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March 30, 2022
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Research Train Set rolls through Miami County If you happened to be near the railroad tracks running through Peru March 22, you may have noticed something a little different rolling by. To be exact, it was a Research (track geometry) Train Set. The set is burgundy in color with features unique to what is normally observed on the rails. The set includes the NS Research No. 34 platform which has a different shape to it but similar to an engine of today. Behind the platform is the NS Research car, No. 33. The back end of car has a large, glass window. Both are pulled by a locomotive/engine that most are familiar with when referring to style/color. The job of a Research Train Set is to keep the rails safe. According to an article written by the late Russ McDaniel, former Norfolk Southern Director of Process Improvement, Research and Tests, the NS 34 has many components used to acquire information. McDaniel wrote “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 onboard 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. NS is outfitting a second track geometry consist (coach NS 36 and former NS locomotive 38) that will be configured similarly to NS 33/34. NS expects the new consist to be in service by the end of first-quarter See Train, Page 2
Vol. 3, No. 13
Proudly Serving Miami County
Riding the Rails A Research Train Set rolled through the town of Peru March 22. Platform No. 34 and car No. 33 are used by Norfolk Southern to observe rail conditions. Photos by Michelle Boswell