Crouch Engineering Provides Support for the Installation of New Automated Inspection Portals Across the NS System

The inspection portals use specialized technology for early detection of defects in rail wheels, bearings, and axles before they develop into more serious defects and failures.  With these advanced technologies, trains can be inspected as they run through the AIP’s.

Crouch Engineering’s role includes site evaluations, engineering surveying, preliminary design for access and building pads, hydrology and hydraulic analysis, development of final plans, and construction phase engineering from grading to erection of the portal tunnel structures.

Crouch staff coordinated work and project schedules with NS maintenance-of-way, communications, T-Cubed, and IT staff.

Our site evaluations for selected locations were based on criteria developed by NS, such as feasibility and ease of access, the minimum distances from public grade crossings and train signals, and the proximity to overhead power lines, bridges, and culverts.  Some sites were not used based on access limitations, high cost of construction, property impacts, electromagnetic interference, track geometry, or other factors.

In some locations, existing access roads and right-of-way width provided adequate access and room for construction, while other locations were more challenging, requiring retaining walls, new road construction, and property acquisition.

During construction, Crouch Engineering worked with NS and its contractor to coordinate the overall schedules, flagging, outages, roadbed stabilization measures, and construction for individual locations, with each local Maintenance-of-Way Track Supervisor, Engineer of Track, and Division Engineer.