rails while measuring equipment mon- itors the track gauge deflection under the loads applied. These cars are cus- tom made by each railroad, often con- structed from an old locomotive (for the needed frame weight and strength), so likely no two are alike. A gauge-re- straint measurement car will typically have coupled to it a car for the monitor- ing and recording equipment. These recording cars are usually repurposed passenger cars.
CHRIS D’AMATO: MANVILLE, NJ; JULY 29, 1998
While a gang of track laborers replaces ties on one track, the other tracks remain in serv- ice (left). Railroads carry out their track maintenance programs with an eye on causing as little disruption to traffic as possible. The rear car on this Conrail inspection train (above) has theater style seating facing a large rear window to provide a good view of the tracks. These rebuilt F-units (below) are used by the Norfolk Southern for its executive trains. In- spection trains, like this one on the NS, usually rate clean locomotives. While it looks like a locomotive and weighs as much as one, Norfolk Southern No. 34 (bottom) is actually a research car. It was built from a former Norfolk & Western SD35. Pulled by a locomotive, No. 34 and accompanying research car No. 33 are used for track geometry tests.
Creating a gauge-restraint measur- ing car will require some modeling skill, with photos or drawings of a specific car. Fortunately for us modelers, we can start the project just like the prototype railroad, with an old locomotive. Operations of these special cars over the railroad are the same as geometry cars. In fact these two track perform- ance measuring cars may be included in the same consist.
The nuts and bolts trains One of the best known non-revenue trains is the wreck train. Operated more by the mechanical department rather than m.o.w. crews, these trains are called out to clear the railroad after a major derailment. As the line is re- stored,
this train re-rails wrecked
equipment and may pull the damaged cars back to the shops.
Once called out onto the railroad,
this train has top priority. In most cas- es, nothing will run further until the wreck train can get there and do its job. The wreck train, of course will include
CHRIS D’AMATO: RALEIGH, NC; OCT. 27, 2008
of the equipment discussed here. A similar train in appearance and function is a track geometry train. This train has special measurement record- ing equipment mounted in and under a re-assigned passenger car; checking the railroad for track ride qualities. These trains are normally staffed with trained engineering employees rather than top company officials.
Modeling a geometry train requires a replica of the measurement recording car. This car would have sensors mounted on the trucks to record track irregularities, and they may also have a special window arrangement for their service, such as a small extended window like the all-weather type found on some locomotive cabs to allow the technicians limited forward visibility. Some of these cars may also have a rear observation platform. Operation of these trains are classi-
fied as work extras and they run only over the mainline and passing sidings.
RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN 71
A close cousin and more recent addi- tion of many major railroads’ track measuring
equipment is the gauge-restraint measuring car. CASEY THOMASON: IRONDALE, AL; NOV. 16, 2008
track As
these cars are pulled along, one or more special car axles push out on both
a “big hook” wrecking crane. These cranes vary in size from 100 to 250 ton lifting capacities. Steam powered cranes will typically have a tender car to supply water and coal or oil for fuel. These ten- ders may be a custom made car or re-use an old steam locomotive tender. Other cars in a well-equipped wreck train will include several cars with rig- ging and supplies. These supply cars include flatcars carrying large spread-
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