One of the hot topics today is infrastructure, and keeping the physical plant in operating condition requires the attention of an army of maintenance of way personnel. While obvious problems can often be spotted by the naked eye, a more scientific examination enables the railroad to nip potential problems in the bud. For the past 90 years, Sperry Rail Services has been contracted by railroads across the country to provide this service. For most of that time, Sperry used the largest collection of doodlebugs in the country to act as both testing platform and motel for those who worked and lived on the road. In recent years, they have retired most of the rail cars and switched to hi-rail trucks that, after a long day on the rails, allow the crews to jump off the railroad and drive to the nearest hotel.

Sperry car SRS 770 sits on the siding at CP Berry, waiting for the hottest train on the railroad, Q032, to pass.