A View from the Window – the Locomotive Windshield
While defogging and chipping ice off of automobile windshields can be slow, tedious work, motorists typically have the tools and the ability to pull over to complete the task. For operators of locomotives pulling freight cars, the task is a bit more daunting. Locomotives are designed to operate in very harsh weather conditions in order […]
Winter Maintenance and Effects Update
(Article from April 2011 eNews) As regions across the United States braced for snow storm after snow storm this winter, transportation in areas typically unaccustomed and unprepared for these types of conditions came to a grinding halt, paralyzing some cities for days at a time. While most of these scenarios reflect emergency situations where large […]
New data communications tower arrives for installation
DATA TOWER: The data communications tower was delivered to Transcend on 9/8/10. This tower will be constructed in the coming weeks and will be outfitted with telemetry equipment and cameras to be used as additional resources for research projects at the site.
Transcend Facility Update: Snow guns
Does your project need an open road? Located in Central Montana at the former Lewistown airport, Transcend’s research facility offers four miles of real-world paved test surface, a highly innovative, multidisciplinary research staff, and a comprehensive communications, power, and data networking infrastructure allowing innovations to make the jump from the laboratory to the real world. […]
Researchers complete a man-made snow event.
WTI researchers completed a man-made snow event for the Pacific Northwest Snowfighters Inhibitor Longevity and Deicer Performance Study. The goal of this event was to evaluate corrosion inhibitor longevity in anti-icers after roadway application following a significant snow event. Three inhibited chloride anti-icers were applied with a specially designed applicator trailer. Snow production began following […]
WTI staff held a snowmaking event in February
Snowmaking: WTI staff held a snowmaking event in February to check and tune the snowmaking equipment. Based on data from this event, the fan guns will be updated with new weather stations and nozzle upgrades to make snow more consistently and efficiently at temperatures slightly below freezing. Snowmaking equipment upgrades will be completed by next […]
Instrumentation boxes and conduit have been installed on the data tower
Data Tower: Instrumentation boxes and conduit have been installed on the data tower. Pending good weather, a camera and antennas will be installed on the tower along with a server, DVR, and other network equipment in the shop in the coming weeks. A wireless connection between the shop network and the weather station will also […]
WTI personnel completed the third Field Operational Test.
WTI personnel completed the third Field Operational Test for the Caltrans Establishing Best Practices of Snow and Ice Removal research project. Similar to previous tests for this project, chemicals were applied late in the afternoon with air and pavement temperatures above freezing. Once the pavement temperature fell below freezing, snow was applied and compacted overnight […]
Washington State DOT donates two Halliday RT3 friction trailers for use at Transcend
Washington State DOT donated two Halliday RT3 friction trailers to Transcend and one was recently installed on a truck. The friction trailer will be used this winter to provide quantitative friction measurements during testing.
Transcend Advisory Committee Meeting February 24, 2010
The Transcend Advisory Committee met on February 24, 2010 via the web to review the history of the facility as well as projects underway and the current status of facility development. The Advisory Committee provides guidance on potential research opportunities as well as serving as a sounding board for research ideas and the usefulness of […]