New Hot Box Detectors Installed
Just now entered into service are two new “talker” hot box detectors in Gray and Readfield, Maine. These add to the new “talker” at Lewiston, Maine and to the upgraded and now “talker” type detectors at Hoosick, New York; Zoar, Wendell, Shirley, Andover (in Commuter Rail Territory) and Parkers, Massachusetts; Exeter, New Hampshire; and Wells, Maine.
These new systems can all detect hot journals (hot boxes), and at certain locations, depending on circumstances, dragging equipment and overheight cars. Because the defect message is reported directly to the train by radio (hence the “talker” name), precious time is saved and potential derailments prevented. As the new equipment is computer based, it is also more responsive than the older systems. Detection is better and more accurate. Because these systems can be interrogated by the signal maintainers through computer ports, diagnosing of trouble is far more accurate.
(Editor’s note: On September 30, 1999, the Lewiston detector identified a true hot box and the train was stopped promptly. The savings from this “find” no doubt more than offset the cost of all the detectors on the system.)
Article by Jon West