Norfolk Southern Research Car #31
Manufacturer: Pullman Manufacturing Company, 1925
Other names: Pullman Car 2483, Southern R-21
Built in 1925, the Norfolk Southern (NS) Research Car 31 was originally built as a passenger car. In the mid-1960s, Southern Railway converted it to a track geometry car, also known as a track recording car. It was likely renumbered when Southern Railway merged with Norfolk & Western (N&W) Railway to create Norfolk Southern.
These types of cars are critical for rail safety. They research and monitor track strength and stability. Onboard computers calculate track width, rail wear, track curves, and other track measurements. This car's primary function was to measure rail wear and gauge of the track. Half of the car was used for research and the other half contains living quarters for the crew including a kitchen, dining area and pull down sleeping berths.
NS 31 was an early self-contained track geometry car that was converted in Southern Railway's Haynes Shop in Spartanburg, North Carolina. It incorporated sensing and measuring instruments, data recording equipment, a power unit, and extra weight to deflect the track. Unfortunately, the extra weight caused problems with cracking in the wheel frames, so this car was replaced by NS Research Cars 33 and 34.
In 2007, the Museum loaned Research Car 31 back to Norfolk Southern. NS updated the car with new technological equipment such as lasers and used it to test railroad tracks for two years before returning it to the VMT.
Erected by Virginia
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1925.
Location. 37° 16.401′ N, 79° 56.804′ W. Marker is in Roanoke, Virginia. It is in Downtown. It can be reached from Norfolk Avenue Southwest just west of 3rd Street Southwest, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 303 Norfolk Ave SW, Roanoke VA 24016, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Mountain Region and in Southwest Virginia. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Trailer Train Flatcar #470534 and Sea-Land Containers
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 30, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 888 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 30, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
