SOUTHERN RAILWAY RESEARCH

In addition to industrywide research activities, Southern conducts its own programs to utilize applied technology to improve operations, increase efficiency and plan for the future. Data collected by Southern's track geometry inspection car which are stored and analyzed by computer are used for planning track maintenance programs. Its measurements have also been used to development derailment risk, or track geometry rating, which are thresholds at different freight traffic densities to balance cost of surfacing against expected reduction in derailments. Laboratory equipment for fatigue testing, for car rocking and curving investigations, and field equipment for automated rail wear inspections are also described.