A method and apparatus for measuring parameters of the wheels on a moving railway car in which the wheels travel on a steel slab and when a wheel passes a position sensor and is in a suitable position for measurement, a signal is produced which is supplied to a laser generator. The laser generator produces a planar laser beam which is directed onto the wheel. An image generated by the planar beam of light is captured by a camera in synchronization with the signal produced by the position sensor. The image is supplied to high-resolution artificial-vision electronic equipment whose output is supplied to a central control computer which processes the output and produces the desired information and displays it on a monitor. Separate laser generators can be used to produce separate beams for measuring wheel diameter and wheel profile and the separate generators are connected to separate electronic equipment in turn connected to the central control computer.