Serco
Serco
The Track Inspection Coach (TIC)
| Owned by Network Rail but operated by Serco Rail
Operations, the Track
Inspection Coach No: DB977900 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 is still going strong in 2008 and operates whenever
TRU primarily (or TRC) is not operational. There are no planned programmes for
the vehicle now but it is held as a
spare recording vehicle. It goes out with make-up vehicles to suit and either a
pair of DRS 37's or RVEL Class 31's. |
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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 |
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Here it is at Old Dalby heading
south after a publicity shot in 1998
Serco |