Maintenance vehicle and method for measuring and maintaining the level of a railroad track

A method for measuring and maintaining the level of the rails of a railroad track, comprising the steps of:

• (a) measuring data indicative of the rise and fall and crossfall of the rails at periodic locations along the length of the railroad track using a first measuring system;
• (b) generating a first track profile from the measurements taken by the first measuring system;
• (c) measuring data indicative of the rise and fall and crossfall of the rails at periodic locations along the length of the railroad track using a second measuring system during a maintenance pass over the rails;
• (d) comparing the data from the second measuring system with the first track profile;
• and
• (e) resolving any substantial deviation between the first track profile and the data from the second measuring system.

A method for maintaining railroad track having a plurality of ties comprising:

• measuring at least one of longitudinal level and crossfall of a track using a primary measuring system;
• moving a vehicle along the track to be leveled;
• stopping the vehicle as a function of the locations of the ties;
• linking an instrument cart with the vehicle, whereby the cart moves and stops with the vehicle;
• positioning at least one inclinometer on the cart to read at least one of longitudinal level and crossfall;
• working the track while the vehicle is stopped;
• reading the inclinometer while the vehicle and, consequently, the cart are stopped;
• comparing at least one of longitudinal level and crossfall measured by the primary measuring system with at least one of longitudinal level and crossfall measured by the inclinometer;
• and
• resolving any significant deviation between at least one of longitudinal level and crossfall measured by the primary measuring system and at least one of longitudinal level and crossfall measured by the inclinometer.

A method for measuring and maintaining the level of the rails of a railroad track, comprising the steps of:

• (a) measuring data indicative of the profile of the railroad track using a secondary measuring system during a maintenance pass over the rails;
• (b) generating a secondary track profile from the data collected by the secondary measuring system;
• (c) maintaining the track as a function of the secondary track profile;
• (d) measuring data indicative of the profile of the railroad track using a primary measuring system;
• and
• (e) generating a primary track profile from the data collected by the primary measuring system;
• wherein step (c) includes comparing the primary and secondary track profiles to ensure the validity of the primary track profile, and resolving any significant deviation between the primary and secondary track profiles.