Details a project in the US which aimed to provide railroads and transit systems with a set of practical gauges that track inspectors could use to evaluate the condition of switch points. Field evaluation of these gauges was performed in two steps: an initial evaluation, after which modifications were made to the gauges and the instructions, and a final field evaluation. During the two field evaluations, approximately 350 switches were inspected. The evaluations included direct correlation between the inspectors' assessments and the indication of the gauges, statistical analyses and Decision Tree analyses, all looking at the effectiveness of the gauges in identifying switch points which are in a condition that can contribute to or result in a derailment. The gauges were designed as simple 'go/no go' gauges to indicate whether a switch point passes or fails. Each gauge addresses a different failure mechanism and potential derailment condition. It was recommended that these gauges be made available to the railway industry, as well as to railway standards organisations.
Railway Track & Structures, Apr. 2017. pp.26-29.