Скачать или смотреть Norfolk Southern Geometry Train set, NS 9647 leading NS 34 paired with NS Research Car NS 33

Norfolk Southern geometry train set, NS 34 paired with research car NS 33, caught on dash cam eastbound at the Forge Road crossing in Palmyra, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.

View my full train playlist with dozens of videos on my channel:
   • Trains  

NS 9647, GE Dash 9-44CW, 4,400 horsepower, built 2-2001.

A NS 34 is a former locomotive slug used for testing track geometry. The vehicle is ballasted to elicit a response from the track similar to that of a loaded car or locomotive.

An inertial package with a laser/camera system is mounted on one of the trucks to measure irregularities in track geometry and to acquire data on rail wear.

A high-resolution machine vision system also acquires data on rail surface and crosstie/fastener condition. The cab was added to house the computers, control equipment, and a GPS system.

NS 34 also contains a generator that powers its on-board systems, as well as the converted coach, NS 33, to which NS 34 is mated.

NS 33 has monitors that display the data acquired by the sensors and measuring devices on NS 34, and NS 33 also was recently equipped with a rotating laser to measure and evaluate clearances, ballast profiles, and track centers.

NS 33 has a galley and theater seating looking toward a large back picture window for track, bridge, and signal supervisors who ride in the car.

Norfolk Southern’s Research and Tests Department operate NS 33 and 34 to test track for the engineering department. The data the cars produce pinpoint track defects (which are quickly repaired) and are important for preventing accidents, and planning routine and system maintenance work.

The track parameters it measures include gauge (the distance between the rails), curvature, cross level (the difference in height between rails in curves), cant (the outward flexing of the rails), and other characteristics critical to safe operations. The system also measures the amount of steel worn off the top- and gauge-faces of the rails.

NS 34 was originally Norfolk & Western SD35 No. 1530, which General Motors built in 1965. The East End Locomotive Shops rebuilt it in 1977 as a road slug, model RP-E6, and renumbered it 9921, then 9951. NS put the slug into storage in 1993, then rebuilt it in 1998 to carry the track measuring system for Research and Tests.

NS 33, built by Pullman Standard in 1950, began service as a Union Pacific coach. In 1971, UP sold it to the Alaska Railroad, which renumbered it 5441. Alaska Railroad retired 5441 in 1987 and sold it to St. Louis Car. NS bought the car in 1994, and rebuilt it at Roanoke’s East End Passenger Car Shop for the Research and Tests Department. NS put the car (now 33) in service on Aug. 9, 1999.

NS 33 and 34 travel the system several times a year and test more than 18,000 miles of heavy-duty main line annually. The cars are operated by two Research and Tests Department engineers and staffed by Maintenance of Way & Structures managers responsible for track, bridge, and signal maintenance.

Information from www.trains.com.

(Video by Dan’s Cool Videos)
Thanks for watching. If you liked this video, make sure to subscribe for more!