Conrail 21 Track Geometry Car

Railroad Office CarsConrail OCSConrail 27
Written By Wes Reminder

Conrail 21, the Track Geometry Car, is one year old in this photo taken in October 1984.

Conrail 21 - Track Geometry Car - Amtrak 800411

I kindly request that you link to this page instead of sharing these images and stories elsewhere on the internet without permission.

Conrail 21 was built by Pullman for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway as business car 32. Santa Fe renumbered the car on August 19, 1973 to ATSF 55. The car became Conrail’s Track Geometry Car on September 30, 1983 after conversion by the Amtrak Beech Grove Shops in Indiana at a cost of $2.25 million (in 1983 dollars!).

Many people have questions about the purpose of the car and its role on the Track Measurement Train, also known as the Geometry Train. One of the best explanations comes directly from Conrail, in its April 1996 Track Measurement Train Operating Manual:

“The purpose of the Track Measurement Train is to collect track geometry and rail wear data over the Consolidated Rail Corporation system by the operation of the Track Geometry Car (TGC) CR21 and Rail Analyzer Car (RAC) CR22. The information obtained during the survey will be used to Identify existing track deficiencies. In addition, the information will be used to update the physical plant database, to determine rail replacement needs, and to develop Track Quality Indices to assist in intermediate and long-range track maintenance planning.

The Track Measurement Train will be operated and maintained by a survey team consisting of a Survey Director(Assistant Engineer-Track Analysis) and two Electronic Engineers. If the test cars operate independently, the survey team will consist of a Survey Director and one Electronic Engineer. The TGC and RAC will operate under the authority of the Survey Director. All activities relating to the train or its operation should be directed to the Survey Director.

The testing train will be a 4-axle locomotive, (CR1933 is assigned to Track Analysis), CR24 4-axle Support Car, CR22 4-axle Rail Analyzer Car, and CR21 4-axle, 265,000 pound Track Geometry Car. Depending upon requirements, the CR50 4-axle Power Car may also be part of the train. If the CR1933 is not available, a locomotive should be used that will not foul passenger car buffers and diaphragms with either the uncoupling mechanism or crosswalk when pushing the cars. The train itself is assigned a symbol of TES and is operated by a locomotive engineer and a conductor (and in some situations a brakeman). The Survey Director should direct all communications concerning train movements to the conductor. The train will be operated at authorized track speed (passenger or TV train speed where applicable) up to 70 mph. Since the locomotive limits the speed, the cars themselves may be operated up to 90 mph.”

In Conrail 21’s first ten years, it visited just about every rail on the Conrail system, racking up approximately 340,000 miles and finding over 55,000 spots to repair. The car helped find rail defects before they caused major derailments. Conrail 21, weighing in at 266,000 pounds (according to a Conrail document dated 1993), was capable of the following:

  • Measuring track gauge with ENSCO Laser Gauge

  • Measuring cross level and curvature with ENSCO CAS

  • Measuring vertical profile and horizontal alignment with ENSCO Profile / Alignment System

  • Measuring distance with Modern Machine and Tool Tachometer System

  • Marking defects with Modern Machine and Tool Paint Spray System

  • Recording locomotive cab signal drop-outs with Conrail OBTAM system

This page will help tell the story behind the car and the train, offering several galleries with numerous images that have not been published or viewed previously.

Below is a brief history of Conrail 21:

Norfolk Southern 36 - (6/1/99)

Conrail 21 - (9/30/1983)

Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe 55 - (8/19/1973)

Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe 32 - (1924)

Bill Maier was one of only a handful of people assigned to the Track Geometry Car as an Electronic Engineer. He has relayed his firsthand experience of the car; the full story is included in my book on the Conrail Special Equipment Fleet, but excerpts from this story are provided below:

“In 1982, Conrail Chairman and CEO L. Stanley Crane instructed the Engineering Department to acquire and operate a car to measure track geometry. The car would be able to measure track gauge, crosslevel, curvature, and other components of track geometry under load and at the operating speeds of normal trains.

There were no business cars in the Conrail fleet that could meet the requirements, but Santa Fe was willing to sell ATSF 55. Once the decision was made to construct the car and purchase the ATSF 55, several months were spent on the initial design and deciding where to have the work performed. Mr. Crane was anxious to get the car into operation, and it was decided to have the car converted by Amtrak at their Beech Grove Shops.

Almost all of the car components except for the superstructure and outside skin were removed and discarded. The chairs and tables that came with the car were reupholstered and refinished; the shower, sink, and certain incandescent light fixtures were retained for reinstallation, but the rest was scrapped. The reasoning was that not only did the car need to be modernized, but it was necessary to examine the structure to repair any corroded areas and strengthen those places that would be carrying additional weight.

At the A-end of the car (platform end, or what would be called the observation room), two of the windows were replaced with bay windows. Video cameras looking forward were mounted in each bay window. These allowed the operators to find landmarks, such as mileposts, bridges, etc., and mark them to aid in locating any exceptions from the track standards. The biggest change was to the rear platform. The old platform was removed and replaced. A picture window was added with an access door on the right side.”

Conrail 21 was painted to match the scheme used at the time on the other Conrail business car with two exceptions. The carbody was painted standard Pullman Green with gold lettering. The roof, however, was painted silver. The alumilastic compound helped to seal the individual panels that made up the roof.”

In my book, Bill goes into great detail about the car, including the four different types of trucks it used during its time on Conrail. In later photographs, you can see that the original six-axle trucks were replaced with a pair of four-axle trucks.

Conrail 21 and the Track Measurement Train had their share of stories over the years, including a grade-crossing accident that derailed the car and another derailment caused by a broken rail beneath it. Bill also told me that Santa Fe 55 wasn’t the only ATSF business car purchased by Conrail. The railroad also acquired ATSF 56, primarily for its truck frames, which were intended to serve as spare trucks for CR21. After the purchase, Conrail’s Marketing Department took an interest in the car and considered converting it into a business car. That plan never came to fruition, however. Instead, Santa Fe 56 was fitted with a pair of Pennsylvania Railroad trucks and sold again.

While the work performed by Conrail’s Track Measurement Train was fascinating to watch and essential to the railroad’s operation, the train wasn’t always a welcome sight. As it traveled across the Conrail system, it often brought headaches for dispatchers and train crews in the form of slow orders and delays. The paint-marking equipment mounted on CR21 also meant that maintenance-of-way (MOW) crews weren’t far behind.

For railfans, however, the train was a great sight to see, and it was sometimes mistaken for Conrail’s Office Car Special equipment. The photos in the gallery below also show that the Track Measurement Train could go long stretches without a proper wash, a far cry from the well-cared-for business cars.

The cars remained in service right up to the end of Conrail. Their work undoubtedly helped improve track conditions and prevent service disruptions and derailments along the way.

On June 1, 1999, Conrail 21, along with Conrail 22 and Conrail 24, became Norfolk Southern property. Norfolk Southern repainted Conrail 21 and renumbered it NS 36. In its early years on Norfolk Southern, the car was frequently seen with its former support car, CR24, which became NS 37. Today, NS 36 is paired with a rebuilt SD40, NS 38, better known as “The Brick.” NS 38 serves as the power car for NS 36, eliminating the need for the generators installed by the Beech Grove Shops in 1983.

Many of the equipment boxes beneath the car have since been removed, and the interior has been updated with modern computer equipment. As of 2026, the quality workmanship of the Amtrak Beech Grove Shops and Conrail lives on, with NS 36 continuing to ride the rails in service for Norfolk Southern.

Santa Fe Business Car 55

Santa Fe 55 has arrived at Amtrak’s Beech Grove Shops in preparation for becoming the Track Geometry Car, CR 21. Conrail personnel responsible for the conversion of the car did a thorough walk-around inspection in October 1982 photographing ATSF 55’s last days as an office car.

Conrail 21 Trucks and Components Under Construction at Modern Machine & Tool

The equipment for measuring track geometry was supplied by Modern Machine & Tool of Newport News, Virginia. At the time, they had similar equipment on track geometry cars on the Santa Fe, Burlington Northern, Louisville & Nashville (Family Lines), and Southern.

Conrail 21 Construction at Amtrak’s Beech Grove Shop

At the Amtrak Beech Grove Shop, Santa Fe 55 had almost all of the car components except for the superstructure and outside skin removed and discarded. The chairs and tables that came with the car were reupholstered and refinished; the shower, sink, and certain incandescent light fixtures were retained for reinstallation, but the rest was scrapped. Conrail went to supervise and check in on the progress of the car throughout its rebuild, documenting the process in film, as displayed below.

Conrail Track Geometry Train Vandalism 1995

Unlike the Conrail business and office car equipment, the train had no sleeping quarters, so crews had to park it at the end of each shift. Frequently left overnight and on weekends, the train faced vandalism, as shown in the Polaroids below that show damage to the platform door glass from a large rock. That same night, Support Car Conrail 24 was set on fire but fortunately extinguished itself. Other images from over the years reveal broken glass in various sections of the cars.

Conrail Track Geometry Car 21 Through The Years

Former Conrail 21, Now Norfolk Southern 36

Conrail Track Geometry Car Cup.png

Conrail 21 Track Geometry Car Mug

In 1993, Conrail issued these Track Geometry Car mugs, featuring a line drawing of the car alongside the slogans “Quality Begins with Me” and “Keeps Us Rolling Safe 1993.”

Collection of Wes Reminder

If you are interested in Conrail passenger operations, read about how Conrail operated their OCS train, including stories from those with first hand knowledge. Check back soon for other Conrail Office Car articles by Wes Reminder.

Sources:

  • Conrail April 1996 Track Measurement Train Operating Manual

  • September 1993 Track Measurement Train 10th Anniversary Documentation

  • Bill Maier - Conrail Track Geometry Electronics Engineer

Special thanks to the photographer contributions on this page:

Casey Thomason · Charlie Murphy, Jr. · Chip Syme · Frank Rovder · Rich Frey

All images are © copyright Wes Reminder and each photographer listed on the image. Usage of these images requires explicit permission for reproduction, distribution, or any other use. For inquiries, please use the contact button.

© Wes Reminder 2026. All rights reserved. No part of this text may be copied, reproduced, distributed, or used in any form without explicit written permission from Wes Reminder. This includes, but is not limited to, use in AI models, digital databases, and electronic formats.

Wes Reminder

https://www.the-boring-the-adoring.com/
Next

Conrail 24 Track Geometry Train Support Car