High resolution laser scanning and gigapixel imagery to gather information on the condition of steam locomotives before restoration. Winifred: a case study.

Paper
Chris Thorpe, UK

Winifred, a Hunslet 0-4-0ST (works number 364 built 1885) is both an extraordinary and ordinary locomotive. The appearance of the locomotive is remarkable. It is quite possibly the closest thing to the invention of a time machine that many people have encountered. There has been much debate in the UK railway preservation community about the fate of Winifred and two other former Penrhyn locomotives repatriated in similar but poorer condition. Winifred will be restored in a sensitive and similar way to how she would have been repaired during a general Penrhyn overhaul.
This Paper will explore the process we are using before the restoration begins to collect high resolution (between 1mm and 3mm tolerance) laser scans, gigapixel and macro photography and an “array” of cameras using focal stack photography which will yield a gigapixel image without the distortions inherent in the Gigapan robot and will give a sharp image and also depth information.