I saw this in one of the random photo galleries, maybe Bob’s?:
Thanks, just curious…
Boy if I had to guess it looks like a mobile office. It sure is interesting. Could this be the modern version of a private parlor car for execs or engineers or job foreman?
That is the modern version of the Sperry rail car, which, using electronic scanners, analyzes the rails, as it moves along the track, looking for metallurgical flaws in the steel rails. It documents where, and what type of flaws it finds. These machines are being improved almost faster than you can believe, as technology changes, however at this point in time, there are still many flaws that don’t get found. The roll of track workers is still needed, to actually be “On the ground” to observe the dynamics of steel wheel on rail, to prevent many derailments, especially with the heavier, and heavier axle loads demanded by the rail transport industry. Too bad that there are increasingly fewer and fewer MOW people employed by the railroad companies each year, leading up to many of the major derailments we keep hearing about.
These railcars also can record track gauge, and rail wear at the same time.
Fred Mills