Track checker
Encyclopedia
A track checker is a small railway carriage used in the United States
and Ireland
to audit the gauge
and integrity of railway tracks. The first track checkers were simply people that walked the tracks, making sure that the tracks were not damaged and that the switches were working. These people were also called track walkers. Track walkers are famously still employed by the MTA
maintaining the New York City
subway
lines.
A modern track checker, however, is a small carriage on wheels, about the same size as a Smart Car
, and can be automated or driven by one engineer, who is also known as a "Track checker." This carriage, reaching speeds of 30 to 60 mph (48.3 to 96.6 km/h), drives along the tracks of a railway and monitors the integrity of the railway line.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to audit the gauge
Rail gauge
Track gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Sixty percent of the world's railways use a standard gauge of . Wider gauges are called broad gauge; smaller gauges, narrow gauge. Break-of-gauge refers...
and integrity of railway tracks. The first track checkers were simply people that walked the tracks, making sure that the tracks were not damaged and that the switches were working. These people were also called track walkers. Track walkers are famously still employed by the MTA
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...
maintaining the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
lines.
A modern track checker, however, is a small carriage on wheels, about the same size as a Smart Car
Smart car
Smart car may refer to:*Intelligent car, a car with artificial intelligence*Smart , the automobile brand...
, and can be automated or driven by one engineer, who is also known as a "Track checker." This carriage, reaching speeds of 30 to 60 mph (48.3 to 96.6 km/h), drives along the tracks of a railway and monitors the integrity of the railway line.