An article in the Dec 2016 issue of Trains Magazine says that a company had set up 39 unautherized AEI readers around the country. The gist of the article, I guess, is that they only paid for one license, not 39. But it makes it sound like they tresspassed on railroad property, and "raised concerns about selling about selling data on the movement specific types of railcars....". Of course it mentions that the info might be put to bad use. Who would buy this information and why?
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Not sure who would buy the information - the AEI tag only provides information on the car itself, not on the contents thereof. You'd need information about the car ahead of time for it to be of any use. I suppose such knowledge might be handy if a shipper/receiver was trying to find out what really happened to their car. Just why was it in East Podunk when that's hundreds of miles out of the way?
Ironically, the same issue contained an ad for a handheld AEI reader....
I saw an article about this a while back - there was a picture with the article that showed an AEI reader installed in plain sight along a ROW.
I don't know what the max range between the interogator and the tags is, but it would seem to me that if I wanted to gain surreptitious information, I'd be hiding them in buildings alongside ROWs where they would be harder to detect. I'm sure there's no shortage of property owners who wouldn't mind a few dollars of extra income for having the equipment in their garage or warehouse that backs up on the ROW.
I don't know as the railroads go around looking for such readers on a routine basis - as in searching electronically for the readers, not just spotting them along the ROW. If the company in question was truly being sneaky, I'd think they would have made an attempt to hide them.
Or not.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Yeah, I read that article and was wondering what good that information was to any one outside of the railroad involved.
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"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
Paul of Covington Yeah, I read that article and was wondering what good that information was to any one outside of the railroad involved.
Data could be coordinated with a manual type count { That is an individual who would be paid to count, and identify by type, the traffic past a specific point.
Such a technique is used regularly by Highway Departments to gather data for future construction of roadways, also traffic signals, or other enhancements to improve traffic in an area. Consultants are also hired to collect traffic data, and extrapolate that data to form the basis for long range planning for a specific urban area.
With railroads, such data collection might be used in conjunction with meta data complied and offered by professional associations; to predict trends for traffic patterns in regions that might be translated into national trends.
Also, a line being targeted by a compeditor for acquisition; might provide data that could be contrary to what an organization might be publishing about its traffic, utilization, and speeds (as a predictor for possibly maintenance problems?). Quiet, unobtrusive observation, can yeild a wealth of information for interested parties.
I'm picturing the Spy verses Spy cartoons from Mad Magazine.
OK, commercial espionage. 39 places around the country? They said they thought it was legal. Apparantly they didn't read all the fine print and just kept hitting the "I agree" buttons.
Now, this IS tongue in cheek, but, does make more sense than some of the carp that goes on in these threads.Mais I digress.Could the AEIs be a subversive Railfoamer Network named Extra Extra 2200 South which is subscribed to by Credit Card or PayPal to keep a lookout for certain locomotives or odd-ball multi axle rolling stock or whatever for the well-heeled fan?Back in the day, we had a few select telephone numbers, ( using a Black rotary-dial 500, { metal finger wheel } Telephone Instrument on Step-by-Step ) at the Planning Office we could call when chasing Steam, the LAST OPs or 244s in the Old Paint, and if the guy did not hang up, jump into the car and speed off to the 'Last OS Point by' and check in at open TO Offices along the way.If the engine in question was LEADING, Safety First got left behind in the chase.You should have seen the performance when the D&H PAs showed up ex Albany.Anyway, with Facebook and the price of fuel, one could just log on, or use an App to call the Subscriber's device when his entered targets went by a point, or more than one target, and location.Time for my Meds. and warm milk before the News.Thank You,Good Night.
NDG Now, this IS tongue in cheek, but, does make more sense than some of the carp that goes on in these threads.Mais I digress.Could the AEIs be a subversive Railfoamer Network named Extra Extra 2200 South which is subscribed to by Credit Card or PayPal to keep a lookout for certain locomotives or odd-ball multi axle rolling stock or whatever for the well-heeled fan?Back in the day, we had a few select telephone numbers, ( using a Black rotary-dial 500, { metal finger wheel } Telephone Instrument on Step-by-Step ) at the Planning Office we could call when chasing Steam, the LAST OPs or 244s in the Old Paint, and if the guy did not hang up, jump into the car and speed off to the 'Last OS Point by' and check in at open TO Offices along the way.If the engine in question was LEADING, Safety First got left behind in the chase.You should have seen the performance when the D&H PAs showed up ex Albany.Anyway, with Facebook and the price of fuel, one could just log on, or use an App to call the Subscriber's device when his entered targets went by a point, or more than one target, and location.Time for my Meds. and warm milk before the News.Thank You,Good Night.
Those readers must have been installed to track the FEMA boxcars, the ones with the shackles.
Quoting SAL fan: "Those readers must have been installed to track the FEMA boxcars, the ones with the shackles."
Johnny
Deggesty Quoting SAL fan: "Those readers must have been installed to track the FEMA boxcars, the ones with the shackles."
Murphy SidingGo to the mall and look around.
What's a mall?
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
zugmann Murphy Siding Go to the mall and look around. What's a mall?
Murphy Siding Go to the mall and look around.
It’s a squatty, plain, mostly empty concrete building in a busy part of town surrounded by national fast food chain restaurants and cell phone stores, but that’s not important right now.
Murphy SidingIt’s a squatty, plain, mostly empty concrete building...
Usually found with a "name" store on each end, which may or may not be open at this time next year.
"Who would buy this information and why?"
Someone who hides their shipment on a freight car might want to track where that car is located.
mvlandsw Someone who hides their shipment on a freight car might want to track where that car is located.
Which adds a completely new dimension to the story...
mvlandsw "Who would buy this information and why?" Someone who hides their shipment on a freight car might want to track where that car is located.
Dave?
Daves not here man......
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Murphy SidingIt’s a squatty, plain, mostly empty concrete building in a busy part of town surrounded by national fast food chain restaurants and cell phone stores, but that’s not important right now.
And don't call me Shirley!
edblysard Dave? Daves not here man......
ndbprrMy rotal guess on this is some very unknowledgeable person(s) thought they stumbled on to a get rich quick scheme that fell flat rather quickly.
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