The Track Inspection Coach

The Track Inspection Coach (TIC)

Owned by Network Rail but operated by DB Schenker, the Track Inspection Coach No: DB999508 was one of a number of similar vehicles purpose built at Swindon in the early 1960's for the Western Region Civil Engineer's Department of BR. Following major changes within the railway in the late 1980's it was converted to its present form with recessed windows and transferred to the DM&EE and then to Railtest.

The author was involved with the fitting and monitoring of video recording equipment to the TIC and assisted on various inspection runs primarily in South Wales in the late 1990's.

It is normally loco-hauled, in the company of other vehicles for braking purposes, at the rear of a test train. Engineers from Network Rail and the infrastructure maintenance companies ride in the vehicle and can observe the track from either end through panoramic windows. The on-board instrumentation records various track parameters such as rail top, cant gradient, twist and level onto disk and paper and the vehicle has an unusual audible warning system to immediately identify those locations where parameters are exceeded.

During 2003 it completed a major upgrade including a new diesel-powered 240v generator, re-furbished B4 bogies and a totally new monitoring and instrumentation system as part of Network Rail's continuing improvement programme.

It succumbed to all-over yellow and operated until recently whenever TRU primarily (or TRC) was in dock. It had no planned programmes but was held as a spare recording vehicle. Generally it went out with make-up vehicles to suit and either a pair of DRS 37s or RVEL 31s.

Photos are the author's if not credited

	47509 with TIC at Yeovil Pen Mill on 5th April 1983 Mike Wallbridge		Here is TIC in the yard at RTC around 1998 prior to its upgrade Serco
	Here it is on the Old Dalby test track heading south after a publicity shot in 1998 Serco		At Borough Green on 22nd July 2004 P W Seale
	TIC passing Upper Broughton on the Old Dalby test track on 24th January 2007		In the consist of this monitoring train at Duffield in 2008
	Interior showing desk and observation window Andrew Royle		Interior showing side viewing windows Andrew Royle
	On the West Somerset Railway in June 2011

The End

By the beginning of 2014 TIC had been retired and no longer had track geometry measuring equipment fitted to it. So it could not even be used as back up anymore. It has been succeeded by TIC2 (another Mk 2 coach) which used to be called ‘Track Lab’.

Luckily the West Somerset Railway stepped in to preserve and restore it at Williton .In 2020 DB999508 was moved to Rowden Mill Station in Herefordshire.

It is currently undergoing internal conversion to accommodation, the fitting out is anticipated to be completed during spring 2022

	DB999508 restored to maroon livery at Williton on the West Somerset Railway in May 2017		At Rowden Mill Station 2021 Rowden Mill Station
	Interior during conversion Rowden Mill Station		Interior during conversion Rowden Mill Station