in reality, track is dynamic. A fleet of specially equipped cars called Track Structure Assessment Vehicles or Track Geometry Cars carefully monitors the track, because a variation of just one inch (2.54 cm) in a rail's location or geometrical position can derail a freight train weighing thousands of tons. Track is checked to gauge, parallel alignment, curvature, cross-level, and vertical profile.

• Corporate Authors:

  Compressed Air Magazine Company

  942 Memorial Parkway
  Phillipsburg, NJ  United States  08865
• Authors:
  • JONES, C
• Publication Date: 1999-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 34-38
• Serial:
  • Compressed Air
  • Volume: 104
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Compressed Air Magazine Company

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Maintenance of way; Railroad safety; Railroad tracks; Railroad transportation; Risk assessment; Structural analysis; Testing equipment
• Uncontrolled Terms: Track geometry cars (Railroad); Track structure assessment vehicles (Railroad)
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00792598
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 15 2000 12:00AM