Saw this on one of the NY webcams yesterday.
Found some good details at:
https://downloads.regulations.gov/FRA-2020-0013-0002/attachment_1.pdf
When I was still working, CSX had equipped several locomotives with some track measurement equipment & GPS - when measured levels exceeded the levels that were deemed normal, the equipment would send a report of the happening to the Engineering desk with the Milepost designation where the anomaly was measured. With the level of GPS that was being used at the time - the report stated ‘all tracks’ at the location should be inspected, as I suspect the GPS location could not specify the specific track in an area that contained multiple tracks.
The reports linked the GPS reported location to ‘Google Earth’ style aerial views of that point for display.
CN has some of these as well. We also still have a test train and a Budd RDC fitted with geometry equipment.
They are also installing automated inspection portals (aka “super scanners”) to spot defects on cars, with the eventual goal of eliminating car inspectors and air brake tests.
Is it okay to hump one?
You can hump anything once.
Don’t forget your skate (singular - you already lost one), your caboose chain and your pole.[:-,] …what skate box? (if the mechanical department takes as good care of these as they do the on-board lubricators, they won’t be around long)
What WILD detector?
Your post reminded me of an incident years ago where the Santa Fe erroneously set a covered hopper into my then employers Carlsbad, NM potash mine. Very clearly stenciled on both sides was “CONDEMNED - DO NOT LOAD”.
And, of course, our guys went ahead and loaded the damn thing anyhow.
Curt
Any car CAN be humped - what happens when a DNH car is humped depends on the reasons the car had been identified as DNH.
In the case of these geometry cars - I suspect, it is felt the coupling speeds involved in the humping operation may damage the electronic and/or optical measuring equipment that the car contains.