What are these sparks / lights ?

[Cardinal51]

Looks like sparks or are those just some lights ?

2020-09-08 (60).jpg

2020-09-08 (58).jpg

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[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Looks like a track inspection car.

Those lights are most likely geometry scanners and possibly lights to illuminate cameras recording the track's condition.

Nice to see you also watch Virtual Railfan live cams. There are clips of this inspection train running through the streets of Ashland, KY, with its three blocks of street running.

IIRC, the train was powered by CSX's new 9990 series executive locomotives.

[cnwfan]

Forget the train... check out the old train station and tower still standing. Neither look like they are long for this world.

[Cardinal51]

Thanks guys.

This is the spot in "3D" View:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.2057702,-83.9020884,3a,24.6y,13.69h,93.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sFhZUgF_9akNPVleJ-fnJMg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DFhZUgF_9akNPVleJ-fnJMg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D18.50762%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

But why two engines? Another one had to go that direction anyway ? Or .... ?

[JohnS]

But why two engines? Another one had to go that direction anyway ? Or .... ?

This is a very high profile train. With 2 locomotives they don't need to worry about a locomotive breaking down and stranding the train while it waits for new power. Only one unit is probably online per the companies fuel conservation rules.

[Cardinal51]

Now these are definitely sparks (and smoke)

And what about that water cannon ? To prevent oils on the track from starting to burn ?

[mindenjohn]

It’s a rail grinder lash up. Automatic grinding the rail head to restore the correct profile. The water cannons wash away the grindings and cool the rail.

[Cardinal51]

Thanks John

. . . . The water cannons wash away the grindings and cool the rail.

They where spraying the water before the rails were grinded. In the screen shot the train was moving to the right. So washing away the grindings seems not to be the case. Also water spraying was intermittent.

[mindenjohn]

In that case it is clearing the track of leaves and the debris left when leaves are crushed under wheels. It is a big problem in the fall as when leaves are ground down on top of rails they are extremely slippy causing adhesion problems.

[Cardinal51]

Thanks John

Will try to upload a small movie too.

- - a little later - -

Had a small movie but un fortunately I do not have the correct permissions to upload.

So please surf to my OneDrive to see the mp4 --> https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aj8hm7Xwo3lyltJFZjW ... A?e=Nxgqd1

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

these grinding trains are known to set alight any dry leaves and rubbish, another use of the water. Plus, usually a fire train will follow when traveling through dry nature.

Communities along the rails seriously hate the noise, stench and smoke (plus residue) from grinding trains. That's why there are these hoods and covers round the grinding wheels. Still, they make quite a racket.