Integrity Failure?

[IbanezGuiness]

What does it mean when a detector says Integrity Failure? I hear that every once in a while on my local UP line. 

 

Thanks. 

[jeffhergert]

For whatever reason, the detector is unable to give a valid inspection and/or readout of the train.  It can be due to an internal electronic defect or a train stopping or going to slow over the detector.  Some detectors can have a train can stop on them and they'll still work.  Others can't even handle slow speeds without failing.  

They used to be able to handle a train at 10mph.  A year or two back they reprogrammed them so now 15mph is the magic number.  Below 15 and you risk getting an integrity failure.

Jeff

[BaltACD]

IbanezGuiness

What does it mean when a detector says Integrity Failure? I hear that every once in a while on my local UP line.  

Thanks.

Defect Detectors, like a lot of high end electronic equipment, run a self testing routine when they are activated.  Pass the self test and the Detector works as intended.  Fail the self test and the detector won't work.  The different types of failure messages that the Detector broadcast clue in the Signal Maintainer as to where the particular problem may reside.

In most cases the Detectors will 'announce their presence'; indicating they have turned on.  After the train passes they will announce the results - 'No Defects'; Defect(s) on specific axle(s); Check entire train (too many defects found to announce); Integrity Failure or potentially some other form of detector failure message.

Crews will communicate with the Train Dispatcher about any defects noted in their train or any detector failure messages.  Detector failure messages will be reported to the Signal Department for their handling.

[SD70Dude]

To me, loss of integrity means a blockage or parting of the brake pipe.  Our detectors broadcast that they are "not working" if a failure occurs.  Different railroad, different terminology, same underlying meaning.

We are to report a "not working" message, a axle count that is off by more than one, or complete lack of a broadcast to the RTC.  Sometimes the failure is only in the talker portion of the detector, and the RTC is able to see the actual readings in the computer.

Sometimes the above failures are because a supervisor is screwing with the detector as a "efficiency test".