Hello everyone I worked on SRS 125 Sperry rail car I will be going back to Sperry for the time being thank you this video I was from Ohio at the time I worked back in the late 80s enjoy from james Milligan.
I just captured one of these tonight March 31st 2021. I never seen this particular engine and mistaken it for something much older but because of your video and online services for them I learned something about something I didn't know. Thanks for sharing
Wow, that video really took me back! I worked for Sperry Rail Service from 1974 to 1977, and was aboard both SRS-125 and SRS-142 (and others) during that time, as an Asst. Operator (or "stooge') and Operator. Tested rail in the Midwest, Texas/Louisiana, Northeast, Eastern & N.E. Canada and all over Mexico. It was a great experience for a kid in his early 20's. (I could tell you some stories ... :) ) Still have some of my old paperwork from back then. Thanks for posting up this video - I can now show people what I did over 40 years ago!! - Doug Smith
The pen unit records digital output from the computer onto the tape and is read and interpreted by the guy sitting at the table. The indications on the tape would correspond to possible defects, joints, welds, etc., and simultaneous yellow paint marks shot on the inside base of the rail. Half the pen marks were for one side the other half for the other side. If you saw all the pens on one side hit all at the same time it was a strong indication of a broken rail. The car speed was 6.5 -13 MPH during testing, If you had a lot of engine burns and rail head flow you would have to go a bit slower so as to not miss anything because you would get pen deflections that were surface imperfections. If you were on decent welded rail you could 13 without a problem. There were 2 tapes. The one on the left was analog output with 3 pens one for one side one for the other and the one in the middle was for both sides. I once saw a Chief Operator find a "piped web" on analog alone. not an easy feat. {'82-'84}
Very cool, and thank you for that information, sounds like a very interesting job. I was wondering, about how old are these cars? And where they purpose-built just to be rail inspection cars, or were they built out of something else like a passenger car or something?
As a kid, seeing a Sperry rail car was akin to seeing the ice cream man from outer space. We'd be on our bikes, racing through town, telling other kids along the way. What a thrill to see it in action as we tried to keep up. It was cutting edge technology to us back then.
This unit reminds me of a Train that ran from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania to McKeesport Pennsylvania . I believe they were "Budd Car's" . it was so much fun . we rode them just about every weekend ! . what fond memories Trains always bring to mind . Thank You for sharing . Ray in Pa U.S.A.
It seems to me that I find your videos answering or having exactly what I'm looking for more and more online anymore. Thanks for sharing all these videos, some of the best well documented stuff online.
Thanks for your comment. I was very fortunate to work in the rail industry and have a boss for 20 years that was tolerant of my activities. I also had friends on local short lines that kept me informed on what was happening off of Conrail/NS.
To continue, most of the track was jointed at that time, and there were many stops for the test crew to manually test the rails with hand held detectors. The upside to the jointed rail was that it was easy for the track crew following us to replace defects quickly.
The Sperry cars started out in the late 1920's at which time there were very few improved roads, and road access to rail lines was limited. Therefore the cars were designed to provide living quarters for the crews. They would test a full day, then tie up at the nearest convenient siding for the night. They originally carried cook/stewards that prepared the meals and made up the beds, a position later eliminated as a cost saving measure. The old type cars with open bunks were replaced or remodeled in the 70's with individual cabins. Rail bound cars for testing continued into the 1980s when advances in tech enabled hi rail testers to be practical. Some cars were retained even after the widespread introduction of hi rails for use on very remote lines such as in Canada where road access is still nonexistent.
I just captured a video of this engine running at night. I was sitting in the countryside of Jackson township Lebanon county PA and I kept hearing the strange horn blowing coming out of the city of Lebanon. it didn't sound like they were moving fast and I for 15-20 minutes I heard them blasting that distinctive form. I knew nothing about this service so tonight. I actually made a comment in my short video clip that I thought it was from the 50s cuz that's what it looks like to me.
@@fmnut Having worked for Sperry in the 90's, i can tell you they definitely weren't all remolded in the 70's with individual cabins. I was on 4 different cars and only one had separate rooms. The rest had a large room with two bunk beds. And they STILL have cars like this active. I was on one a week ago visiting. And the crews to this day still live on the cars during testing weeks. And the cars are still used all over the country because they offer not only Ultrasonic testing but also Induction testing which the Hi-Rail vehicles cannot do. That's why most railroads still insist on the cars to do the inspection.
@@FFred-us9tw The 900 series hi rails have induction as well as ultrasonic gear. And yes, the cars with individual bedrooms were the 140 series. The older 100 series cars had the bunks. Some of the crews I worked with said they preferred the 100's as the workspace/lounge area was larger and more comfortable.
RayinPa U.S.A. I not only had permission, I was the NS supervisor in charge of the test. I also had permission from the Sperry people to do the video, account of the historical significance of the soon to be obsolete technology. Now that I am retired I no longer have this type of access, and I agree that it is much tougher to do the hobby than it was in the 70's when I started.
Oh boy. The cars you see may look the same on the outside, but they have a computerized detection system inside, same as on the "Way it Is" video. The pen and paper system shown is the real antique of the video.
Th front had Diesel engine for movement. Just behind that wa the kitchen, the dining Whre we ate nd drank and watched t v . Then two bunk beds it ton beds on each side the bathroom with a shower. Next was a diesel moor o light and the testing equipment. Last was the rear where we watched the rails and the testing equipment we found fishers, cracks, broken rails. Head and web seperations
0:58 Idiot Railfan rule 125: you have been successfully mis-identified as a terrorist while standing trackside. Yes, we all suffer from this problem. Rule of thumb: avoid Amtrak employees at all costs, they are snobs. Avoid yards too, way too many security people (even in the stupidest little town in Massachusetts with a shortline that can't do anything logical.) Basically before you go anywhere you have to have a copied and printed page from the registry of deeds with lot lines and easements marked with a highlighter. When I first watched this video I had to stop watching at that point to scream about how ignorant railroads are of all the positive benefits of Railfans are if they just accepted us for who we are: free marketing and more eyes for problems. Every time I write a comment it becomes a stupid rant. I should stop.
Actually it was not a railroad employee asking me if I had permission to be there. Just a busy body from the grain plant next door to the RR. After I stopped filming I told him politely to mind his own business. This was pre 9/11. now days he would have called the cops on me.
Ah I see. Considering you got to see inside, I doubted anything bad could happen. But these days everyone is suspicious of everybody. I do like being born in this millennium, but besides lack of technology the 20th century sounds fairly pleasing. If only people were nice and polite like they used to be. Now whenever I try to film historic locomotives I get kicked off. Hey, I'm not a drug addicted juvenile delinquent like some people in Upton, I don't live there for a reason.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Hello everyone I worked on SRS 125 Sperry rail car I will be going back to Sperry for the time being thank you this video I was from Ohio at the time I worked back in the late 80s enjoy from james Milligan.
I just captured one of these tonight March 31st 2021. I never seen this particular engine and mistaken it for something much older but because of your video and online services for them I learned something about something I didn't know. Thanks for sharing
I was the pilot for the 142 on July 28, 1980, from Houston to Galveston on the GH&H Railroad. What a treat to see video of it!
Wow, that video really took me back! I worked for Sperry Rail Service from 1974 to 1977, and was aboard both SRS-125 and SRS-142 (and others) during that time, as an Asst. Operator (or "stooge') and Operator. Tested rail in the Midwest, Texas/Louisiana, Northeast, Eastern & N.E. Canada and all over Mexico. It was a great experience for a kid in his early 20's. (I could tell you some stories ... :) ) Still have some of my old paperwork from back then. Thanks for posting up this video - I can now show people what I did over 40 years ago!! - Doug Smith
Doug Smith was that before the digital age? like what does that thing do that has all the pens and makes the black lines and dots?
The pen unit records digital output from the computer onto the tape and is read and interpreted by the guy sitting at the table. The indications on the tape would correspond to possible defects, joints, welds, etc., and simultaneous yellow paint marks shot on the inside base of the rail. Half the pen marks were for one side the other half for the other side. If you saw all the pens on one side hit all at the same time it was a strong indication of a broken rail. The car speed was 6.5 -13 MPH during testing, If you had a lot of engine burns and rail head flow you would have to go a bit slower so as to not miss anything because you would get pen deflections that were surface imperfections. If you were on decent welded rail you could 13 without a problem. There were 2 tapes. The one on the left was analog output with 3 pens one for one side one for the other and the one in the middle was for both sides. I once saw a Chief Operator find a "piped web" on analog alone. not an easy feat. {'82-'84}
Very cool, and thank you for that information, sounds like a very interesting job. I was wondering, about how old are these cars? And where they purpose-built just to be rail inspection cars, or were they built out of something else like a passenger car or something?
@@richdiscoveries Most old Sperry cars were old Doodlebugs. Almost all scrapped I think though they were historic by the 1990s.
Doug, do you remember my dad, Bernie Guilliams? He was chief engineer...I was always so excited to see this rail car, still am...
Fascinating I've seen these cars for years and now get to see inside one wow
Very cool video. Such a great nugget of history......thanks for sharing 👍
As a kid, seeing a Sperry rail car was akin to seeing the ice cream man from outer space.
We'd be on our bikes, racing through town, telling other kids along the way.
What a thrill to see it in action as we tried to keep up.
It was cutting edge technology to us back then.
This unit reminds me of a Train that ran from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania to McKeesport Pennsylvania . I believe they were "Budd Car's" . it was so much fun . we rode them just about every weekend ! . what fond memories Trains always bring to mind . Thank You for sharing . Ray in Pa U.S.A.
It seems to me that I find your videos answering or having exactly what I'm looking for more and more online anymore. Thanks for sharing all these videos, some of the best well documented stuff online.
Thanks for your comment. I was very fortunate to work in the rail industry and have a boss for 20 years that was tolerant of my activities. I also had friends on local short lines that kept me informed on what was happening off of Conrail/NS.
Great video, excellent work. Thank you so much for sharing.
I always enjoyed being the conductor/pilot when SRS was on NJT rail.
I tested on NJT back in the 90's when i worked for Sperry.
To continue, most of the track was jointed at that time, and there were many stops for the test crew to manually test the rails with hand held detectors. The upside to the jointed rail was that it was easy for the track crew following us to replace defects quickly.
I work with a guy who used to work on SRS141 and SRS801 in Australia back in the 80's.
Great Video! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for the inside tour! What a ride!
ahh the memories...some of them good! covered almost every state in the lower 48, all of Canada and even Alaska and The Yukon!
Another historic document, like so many of yours, like the Huletts.
Would be interested in buying on DVD.
SteamCrane contact me at fmnut@msn.com if you are interested in my videos
I was on 124 in 1973 in Canada
Towards the end of the video, that diesel sounded good.
CSX has one I saw it about a year ago in Bogart Georgia
I just seen one last week in Kingston NY
I drove 144 and 127 for a year in Canada back in 97 and 98.
Yeti Andrade you may have worked with my dad
Why would there be a bedroom, do they run at night?
The Sperry cars started out in the late 1920's at which time there were very few improved roads, and road access to rail lines was limited. Therefore the cars were designed to provide living quarters for the crews. They would test a full day, then tie up at the nearest convenient siding for the night. They originally carried cook/stewards that prepared the meals and made up the beds, a position later eliminated as a cost saving measure. The old type cars with open bunks were replaced or remodeled in the 70's with individual cabins. Rail bound cars for testing continued into the 1980s when advances in tech enabled hi rail testers to be practical. Some cars were retained even after the widespread introduction of hi rails for use on very remote lines such as in Canada where road access is still nonexistent.
I just captured a video of this engine running at night. I was sitting in the countryside of Jackson township Lebanon county PA and I kept hearing the strange horn blowing coming out of the city of Lebanon. it didn't sound like they were moving fast and I for 15-20 minutes I heard them blasting that distinctive form. I knew nothing about this service so tonight. I actually made a comment in my short video clip that I thought it was from the 50s cuz that's what it looks like to me.
@@fmnut Having worked for Sperry in the 90's, i can tell you they definitely weren't all remolded in the 70's with individual cabins. I was on 4 different cars and only one had separate rooms. The rest had a large room with two bunk beds. And they STILL have cars like this active. I was on one a week ago visiting. And the crews to this day still live on the cars during testing weeks. And the cars are still used all over the country because they offer not only Ultrasonic testing but also Induction testing which the Hi-Rail vehicles cannot do. That's why most railroads still insist on the cars to do the inspection.
@@FFred-us9tw The 900 series hi rails have induction as well as ultrasonic gear. And yes, the cars with individual bedrooms were the 140 series. The older 100 series cars had the bunks. Some of the crews I worked with said they preferred the 100's as the workspace/lounge area was larger and more comfortable.
CN uses Budd RDC-3 (Dayliners) for track evaluations
Yes, but they measure track geometry, not internal rail defects.
I just saw one in Stamford CT
I worked both of those and couple more.
Excuse me Sir ! , Do you have permission to be on RailRoad Property ? . Rail fanning is getting tougher everyday . Ray in Pa.
RayinPa U.S.A. I not only had permission, I was the NS supervisor in charge of the test. I also had permission from the Sperry people to do the video, account of the historical significance of the soon to be obsolete technology. Now that I am retired I no longer have this type of access, and I agree that it is much tougher to do the hobby than it was in the 70's when I started.
Very cool.
So that’s what Sperry Rail Service looks like with these rail cars before everything changed?
Yes
@@fmnut well, I wonder what happened to them now anyway?
@@brianfalzon6739 Some are stored, some still in use but with modern tech instead of the paper tape.
@@fmnut I see
i use to drive those.
This is still the way it is. This gets used a lot where I’m at
Oh boy. The cars you see may look the same on the outside, but they have a computerized detection system inside, same as on the "Way it Is" video. The pen and paper system shown is the real antique of the video.
fmnut ok thanks
hopefully joining Sperry within a week or so, they've secured new contracts for January, have a interview for a tech position this week, god willing
Antonio Capilupi Good luck
fmnut I'm hoping god willing, need to get into a career lol that I can do good with
Antonio Capilupi how did it go
Th front had Diesel engine for movement. Just behind that wa the kitchen, the dining Whre we ate nd drank and watched t v . Then two bunk beds it ton beds on each side the bathroom with a shower. Next was a diesel moor o light and the testing equipment. Last was the rear where we watched the rails and the testing equipment we found fishers, cracks, broken rails. Head and web seperations
they still run these
BML54 © Yes, but the cars now have the same computer based displays that the hi rail trucks have. And there are fewer cars in service now. NS is one RR that specifies hi rail in their contract, don't know about other RR's.
***** they still have the cars they own 16 and they still own them.
BML54 © I realize that they still have the cars, but not all of them are in service. And the Class 1 railroads prefer the hi rails because they can clear the track easier. Also, with the new FRA requirements some lines are being tested more frequently than before, which means that they are keeping the cars in service because they don't have enough hi rails to cover everything. The hi rails are cheaper to operate than the cars, also. The cars are better for remote lines that have few road crossings such as in Canada and parts of the US West, etc. The point of the video was to show the old tape-based technology which is now history.
***** they are cool they used to be passenger cars
@@fmnut It would be nice if a car with the old tech gets preserved. Doubt it.
que trem legal ^^
aqui nós brasileiros não temos o cachife nem fazer manutenção em linhas férreas.falta vontades em tudo mas corruptos tem bastante
0:58 Idiot Railfan rule 125: you have been successfully mis-identified as a terrorist while standing trackside.
Yes, we all suffer from this problem. Rule of thumb: avoid Amtrak employees at all costs, they are snobs. Avoid yards too, way too many security people (even in the stupidest little town in Massachusetts with a shortline that can't do anything logical.) Basically before you go anywhere you have to have a copied and printed page from the registry of deeds with lot lines and easements marked with a highlighter. When I first watched this video I had to stop watching at that point to scream about how ignorant railroads are of all the positive benefits of Railfans are if they just accepted us for who we are: free marketing and more eyes for problems.
Every time I write a comment it becomes a stupid rant. I should stop.
Actually it was not a railroad employee asking me if I had permission to be there. Just a busy body from the grain plant next door to the RR. After I stopped filming I told him politely to mind his own business. This was pre 9/11. now days he would have called the cops on me.
Ah I see. Considering you got to see inside, I doubted anything bad could happen. But these days everyone is suspicious of everybody. I do like being born in this millennium, but besides lack of technology the 20th century sounds fairly pleasing. If only people were nice and polite like they used to be. Now whenever I try to film historic locomotives I get kicked off. Hey, I'm not a drug addicted juvenile delinquent like some people in Upton, I don't live there for a reason.