Detectors and the Future of Rail Safety

[Junctionfan]

What kind of devices are there in addition to hot box detectors that monitor for alarms that locomotive crews and possibly dispatch would need to be aware of?

Is there any technology or devices currently in the reseach and development stage?

Anything to prevent terrorism or derailments or head-on collisions; stuff like that?

[BaltACD]

Currently in use are High-Wide detectors, dragging equipment detectors and wheel impact detectors....the reason for the first two is obvious....the wheel impact detector detects wheels that are flat spotted beyond acceptable limits.

[Anonymous]

warm journal detectors too....

[doghouse]

The best safety device ever devised is a well trained pair of eyes.

[Anonymous]

Hot wheel detectors also, not to be confused with "Hot Box Detectors". I believe the hot wheel detector scans for stuck brakes. I've seen the detectors are mounted up on a small pole and are an added accessory to the Harmon Cyberscan 2000 Hot Box Detector.

Rock slide fences....what about "smash boards", are those still in use? I knew they were boards that would smash against the engine if the train ran a red signal on the approach to an open draw bridge in order to get the engineer's attention!

[Anonymous]

Head On collisions: hmmmmmm, I guess cab signals would defintely help to prevent head-ons, PTC (Positive Train Control), GPS are other helpers.

[TH&B]

Wild wheel detectors.

[Junctionfan]

Do they have any detectors to detect (detectors that detect-go figure) coupler fatigue?