Western Railroad Discussion > Inspecting The Tracks At Santa Barbara

Track inspection car EC-4 evaluates the rails as it works on Main Track 2 at Santa Barbara yesterday.

This train came up from Los Angeles yesterday, worked both main tracks at Santa Barbara, then took off to points north. It's expected to work north of San Luis Obispo today.

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Great catch..

Posted from Android

Is it being pushed, pulled, or both?  I thought it needs to follow a loaded car, but how heavy is that flat?

Always good stuff from You!

North of Santa Barbara yesterday

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In the original picture, they're being pulled north on Track 2, after meeting Amtrak 790, which was on Track 1.

After getting to the north end, the shoved back south on Track 1, this picture, before taking off north.

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      Always being pulled other than short runs of being shoved into a siding or industry track to get out of the way. The entire reason it has the locomotive on it is to cut through the snow, ice, weeds, grass and paper bags on the tracks at crossings. . . . . . .

Could someone explain how the car works?

http://www.plasseramerican.com/en/machines-systems/measuring-work-ec-5.html

The coast line may be shut down in Santa Barbara county at La Conchita due to mud over the rails and 101 north bound is closed.  I am just guessing as the rail line is just up from the highway as the 101 is now closed.

The tracks have been cleared for operation at the mudslide, with rule 6.21.3 in effect from 381 to 382.7.

But, there are other issues.

They're checking on a reported washout south of there, and another tree down.

Meantime, Surfliner 784 at Santa Barbara is bringing 761's consist south, after 761 was unable to make San Luis Obispo today. The combined train is 2 hours late.

There have been numerous issues today, and it just started raining again in Carpinteria after an hour-long respite.

Posted from iPhone

The Coast Line always seems to get more than its fair share of problems whenever it rains.  

dcfbalcoS1 Wrote:
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> The entire reason it
> has the locomotive on it is to cut through the
> snow, ice, weeds, grass and paper bags on the
> tracks at crossings. . . . . . .

I hope you're kidding!

It says "Today's Data, Tomorrow's Technology"  

10 years ago that car was self-propelled, wasn't it?  

Maybe they can modify the slogan to say "No Longer On Par With Yesterday's Technology..." 

Ted in OR

the assesses track geometry in real time under load of a train ... it detects and records defects and deviationss in level measurements ...

Level 1 being a defect that needs immediate attn and the either restricted or put oos ... a NO NO for the section supv in the hot seat ...

Level 2 is a deviation that needs attn within 30 days or it will become a level 1 ...


Level 3 and 4 are locations that are not critical but are picked up by the machine's measuring equipment ...