In Chicago, this morning, driving to work (we in retail don’t get Columbus Day off) I saw this thing on the U.P. tracks just south of the Clybourn Metra station. It was between 60 and 80 feet long. had lots of windows and looked like two Winnebagos stuck together. It had U.P. markings and the words “Today’s Data, Tomorrow’s Technology” across the side at the top. Any ideas?
It was one continuous vehicle. Just north of where it was sitting, U.P. and Metra are replacing the middle track of the Northwest line. There have been a lot of hopper cars filled with ballast sitting in the area over the last few weeks. Hope this helps.
One solid carbody indicates self propelled Geometry Car and Rail Corrugation (Lite Slice) Analyszer…those puppies don’t stay still during the week - constantly out testing on the railroad…Probably EC-1(Plasser), EC-2(Plasser), EC-4 (EMC Morphodite) or another of those rascals…
Most likely the track forces are frantically chasing the thing to correct whatever it finds.