Other Rail Geometry Cars
FRA and non-Amtrak Test Cars

Note- most pictures are links to larger images
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) owns and operates a number of specialized tow behind and self propelled testing vehicles for monitoring track geometry. Pictured above is the FRA T-16 geometry car featuring Ensco geometry systems and the KLD laser camera gauge system. The Metroliner cab car used to build the T-16 was acquired from Amtrak. This is a strictly tow behind vehicle and is not self propelled. The Righthand picture is of the T-16 in Tehachapee pass in California in early 2001. Click here for more
In 2000 the FRA took receipt of the self propelled T-2000 car from Plasser corporation of Lenz Austria. It also has the Ensco geometry system but uses the Ensco laser gauge box technology for measuring the gauge of the track. The car is capable of 100+ MPH operation in travel and test mode. Click here for more
New Jersey's state commuter authority, "New Jersey Transit" (or just NJT)had a special test car built by Fairmont Tamper to test geometry on their lines. They recently suffered a fire on board, putting this gorgeous piece of test equipment out of service. They are in the process of rebuild and will hopefully have it done soon.Click here for more
The T-10 is another FRA geometry test car that travels all over the country. It is a self propelled unit and again uses Ensco technology for it's basis and uses the Ensco laser gauge boxes for measuring track gauge. The T-10 like all ensco designed systems also uses differential GPS satellite positioning to label data with exact coordinates in latitude and longitude.
If you are interested in the equipment used for geometry testing on the 10003, see.....
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