Patent ID: 6356299
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: B61K,B61L

Abstract:
A method of detecting an anomaly in a railroad track comprising the steps of:(a) guiding a car along railroad track; (b) viewing the track through a window in the car to detect the presence or absence of an anomaly; (c) creating an image of the track through a camera system located on the car, said image including (1) both rails of the track including (2) an entire lateral extent of cross ties extending both between the rails and outward of both rails, (3) rail fastening elements, and (4) ballast materials and (5) the presence or absence of at least one anomaly in (1) through (4); (d) viewing the image of the track through a display terminal located inside the car to detect the anomaly if present; (e) upon detection of the anomaly if present in step (d), providing a signal representative of the detection of the anomaly; and (f) upon receipt of the signal, recording the image of the track including the anomaly if present.