> Most RR's would consider a track inspection done by a speeder as outdated and unprofessional.

Certainly outdated in the typical circumstances found nowadays. But there are some advantages - such as in very long stretches without a grade crossing. Two persons can usually muckle a speeder off and on the track almost anywhere (unless its a really big one), to clear for a train. Whereas, that can be quite a feat with the average hy-railer pick-up.

But unprofessional? Why? - - It's just another, once very common tool.
Sounds like a specious claim to me!



> ...and tend to walk off the rails at dirt or gravel crossings with dirt packed flangeways.
- - - So do Hi-railers!

Especially when going too fast - and aren't they almost always being driven too damn fast. Certainly faster than any "flange-contact-only" type of steering and very small wheels can justify. They're just itching to climb the rails at the speeds I've seen some guys do. (It's called flange friction in case you're wondering how)

But then there's the time back in the day, when we were far from any possible set off point and had to get in the clear fast. So it was helly-all-a-timey for nearly 8 miles. We still failed to get in the clear in time though. Seems as we levered the front wheels up, the whole damn hi-rail assembly just fell off the truck in a million pieces, all over the pavement. We had to hand carry at least 30 heavy pieces out of the way in order to clear, all in the light of waiting headlights. So I've had a healthy respect for divine providence ever since - and a healthy respect for the limitations of the machinery as well.

Oh and btw, my partner was a 62 year old white guy, and kind of grumpy too. So do I gather from this thread, that there is now something un-PC about being that? - where will it ever end......