Abstract: A system and method for automating railroad maintenance by a tie gang using electronic tie marking (ETM) configured to optimize railroad asset maintenance. The system enables collision avoidance between members of the tie gang performing maintenance on railway assets (e.g., Rails, Ties, Ballasts, Turnouts, Crossings, etc.). The system can generate production numbers for the railway assets and evaluate an asset queue for the tie gang to perform maintenance. The system can utilize real-time updates from the tie gang to optimize work output. The system can provide a customizable user interface to identify, track, and process information related to maintenance of the railroad asset. The system also provides for a heads-up-display (HUD) to notify an operator of relevant information, such as maintenance information, travel indicators, and updated asset queue. The system can identify a next location and calculate an optimum path based on sensor input incorporating machine-specific and environmental characteristics.

Abstract: The invention concerns a vehicle guided on a railway track comprising a chassis and at least one wheel assembly interconnected to the chassis and a method for steering said vehicle. The wheel assembly comprises a cross-member having a first end to which a first hub is interconnected by a first steering joint and a second end to which a second hub is interconnected by a second steering joint. A first wheel is attached to the first hub rotatable around a first rotation axis and a second wheel is attached to the second hub rotatable around a second rotation axis. A first sensor determines the lateral position of the first sensor with respect to the rail. The first sensor is attached to the first hub and is, with respect to a direction of travel arranged in front of the supporting area of the first wheel in a horizontal direction spaced a distance A1 apart.

Abstract: A railroad tie formed of a polymeric or polymeric composite material and configured for enhanced mechanical interaction with an underlying ballast. The tie includes at least a top longitudinal surface, a pair of side longitudinal surfaces, a bottom longitudinal surface, and two end faces. At least the bottom longitudinal surface includes a plurality of indentations formed along a length thereof. Additionally, the tie includes at least one serrated edge portion having a plurality of serrations, the at least one serrated edge portion formed along at least part of the longitudinal length of the tie at an edge between at least one of the side longitudinal surfaces and the bottom longitudinal surface to provide for enhanced mechanical interaction with the ballast.

Abstract: An articulated rail coupler comprises a base member, a female connecting member, a male connecting member, a bearing race, a first bearing seated within the bearing race and defining a vertical axis of rotation, and a second or a coupler bearing configured and sized to be received within a truck bogie bearing bowl. The male connecting member is allowed to rotate relative to the female connecting member about the vertical axis of rotation in a range of about ninety degrees, when the male connecting member and the female connecting member are coupled therebetween by the first bearing.

Abstract: A ride system for an amusement park includes a ride vehicle configured to carry one or more passengers. The ride system further includes a first evacuation platform comprising a first section configured to be moved and disposed underneath the ride vehicle, wherein in use, the one or more passengers evacuate the ride vehicle by exiting onto the first section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tamping assembly for tamping sleepers of a track, comprising a tamping unit having oppositely positioned tamping tools which are mounted on a lowerable tool carrier and connected in each case to a squeezing drive for generating a squeezing motion, wherein an eccentric drive having an eccentric shaft is provided for generating a vibratory motion. In this, it is provided that each squeezing drive is supported on a console having a ring-shaped housing section which is mounted on an eccentric section, associated with the squeezing drive, of the eccentric shaft.

Abstract: A method of assembling a railcar bogie includes: a positioning step of locking a wheelbase fixing jig to a pair of axle box devices to position the pair of axle box devices such that a wheelbase between a pair of wheelsets supported by the respective axle box devices becomes a predetermined designed value, the pair of axle box devices being arranged away from each other in a car longitudinal direction, the wheelbase fixing jig extending in the car longitudinal direction; a plate spring arranging step of making the pair of axle box devices support a plate spring extending in the car longitudinal direction; and a bogie frame arranging step of making a longitudinal direction middle portion of the plate spring support a bogie frame and coupling the bogie frame to the pair of axle box devices.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a monorail system configured and arranged for displacing at least one maintenance device configured and arranged for machining substantially vertically extending surfaces. Another aspect is directed to a maintenance system consisting of at least one maintenance device which is displaceable on the monorail system.

Abstract: A deployable measurement system for analyzing a rail of a railroad track includes a housing, a reflecting assembly coupled to the housing, a movement assembly coupled to the housing, and an optical measurement system disposed within the housing. Both the housing and the reflecting assembly are moveable between a stored position and a deployed position. The movement assembly includes a deployment assembly that moves the reflecting assembly from the stored position to the deployed position, and a retraction assembly that moves the reflecting assembly from the deployed position to the stored position. The optical measurement system emits and receives light. The reflecting assembly reflects the emitted light toward the rail. The reflecting assembly reflects light reflected off of the rail toward the optical measurement system. The light received by the optical measurement system is used to measure parameters related to the rail.

Abstract: A system for use with an analog DC model train, the system includes a base unit to electronically communicate with a track of the analog DC model train, the base unit having a receiver; one or more microcontrollers; a potentiometer; a digital stepper motor connected to the digital stepper motor and to provide torque to turn the potentiometer; a controller to communicate wirelessly with the receiver, the controller having a control to send a command the base unit to set a first numerical value associated with a position of the digital stepper motor; the first numerical value can be retrieved by the base unit based on commands from the controller to set the position of the digital stepper motor.

Abstract: Provided is a computer-implemented method for determining a communication status in a train consist operating in a distributed power system, the train consist including a lead locomotive and a plurality of remote locomotives. The method includes, for each remote locomotive of the plurality of remote locomotives that receives the command message directly from the lead locomotive, setting the message source indicator of the remote locomotive to a first state representative of a direct receipt of the command message, incrementing the message source counter for each response message received by the remote locomotive from other remote locomotives in which the respective message source indicator is set to the first state, generating a response message including a value of the message source indicator and a value of the message source counter, and transmitting the response message. A system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A ride vehicle system includes a ride track and a ride vehicle. The ride track includes a vehicle rail and an accessory rail. The ride vehicle includes a ride vehicle base, a show element coupled to the ride vehicle base, and a mechanical linkage. The ride vehicle base is configured to interface with the vehicle rail of the ride track and to move along the vehicle rail of the ride track. The show element coupled to the ride vehicle base is configured to actuate with respect to the ride vehicle base. The mechanical linkage includes a first end coupled to the show element and a second end coupled to the accessory rail of the ride track. The mechanical linkage is configured to move along the accessory rail and to actuate the show element based at least in part on a position of the accessory rail with respect to the vehicle rail.

Abstract: A cushioning apparatus for a railway car employs a shortened yoke having a draft gear housing integral with the yoke. A stack elastomeric pads is provided in the housing, and a second stack of elastomeric pads and corresponding rigid metal plates, is positioned in the sill behind the modified yoke to absorb buff loads on the coupler. In embodiments, the entire assembly may be placed in a sill having forward stops, intermediate stops, and rear stops.

Abstract: In a method for producing different rail variants from an assembly set, and system having a vehicle which is movable on a rail part, the assembly set includes a rail profile part and two different reactive components, and the rail profile part includes an interface at which one of the different reactive components is optionally able to be connected.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining the relationship between a track-circuit current signal and a railway vehicle location, including: sending, by a track circuit, current signal across a railway track block; measuring the current signal for different railway vehicles running successively on the railway track block; aligning the measured current signals and calculating a reference curve as the average value of all the aligned curves by using a Dynamic Time Warping algorithm, this reference curve representing the relationship between the track-circuit current signal and the railway vehicle location on the railway track block.

Abstract: A method and associated system for determining a maintenance status for a pantograph arranged on a vehicle and/or a contact wire intended to be in electrical contact with the pantograph. Monitoring at least longitudinal, vertical or lateral accelerations of the pantograph. Detecting an acceleration pattern based on the monitored accelerations of the pantograph. Determining accelerations in a direction above a predetermined value in the detected acceleration pattern. Determining a maintenance status for the pantograph and/or the contact wire based on the detected acceleration pattern, and wherein the maintenance status indicates a level of wear on the pantograph and/or the contact wire.

Abstract: A system and method for automating railroad maintenance for a tie gang using electronic tie marking (ETM) configured to optimize railroad asset maintenance. The system enables the automating of an adaptive maintenance process for the asset that is being maintainanced. The system can identify a railroad asset scheduled for maintenance using various forms of inspection including real-time kinematic (RTK)-corrected GPS data, radar signal processing data, and real-time imaging. The system also provides for the acquisition and upload of asset pictures for verification and analysis of a railroad asset. The system can identify a next location to perform maintenance and can calculate an optimum path based on sensor input incorporating machine-specific and environmental characteristics. The system further can provide a customizable user interface to identify, track, and process information related to maintenance of the railroad asset.

Abstract: A low-profile catenary hanger, catenary wire system, and a method for supporting an electrical contact wire in relation to a messenger wire wherein a wire clamping assembly clamps about the contact wire, and a wire corral assembly is fixed to the clamping assembly. The corral assembly defines an adjustable reception corral through which the messenger wire is received without fastening so that the contact wire can rise without a consequent lifting of the messenger wire. The clamping assembly has a first clamping member with a keystone-shaped projection and a second clamping member with a keystone-shaped slot that can slidably receive the keystone-shaped projection to fix the clamping members together by operation of a setscrew. The clamping members together define a wire reception volume, and each clamping member has an engaging tooth whereby a contact wire with opposed longitudinal grooves can be clamped and retained by the clamping assembly.

Abstract: This rapid descent device comprises a valve comprising two chambers, at least one rub strip fastened to the body of the current-collector bow of the pantograph, intended to come into contact with the overhead wire and equipped with degradation detection circuit, at least one supply line of fluid to the main chamber of the valve, at least one feed line intended to feed this fluid to the pilot chamber of the valve, as well as at least one detection line extending from the pilot chamber of the valve, to feed a respective detection circuit. The rapid descent device comprises means for temporary shut out of the feeding of fluid of the main chamber, which reliably ensures the initial raising of the pantograph until the pantograph comes into contact with the overhead wire.

Abstract: A speed control and track change detection device for railways is characterised in that it comprises three high-frequency radar sensors located at the vertices of an imaginary triangle and a digital processing device for processing the signals detected by the radars, wherein in the case of the speed control system, both sensors are located at 1 m distance from each other along the axis of the path of the railway and inspect the ground of the infrastructure 2 cm away from the outside of each rail, and according to the temporal offset of the signals obtained the digital processing device estimates the exact speed of the train.