OldPoleBurner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > 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 by a speeder as outdated and unprofessional.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 Certainly outdated in the typical circumstances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......

You overlooked the greatest advantage of all. The ability to be so low and close to the rail to see every rail and joint and joint bolt and to feel wide and tight gage as you travel. Hyrail trucks are heavy enough (at least compared to speeders) to stay on the rail through dirt compacted flangway crossings