Strange device on GA Class 90

[Bringback309s]

Boarded the 15.00 LST - NOR yesterday and after getting off at Colchester noticed a strange device bolted to the back of the loco at the rear of the train - not quick enough to get a photo unfortunately as the train pulled out of the station. It was as tall as the loco and looked like some sort of camera or scanner, black in colour. Have never seen anything like it before, does anyone know anything about it?

 

[MisterT]

A RILA perhaps?
https://www.fugro.com/our-services/asset-integrity/raildata/rila-track-rila-360

 

[swt_passenger]

Is it one of those portable track recording systems that can be fitted to the front of a loco or MU? I'm searching for an image but Google isn't liking my terminology yet.
MisterT has found it, RILA.

 

[MisterT]

Their RILA systems are used in quite a few countries, including The Netherlands. I had one attached to a train I drove a few weeks ago, so I recognised the description

 

[Darandio]

One in action on a 90 here (not my photo): https://www.flickr.com/photos/oldbu...Uay-vJPQdi-Mp31Nz-NmRGUp-Mp32GZ-NmRHLe-Mp33PP

 

[hexagon789]

One in action on a 90 here (not my photo): https://www.flickr.com/photos/oldbu...Uay-vJPQdi-Mp31Nz-NmRGUp-Mp32GZ-NmRHLe-Mp33PP

Interesting, so does it use cameras to video the track or something?

 

[dp21]

Interesting, so does it use cameras to video the track or something?

Yup and lasers I believe.

 

[hexagon789]

Yup and lasers I believe.

Wasn't sure about the lasers

 

[dp21]

Wasn't sure about the lasers

I think it's like a lot of other systems in place where the laser is beamed against the track and it uses a camera system of sorts to capture the reflections to plot the profile.

I believe SWR have underframe mounted laser systems for the running and conductor rails.

 

[hexagon789]

I think it's like a lot of other systems in place where the laser is beamed against the track and it uses a camera system of sorts to capture the reflections to plot the profile.

I believe SWR have underframe mounted laser systems for the running and conductor rails.

That makes sense. Presumably this is a cheaper alternative to using the NMT.

 

[dp21]

That makes sense. Presumably this is a cheaper alternative to using the NMT.

My understanding is that using these systems means that they can get far more frequent readings rather than one off(ish) measurement trains and it's also much cheaper, yep you're right.

 

[hexagon789]

My understanding is that using these systems means that they can get far more frequent readings rather than one off(ish) measurement trains and it's also much cheaper, yep you're right.

More frequent readings but presumably less accurate than the NMT.

 

[dp21]

More frequent readings but presumably less accurate than the NMT.

Fraid I don't know to be honest!

 

[hexagon789]

Fraid I don't know to be honest!

No worries, I'm just making an assumption anyway. There has to be some reason for still running the NMT if this kit can perform more frequent reading for less cost, perhaps the NMT provides more information if not more accurate information.

 

[twpsaesneg]

No worries, I'm just making an assumption anyway. There has to be some reason for still running the NMT if this kit can perform more frequent reading for less cost, perhaps the NMT provides more information if not more accurate information.

NMT doesn't do a LiDAR profile.
The output can be used for design purposes, you get 3D cloud point which can then be post-processed into a CAD model.
It's a natural progression from the orthomapped CAD created from steroscopic images on WCRM project, through the Aerial LiDAR used on MML and GWML in the early days.

The accuracy is pretty good - not enough for track yet I don't believe but for other disciplines very useful.

Structure Gauging Train does take a profile, but it is more limited in scope (or was when I worked with it!).

 

[hexagon789]

NMT doesn't do a LiDAR profile.
The output can be used for design purposes, you get 3D cloud point which can then be post-processed into a CAD model.
It's a natural progression from the orthomapped CAD created from steroscopic images on WCRM project, through the Aerial LiDAR used on MML and GWML in the early days.

The accuracy is pretty good - not enough for track yet I don't believe but for other disciplines very useful.

Structure Gauging Train does take a profile, but it is more limited in scope (or was when I worked with it!).

I thought there must be some differences, thanks for the clarification

 

[Bringback309s]

Thanks guys! Thats exactly what it was. Never seen one!

 

[Class 170101]

Regarding the NMT. Only the Class 950 has been around where that Class 90 was photographed. I've never seen the yellow HST come across to Anglia.

 

[hexagon789]

Regarding the NMT. Only the Class 950 has been around where that Class 90 was photographed. I've never seen the yellow HST come across to Anglia.

I'd no idea one way or the other. The NMT is the first one that comes to mind for me anyway.

 

[LAX54]

Boarded the 15.00 LST - NOR yesterday and after getting off at Colchester noticed a strange device bolted to the back of the loco at the rear of the train - not quick enough to get a photo unfortunately as the train pulled out of the station. It was as tall as the loco and looked like some sort of camera or scanner, black in colour. Have never seen anything like it before, does anyone know anything about it?

Last year too they had a period where these were attached to the rear of a London set for a few trips (think it takes about 10 mins or so to move them from one end of the train to the other)

 

[AnonymousUser1]

More frequent readings but presumably less accurate than the NMT.

which might , however mean they need to schedule the full assessments by a measurment train less frequently by combining and correcting data

 

[hexagon789]

which might , however mean they need to schedule the full assessments by a measurment train less frequently by combining and correcting data

True, I don't doubt it's worthwhile, I just wondered what the NMT could do that this system couldn't that's all.

 

[tsr]

The NMT isn't cleared for all routes, anyway, though other "yellow trains" can sometimes be cleared where the NMT isn't.

I suppose one reason for SWR having monitoring equipment could perhaps be because there has never been a need to check that HSTs or other stock used by Network Rail or contractors (modified or otherwise) can work over the routes they operate. It would mean that the regular traction, which is known to be run safely and routinely, can perform a subset of the duties which measurement trains would otherwise be needed for.

 

[Darandio]

Regarding the NMT. Only the Class 950 has been around where that Class 90 was photographed. I've never seen the yellow HST come across to Anglia.

Do you mean the picture I posted at Colchester? I don't think it's a regular visitor at all, but the NMT has been there.

 

[Class 170101]

Do you mean the picture I posted at Colchester? I don't think it's a regular visitor at all, but the NMT has been there.

Yes to the picture. The Class 950 was stabled at Colchester a week or so back.

 

[swt_passenger]

I think the major difference between the NMT (and its stablemates) and anything fitted to in-service units is that the latter are purely measuring and recording devices. The NMT can IIRC analyse the track condition ‘on the fly’ and the onboard operators can mark the faulty locations as it passes.

 

[swt_passenger]

The NMT isn't cleared for all routes, anyway, though other "yellow trains" can sometimes be cleared where the NMT isn't.

I suppose one reason for SWR having monitoring equipment could perhaps be because there has never been a need to check that HSTs or other stock used by Network Rail or contractors (modified or otherwise) can work over the routes they operate. It would mean that the regular traction, which is known to be run safely and routinely, can perform a subset of the duties which measurement trains would otherwise be needed for.

The NMT did (and may still) run on what is now SWR’s network west of Basingstoke. I’ve also seen it in Southampton now and again, on one occasion arriving from and departing to the west.

 

[43096]

The NMT did (and may still) run on what is now SWR’s network west of Basingstoke. I’ve also seen it in Southampton now and again, on one occasion arriving from and departing to the west.

HSTs are passed over a sizeable area of SWR: Waterloo-Bournemouth, Basingstoke-Exeter and Waterloo-Reading for a start. If there was a need for the NMT to operate in that area, then it probably could be arranged.