The Track Inspection Car (TIC)

Owned by Network Rail but operated by Serco Railtest, the Track Inspection Coach No: 977900 was one of a number of similar vehicles purpose built at Swindon in the early 1960's for the Western Region Civil Engineer's Department of BR. 

Following major changes within the Research Division in the late 1980's it was transferred to the DM& EE and then to Railtest.

It is normally loco-hauled, in the company of other vehicles for braking purposes, at the rear of a test train. Engineers from Network Rail and the infrastructure maintenance companies ride in the vehicle and can observe the track from either end through panoramic windows. The on-board instrumentation records various track parameters such as rail top, cant gradient, twist and level onto disk and paper and the vehicle has an unusual audible warning system to immediately identify those locations where parameters are exceeded. 

During 2003 it completed a major upgrade including a new diesel-powered 240v generator, re-furbished B4 bogies and a totally new monitoring and instrumentation system as part of Network Rail's continuing improvement programme. 

 

TIC

 Here is TIC in the yard at RTC around 1998 prior to its upgrade having just emerged from the EDU in its new paint job

Serco

Old Dalby

 Here it is at Old Dalby heading south after a publicity shot in 1998

Serco

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