When I was running on the FEC in the 1970's, we had detectors every 20 miles. Every one was hot box/dragging equipment and every other one was also wide load. They only gave milepost, dispatcher had a read out in his office with the problems - he'd call on the radio with the info.
This one would make a really neat addition to the model railroad. I'll have to check their website.
Thanks for posting.
Larry
http://www.youtube.com/user/ClinchValleySD40
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52481330@N05/
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/page/1/ppuser/8745/sl/c
If you look carefully at the cars it counted the extra coupler trip pins in addition to the wheels. You must cut off your trip pins to get an accurate axle count. It does not actuallys sense a hot box or dragging wheel but randomly generates defects based on the parameters programmed. It is very accurate if set up correctly at the proper height above the rails. If you have low caboose steps or coupler trip pins it will count those as seen on the video. I have most of mine cut off except for a few cars on the layout.
Bob
If I counted correct, it didn't count the correct number of axles on your two videos. I wondered how accurate is is. Or did I miscount? I do think it would be a great addition to the layout, if it is fairly accurate. Thanks for the videos. PW
Mind if I ask the principle of operation to figure out how these things detect wheels on the ground?
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Larry: I programmed the message so it is custom to say Clinchfield Railroad Defect Detector Mile post 21.0. No Defects. They have the words recorded and saved on the chip and you can get custom words for your layout or use the letters like C V Railroad. You could do Clinch Valley Railroad.... I did some research and the first talking detector was in the 1960s on the SAL. SCL had them in the 70s as well according to my friend who worked on SCL. They were more common in the 1980s on the Seaboard System, Southern, NS etc and CSX. Clinchfield had dragging equipment detectors and hot box detectors along the lines and they used the flashing beacon like I have modeled.
Bob,
That is really cool. I haven't had a chance to look over their site yet. Do you record your own messages?
Guys: Here is a video that I shot of the Boulder Creek Engineering Train Boss Defect Detector installed on my Clinchfield layout. Click the links to see it in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5r2p0ztHfQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p49K2a1ziXU
Bob Helm
Elkhorn Extension
Clinchfield Railroad 1975