Abstract: A system for inspecting railroad ties in a railroad track includes a light generator, an optical receiver and a processor. The light generator is oriented to project a beam of light across the railroad track while moving along the railroad track in a travel direction. The optical receiver is oriented to receive at least a portion of the beam of light reflected from the railroad track and configured to generate image data representative of a profile of at least a portion of the railroad track. The processor is configured to analyze the image data by applying one or more algorithms configured to find boundaries of a railroad tie and determine one or more condition metrics associated with the railroad tie.

Abstract: A system for inspecting railroad ties in a railroad track includes a light generator, an optical receiver and a processor. The light generator is oriented to project a beam of light across the railroad track while moving along the railroad track in a travel direction. The optical receiver is oriented to receive at least a portion of the beam of light reflected from the railroad track and configured to generate image data representative of a profile of at least a portion of the railroad track. The processor is configured to analyze the image data by applying one or more algorithms configured to find boundaries of a railroad tie and determine one or more condition metrics associated with the railroad tie.

Abstract: A system for inspecting railroad ties in a railroad track includes a light generator, an optical receiver and a processor. The light generator is oriented to project a beam of light across the railroad track while moving along the railroad track in a travel direction. The optical receiver is oriented to receive at least a portion of the beam of light reflected from the railroad track and configured to generate image data representative of a profile of at least a portion of the railroad track. The processor is configured to analyze the image data by applying one or more algorithms configured to find boundaries of a railroad tie and determine one or more condition metrics associated with the railroad tie.

Abstract: A system and method for daylight inspection of a surface, such as a railroad track, is disclosed. The disclosed system includes lasers, cameras, and a processor. The lasers are positioned adjacent the surface. The laser emits a beam of light across the surface at a combined intensity of at least 0.15 watts of intensity per inch of width of the surface, and the camera captures images of the surface having the beam of light emitted thereon. The camera includes a bandpass filter which passes only a band of light corresponding to a dip in solar radiation. The laser is selected to provide an emitted light beam which is more intense than the solar radiation at the dip. The processor formats the images so that they can be analyzed to determine various measurable aspects of the surface. The system and method includes one or more algorithms for determining these measurable aspects of the surface.

Abstract: A railroad car may comprise a frame comprising a first side and a second side laterally opposing each other. The railroad car may further comprise a first elastomeric mat and a second elastomeric mat supported by a plurality of reinforcement cables, the first and second elastomeric mats forming a load-carrying receptacle. Each elastomeric mat may have an outer edge and an inner edge, the inner edge of the first elastomeric mat abutting the inner edge of the second elastomeric mat when the load-carrying receptacle is in a closed configuration. The railroad car may further comprise a first pulley connected to the first side of the frame and a second pulley connected to the second side of the frame, the first pulley and second pulley each having a respective axis of rotation parallel to a direction of travel of the railroad car.

Abstract: A method to increase the accuracy of the interpolation of railroad mileposts is disclosed. Based upon image data and data provided in customer track charts, reference points are selected along the track, and their location is verified using GPS data. Once verified, the locations of various points between the reference points are determined using mathematical interpolation.

Abstract: A system and method for determining rail seat abrasion of a rail road track is disclosed. An inspection system comprises lasers, cameras, and processors adapted to determine whether rail seat abrasion is present along the track. The processor employs a mathematics based algorithm which compensates for tilt encountered as the inspection system moves along the track.

Abstract: A railroad car may comprise a frame comprising a first side and a second side laterally opposing each other. The railroad car may further comprise a first elastomeric mat and a second elastomeric mat supported by a plurality of reinforcement cables, the first and second elastomeric mats forming a load-carrying receptacle. Each elastomeric mat may have an outer edge and an inner edge, the inner edge of the first elastomeric mat abutting the inner edge of the second elastomeric mat when the load-carrying receptacle is in a closed configuration. The railroad car may further comprise a first pulley connected to the first side of the frame and a second pulley connected to the second side of the frame, the first pulley and second pulley each having a respective axis of rotation parallel to a direction of travel of the railroad car.

Abstract: A method to increase the accuracy of the interpolation of railroad mileposts is disclosed. Based upon image data and data provided in customer track charts, reference points are selected along the track, and their location is verified using GPS data. Once verified, the locations of various points between the reference points are determined using mathematical interpolation.

Abstract: A system and method for determining rail seat abrasion of a rail road track is disclosed. An inspection system comprises lasers, cameras, and processors adapted to determine whether rail seat abrasion is present along the track. The processor employs a mathematics based algorithm which compensates for tilt encountered as the inspection system moves along the track.

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting railroad track is disclosed. The disclosed system includes lasers, cameras, and a processor. The lasers are positioned adjacent the track. The laser emits a beam of light across the railroad track, and the camera captures images of the railroad track having the beam of light emitted thereon. The processor formats the images so that they can be analyzed to determine various measurable aspects of the railroad track. The disclosed system can include a GPS receiver or a distance device for determining location data. The measurable aspects that can be determined by the disclosed system include but are not limited to the spacing between crossties, the angle of ties with respect to rail, cracks and defects in surface of ties, missing fastener components, misaligned fastener components, sunken tie plates, raised spikes, rail wear, gage of rail, ballast height relative to ties, size of ballast stones, and break or separation in the rail.

Abstract: A system and method for daylight inspection of a surface, such as a railroad track, is disclosed. The disclosed system includes lasers, cameras, and a processor. The lasers are positioned adjacent the surface. The laser emits a beam of light across the surface at a combined intensity of at least 0.15 watts of intensity per inch of width of the surface, and the camera captures images of the surface having the beam of light emitted thereon. The camera includes a bandpass filter which passes only a band of light corresponding to a dip in solar radiation. The laser is selected to provide an emitted light beam which is more intense than the solar radiation at the dip. The processor formats the images so that they can be analyzed to determine various measurable aspects of the surface. The system and method includes one or more algorithms for determining these measurable aspects of the surface.

Abstract: A material handler is disclosed that is adapted to travel along the top of an open top railroad car, like a gondola car, to load or unload the railroad car. The material handler may include an excavator connected to an assembly frame, the assembly frame being adapted to ride on the top of the side walls of the open top railroad car. The assembly frame may include a front wheel mount and a rear wheel mount that moves the material handler along the top of the open top railroad car. The material handler may include hydraulic links that connect the wheel mounts to the frame assembly. The hydraulic links may provide the vertical movement of the wheel mounts with respect to the frame assembly. The vertical movement of the wheel mounts may allow the material handler to travel between adjacent open top railroad cars having differing wall heights.

Abstract: A railroad car for use with a train of like railroad cars is disclosed. In one embodiment, the railroad car is a continuous gondola car used to transport and unload replacement beams for a railroad bridge. The gondola car has a continuous bay defined by a floor extending between two sidewalls. A bridge extends from the floor of gondola car and overlays a portion of a floor of the adjacent gondola car. One or more guides are mounted along the floor of the continuous bay. The beams are supported and moved in the central bay by one or more supports movable along the one or more guides. The guides of the gondola car communicate with the guides of the adjacent gondola car. The beams may be moved from one car to another during unloading at least when the cars are substantially aligned or when they a pivoted in relation to one another.

Abstract: A railroad car for use with a train of like railroad cars is disclosed. In one embodiment, the railroad car is a continuous gondola car used to transport and unload replacement beams for a railroad bridge. The gondola car has a continuous bay defined by a floor extending between two sidewalls. A bridge extends from the floor of gondola car and overlays a portion of a floor of the adjacent gondola car. One or more guides are mounted along the floor of the continuous bay. The beams are supported and moved in the central bay by one or more supports movable along the one or more guides. The guides of the gondola car communicate with the guides of the adjacent gondola car. The beams may be moved from one car to another during unloading at least when the cars are substantially aligned or when they a pivoted in relation to one another.