New Measurement Train
 

This passed my house today. Video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHjOQv0ur2M

Alan,
Was that the first time that the NMT had visited the Sleaford-Lincoln line?
When it was first introduced it tended to keep to the higher speed routes but recently I have seen quite a few reports of it on secondary lines. I wonder if Network Rail have changed their inspection strategies?

Yep, first time down here. We usually have the converted 150. Nice to have a change. :)

Nice clip. What's it actually doing? Checking alignment, track level, and....?

It has got to be a lot more sophisticated than the old white-wash-bucket train.

I believe it records all sorts of data about track condition. But in this area all you have to do is look along the track with a telephoto lens or binoculars (or naked eye) to see that it could use some tweaking! :rolleyes:

According to the official interim report the "New Measurement Train" passed through Grayrigg two days before the Pendolino derailment and took photos of the damaged points. Unfortunately there was no provision in the system to automatically flag up these faults and they went unnoticed.:(

So unless someone studies the trace, any faults are not seen? :(

That was my point.
I just hope it is more than a big yellow train with a CCTV camera pointing downwards.

Fear not, it measures and records all sorts of track geometry, as well as checking the catenary structure when necessary. There's a little bit about it on the Wiki page here...... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network...surement_Train

Very interesting article

Thanks for the link foghut, very enlightening. :)

No worries.

(Actually I've always fancied driving the "banana", it looks like a cool job. I applied to Serco with that in mind, but I don't have HST experience and I don't sign the WCML or the ECML, so they turned their noses up at me. :( )

:D And then it splashes a bit of whitewash on the track.

(interesting article. It would be great to blag a guided tour of the Banana )

Yes there's a fair old bit of kit in it. I had a good peer through the windows when the driver was changing ends at Bedford once. There were lots of 19" racks full of gear, and a fair few PC stations as well.

(Another trivia fact; there was a notice in the WONs recently advising railstaff that there is a very bright light coming from underneath the train when it's operating, and not to keep reprting it to the signaller).

Coming to think of it IIRC, Rail magazine did an article on it a while ago if anyone has kept their copy.