BNSF Railway track inspection

Using a specialized Bridge Inspection Vehicle, a team of BNSF bridge inspectors slowly roll over the Latah Creek bridge in Spokane, looking at the box girder structure below and the cement bridge deck.

Section:Gallery

Fri., March 17, 2017

BJ Carter, a BNSF employee, rides in the bucket of a specialized vehicle last Thursday to inspect the sides and bottom of the Latah rail bridge in west Spokane for signs of stress or decay.

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Engineer Wesley Pruitt of BNSF explains the system of roadmasters and track inspectors who work under him, inspecting thousands of miles of track.

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BJ Carter, a BNSF employee, rides in the bucket of a specialized vehicle last Thursday to inspect the sides and bottom of the Latah rail bridge in west Spokane for signs of stress or decay.

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BJ Carter, a bridge inspector for BNSF, hangs below the elevated Latah rail bridge west of downtown Spokane last Thursday. He was looking at the steel box girder structure that supports the cement bridge deck. BNSF rail bridges go through comprehensive inspections at least twice yearly, company officials said.

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BJ Carter, a bridge inspector for BNSF, hangs below the elevated Latah rail bridge west of downtown Spokane last Thursday. He was looking at the steel box girder structure that supports the cement bridge deck. BNSF rail bridges go through comprehensive inspections at least twice yearly, company officials said.

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BJ Carter, a bridge inspector for BNSF, hangs below the elevated Latah rail bridge west of downtown Spokane last Thursday. He was looking at the steel box girder structure that supports the cement bridge deck. BNSF rail bridges go through comprehensive inspections at least twice yearly, company officials said.

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BNSF drone pilot Mike Lemonie uses an iPad to view a live feed from the craft he is using to inspect the Latah rail bridge last Thursday.

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Taylor Palmer, left, and Mike Lemonie, a contract drone team employed by BNSF, launch their drone next to the Latah rail bridge last Thursday.The quadcopter is used to inspect bridges and other structures. Images brought back are used by engineers to identify potential defects.

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A BNSF train takes the Latah Bridge and the north turn at the Latah Bridge Wye Thursday, Mar. 9, 2107. BNSF Railway has appealed an environmental review of a coal-export terminal in Washington state, arguing it miscalculated or overstated the risk of cancer for some residents.

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