• Lessons learned: How Lac-Megantic helped put short lines on the continuous safety improvement track

Rail Industry Component:
Plasser American Corporation: Track Geometry Cars

Plasser track recording cars are universal track inspection and recording vehicles for operation on all types of rail networks. Measurement of the track structure, rail and catenary wire is performed with high accuracy to provide high-quality recordings and exception reports, the company says. The track recording cars can be used to carry out measurements and recordings for regular inspection of track, rail and the catenary system simultaneously in one measuring run. Plasser's self-propelled, ontrack recording cars are standard equipped with a noncontact track geometry measuring system with integrated GPS navigation and dual optical gauge measurement (dual OGMS) to record the track geometry. The machines can be equipped with a variety of optional measuring and video systems such as: rail profile measuring system; axle box acceleration measuring system; car body acceleration measuring system; corrugation measuring system; tunnel clearance measuring system; ballast profile measuring system; catenary wire geometry measuring system with pole detection system; pantograph for dynamic catenary wire geometry measurements; catenary parameter measuring system (voltage, pantograph pressure, etc.); traction plate position measuring system; driver's view video system (in direction of travel); catenary wire video system; rail component video monitoring system (rail surface, rail fastenings, rail fishplates, joint bars, concrete sleeper condition); third-rail video system; and thermal imaging video system.