Truck workshop rides the rails

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 575, 28 February 1995, Page 5

Truck workshop rides the rails

Ohakune' s railway track gang will be able to get to jobs quicker with their new high rail vehicle, delivered earlier this month. The standard truck is fitted with special bogie wheels that can be hydraulically lowered onto the tracks, lifting the front wheels off the ground and taking much of the weight off the back wheels but leaving the inside rear dual wheels touching the tracks as drive wheels. Once on track the truck can travel at about 50 km/h which, while slow compared to open road driving, is much faster than the speed they are limited to on many of the rough Main Trunk Railway access roads. This is especially an advantage in winter when the access roads are wet and slippery. The system is not new as New Zealand

Rail has been using Suzuki vehicles for light inspection vehicles in the same way since the late 1980's, but use of 'mobile workshop' vehicles is new. Also, the hydraulic lifting arm is new, whereas the light vehicles are hoisted by hand-jack. Ganger Allan Lehmstedt said they wanted people to be aware that the new trucks were around, especially people who use private crossings which don't have signal equipment. He said the vehicles are very quiet and many people get to know when trains are due to pass and don't take into account the possibility of the HRV's working in their area.