Boston Railroading Explained: How the MBTA Inspects Their Tracks

How does a railroad make sure their tracks are in tip-top shape? Well, they use a geometry train! In this episode of Boston railroading explained, we explore how the MBTA runs their geometry trains and when.
Enjoy! - Nathan

[@syeet1234]

i'm honestly suprised you heard about the increase in mbta geo trains! glad to see the great in depth as always

[@BostonByRails]

Youre not the only one who knows MBTA info! Im so gald you enjoyed!

[@JamesT_Rustle]

they forgot to call in an engineer one Sunday morning and missed the Stoughton branch. 10/10

[@southmassrailfan]

GEO train didn’t run Stou line at all that month??

[@railfanning.productions]

Awesome video and I love the new series!

[@BostonByRails]

Thank you! I enjoy making it!

[@zach3619]

First time I rode a commuter train was MBTA in Boston!

[@BostonByRails]

Wow!

[@ksevio]

Out in Ayer a couple months ago there was a CSX geometry car going along parts of the Fitchburg line. It's probably just for a small section at that junction, but still a surprise to see what looked like a passenger car with CSX markings

[@BostonByRails]

Yes, thats the CSX’s equivalent of the geometry train!

[@Readvilleswitcher]

I saw it in June too

[@southmassrailfan]

You should do a “This month on the railroad” like WideWorldRailfan but for only the T

[@bostonrailfanner471]

it would be too long with all the breakdowns lmao

[@southmassrailfan]

@@bostonrailfanner471 Ong 😭

[@BostonByRails]

I mean i could, but that would be a blatiant copy of sams videos. I like the concept tho

[@southmassrailfan]

@@BostonByRails Its like when you ask somebody thats copying off your homework to not make it look obvious haha With all seriousness, you could probably get away with it if you named it something not similar. Or put “Inspired by WorldWideRailfan MOTRR Series” or smth. I dont know.

[@BostonByRails]

@@southmassrailfan Yea true, i mean im friends with him, I could just ask. Maybe after this whole bunch of videos ill think about that.

[@conceyullena]

Like 24 beautiful video, greetings from Asturias 🚂👍👋

[@BostonByRails]

Thank you!!

[@svenmartin840]

I wonder if the MBTA is ever going to negotiate the right-of-way. Between Boston and Springfield. When they could have stops. Between Charlton Mass East Brookfield Mass Palmer and then on to Springfield? Because Connecticut rail comes from New Haven to Springfield. And his two little buses going from Springfield to Boston. And Amtrak only has one train a day

[@BostonByRails]

Me too! I sure hope they can make it out there

[@ryan225360]

Instant subscribe.

[@BostonByRails]

Thank you!! Im so glad you enjoyed it!

[@maluhmachadomoco]

9:14 is the best i like the hornshow from 2015

[@BostonByRails]

Nice!

[@maluhmachadomoco]

@@BostonByRails I saw the geometry train at readville i saw it like 2 times also i went to south station

[@XLProductionsAJR2024]

One cool thing around this is that I caught that train for the first time?!?!!!!

[@rezymu5337]

They definitely need to test the geometry of the tracks between Cedar Park and Reading. I usually get on at Greenwood station and instead of the tracks being welded together, they bolted little segments of track together and it makes the train bump like every half second. It's kind of irritating.

[@BostonByRails]

Ahhh yes, well thats not a track geometry fault, just old infastructure

[@CentralMassRailfan]

how do you pan so well? the first clip with the 3c was amazing. pls lmk

[@BostonByRails]

Thanks! I mean I just time it with the loco, my iphone 12 mini also has stabilization

[@Readvilleswitcher]

They stop at mass ave for a while

[@jamesbowling7215]

Why are some MBTA trains called kelois and some not ?

[@JamesT_Rustle]

all mbta commuter trains are "Keolis # XXX Engine MBTA XXXX". This includes work trains and other special sets, such as this.

[@JohnnyAngel8]

Keolis is the company under contract with the MBTA to run the commuter rail system.

[@SuperOwensTrainsYT]

did you ever catch the doubledraft geo?

[@BostonByRails]

Nah i wasnt around that day

[@Loggy2288]

The train

[@nickmorgan1690]

Imagine if the MBTA bought some of the Amfleets when they get replaced and got rid of the single level cars from the 80s

[@BostonByRails]

Woooah that would be cool

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

Why do they need a minimum number of coaches to go at full speed?

[@BostonByRails]

So on the MBTA, if you have leas than four coaches, you are limited to 25 MPH (might not be the exact #). So, in order for them to go any speed, they need Atleast 4 cars on the consist

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

@@BostonByRails Wonder why they made that regulation? Almost seems like a rule meant to forbid short DMU/EMU service. At least it's not a federal rule.

[@BostonByRails]

Thats a good point. I think it only applies to commuterail now, im sure theyll change it for stuff like that!

[@MetroSouthRailVideos]

“Increase in geo trains?” Is there gonna be an FRA one again this time? Like when’s the next geo train?

[@BostonByRails]

When did i say that?

[@MetroSouthRailVideos]

@@BostonByRails no Sam said In his comment that’s below mine “you heard about the increase in geo trains”

[@BostonByRails]

Ohhh yea, im not quite sure what he meant

[@MetroSouthRailVideos]

@@BostonByRails wax man being a bozo

[@glottis5]

*looks at train tracks* yup, those are train tracks

[@JohnnyAngel8]

I still don't get it ... how it works.

[@syeet1234]

He’s not a mechanical genius, the technical aspects of how the geo equipment scans the rails is more complicated than a normal teenager could explain. I would be amazed if any railfan could explain it to be honest.

[@JohnnyAngel8]

@@syeet1234 Thanks for explaining that a scanning process is used; a simple fact not mentioned in the video.

[@BostonByRails]

Yup, sorry about that. Didnt see this comment until now.