From: nilknocgeo@earthlink.net

 wrote in message
news:390155590421969985.701571dpeltier-my-deja.com@news.aioe.org...
> "conklin"  wrote:
>>  wrote in message
>> news:4992f897-fa17-41c7-b650-e1b6c2448af6@googlegroups.com...
>>> http://www.mta.info/news/2014/05/15/metro-north-announces-sw
eping-series-safety-reforms
>>
>>
>> Automated Track Inspection: Metro-North has developed a comprehensive
>> automated track inspection plan. This plan includes the use of track
>> geometry measurements, machine vision track inspection, and rail internal
>> defect testing. These efforts will augment the visual inspections
>> conducted
>> by the railroad. Metro-North is purchasing an autonomous track monitoring
>> system to be mounted on passenger rail cars, to provide continuous
>> information about the condition of the right-of-way. The railroad will
>> also
>> obtain a dedicated track geometry vehicle.
>
> So... they're going to catch up to where the Class 1 railroads have been
> for a decade or so?
>
>>
>> This is what is needed for those 120 car oil trains.  They need a sensors
>> on
>> every oil train
>
> I'll bet you $100 that the Metro North autonomous system not be installed
> on every train; that they will be put on a only a few cars; that they will
> not actually measure the track but will actually be accelerometers to
> measure "ride quality"; and, In general will work exactly the same (and
> probably be bought from the same vendor) as the ones currently installed
> on
> dozens if not hundreds of freight locomotives.
>
> Dan

And how many?  Do the RRs pay any attention to the results, or do they just
say "let them bump along?"  Obviously even Amtrak's NY-DC track is quite
rough in places.  Enough to knock the food off the dining car tables.
Imagine an oil tanker being roughed up like that and the mangement saying
ok.  And you can't tell me that track conditions at Lac-Megantic had nothing
to do with the accident.  If the track were in top-notch condition, would
not the train have rolled through town?  Could have.  It is easy to arrest
the engineer, who was asleep in a motel, then to look at conditons managed
by a third-tier short line.

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