Sperry Rail Service

Sperry Rail Service is a company contracted by most of the major railroads in North America to inspect rail.

The rail flaw detector car was invented by Dr. Elmer A. Sperry. To railways and railfans, Sperry's name is most likely associated with the Sperry Rail Detector car.

Railway Defect Detection Device Need

There were many early useless efforts of rail defect detecting device development in late 1800s. Serious train derailments, which were blamed on transverse fissures, were increasing. One of them occurred in 1911, in Manchester, New York, killing 29 and seriously injuring 60. Another killed 21 and injured over 100 near Victoria, Mississippi in October 1925. An apparent need arose for a dependable rail inspection method.

First Developments

Dr. Sperry began his work on developing a method of locating internal rail defects in 1911. In order to build a railway test car he contracted with the American Railway Association in 1927. Construction on this first car began in June 1927. It was numbered 101 and featured such a construction. The body was made of metal faced plywood, and was mounted on a Kalamazoo motor car bed. The motor car bed was in turn towed by a larger motor car. Following its completion, it was delivered December 17, 1927 for performing tests.An operator, laying flat on his stomach, as he was moved along on a hand car, he held a 'search unit' against the rail. Both fissures were found and serious difficulties were also encountered, during the test. This method also posed problems due to uneven rail surfaces.

Induction Method

For several months together with his staff, Dr. Sperry worked around the clock, until in 1928. It resulted in the discovery of a new principal for detecting transverse fissures, called the 'induction method'. It also found split-heads and other invisible defects. This system was used until 1960, until semi-automated ultrasonic equipment was introduced to the Sperry fleet. Ultrasonic rail testing was first introduced in 1949.

Later Redevelopments of 101 Unit

It would appear that the induction-based testing method equipment replaced the original magnetic equipment on 101. Even thought it was completed almost ten months before the car was rejected by the Rail Committee until October 2, 1928 after a test run on September 27, 1928 by Dr. Sperry, and his research engineer H. C. Drake. Later on, it began testing on the New York Central under ARA supervision. The test with the modified 101 was so successful, that construction on SRS 102 begun almost immediately.

perry Rail Service Corporation runs tests

The original plan of Dr. Sperry was to build and sell the rail detector cars along with the testing services to the railways. However, the railways were reluctant. So Sperry decided to the sell service only. It would lead to more consistent testing, which is done by skilled and experienced, personnel.
*At this point Sperry Rail Service Corporation was created, in order to market the testing service. The first commercial test was accomplished in November 1928. It took place on the Wabash Railway over a 130 mile section of track between Montpelier, Ohio and Clarke Junction, Indiana. SRS 102 was performing it. The following spread of service put two more SRS cars into operation. In the early 1930 four cars were in service. By the end of 1930, Sperry Rail Service Corporation's fleet increased to ten cars.
*The fleet continued to expand along with the served area. In addition to services on U.S. railroads, the SRS cars also traveled to Canada, Mexico, and even overseas. Smaller railways could not afford their own rail detector car, with their limited use. However, the New York Central and the Union Pacific who did own such rail detection cars. Many Sperry cars were created by rebuilding existing railway cars, particularly Doodlebugs. In most cases, the rebuilt cars look slightly like the original ones.

Takeover of Harsco Track Technologies

On August 29, 2002, Sperry Rail Service acquired Harsco Corporation's rail flaw detection (RFD) group. Harsco's track maintenance division, also known as Harsco Track Technologies (HTT), was located in Danbury, CT, Sperry's home town. With this takeover Sperry's rail flaw detection fleet increased by 30 trucks. Harsco's Rail Flaw Service was previously known as Pandrol Jackson Technologies, and prior to Pandrol Jackson Technologies as Dapco Industries.

External links

* [http://www.sperryrail.com/ Sperry Rail Service corporate site]
* [http://www.trainweb.org/elso/srs-rost.htm Sperry Rail Service car roster]
* [http://www.trainweb.org/elso/SPERRY.HTM A history of Sperry]