BC125AT Railscanning.

[ArkTex]

I have a Uniden BC125AT that I have slated to do some railway/aviation listening, and it works as intended for aviation.

However, when I try to listen for the local UP sub, I get nothing. I've had trains pass me when I was at the railroad crossing and my 125AT got squat for anything.

I'm mostly interested in defect detectors and road communications.

Any advice would help!

 

[marlin39a]

Have you programmed the front of train and rear of train frequencies? Those should hit the scanner with a data burst when a train is close.

 

[ArkTex]

Have you programmed the front of train and rear of train frequencies? Those should hit the scanner with a data burst when a train is close.

I just have all AAR frequencies listed, plus their listings for those devices. They don't hit. Still confused.

 

[blackbelter]

Although migration of the trains communication to the digital format of NXDN have been slow, it is possible that your area might be more effected . BC 125 is not upgradable to receive such system.

 

[GraniteScanner]

I was rail scanning with my 125AT a couple days ago. Here is what I noticed/would recommend.
1. Make sure you set the radio to scan for CTSS or DCS tones. While railroads really don't often use these its still a good idea to set the scanner to search for tones regardless just in case.
2. Switch to an antenna that's designed for VHF if you have not already. I noticed while on an Amtrak line that the signal was coming in weak on the pack in multi band antenna. Holding my scanner higher helped with the signal but that shouldn't be the case considering its VHF and I was in a wooded area (little to no obstructions like buildings).
3. Keep in mind that sometimes two frequencies are used for one line, one to talk to the train and one to talk to dispatch. This was the case on the Amtrak line I was on.

As blackbelter mentioned in this thread, your area could have switched to the NXDN digital system, meaning you might sadly be out of luck.

Hope you get this resolved, happy scanning

 

[AK9R]

I've had trains pass me when I was at the railroad crossing and my 125AT got squat for anything.

Quite possibly because they didn't say anything.

Train crews usually only talk on the radio to communicate between the train and dispatcher or yardmaster or to communicate between the engineer and conductor/brakeman on the ground while switching. A train may communicate with the dispatcher when the train enters a particular territory controlled by the dispatcher, but there may be no communications after that as the train movement is controlled by the lineside signals. If the train runs into difficulty, they'll call the dispatcher.

One form of communication that you are likely to hear are the talking defect detectors. These are spaced 10 to 20 miles apart. They'll announce that a train is passing the detector and then they'll announce the results after the train has passed. Defect detectors are usually on the "road" channel for the territory where they are located.

You said that you are scanning all of the AAR channels. That may be a mistake. Rail communications can be very short and your scanner may miss them as it's scanning around. The RR database can help you figure out the active channels in your area. Concentrate on scanning just those channels.

Finally, you may need to network with other railfans in your area. You can find them in railroad forums, railroad groups on Facebook, and other online watering holes. You may also want to ask in your state forum here on RadioReference to see if there are other railfans who can help.

 

[laidback]

Defect Detector Map

 

[kruser]

One other thing.
Many defect detectors are being reprogrammed to Only transmit on an actual defect detection. This cuts down on distraction in the cab from unnecessary radio traffic.
The old days of hearing axle counts and train speed etc are fading away regarding defect detectors.
Some of the detectors around my area only announce the milepost now. That's basically just a confirmation the detector is working.
Some are totally silent now unless they detect a defect.

Also, a lot of what was routine radio traffic can now be carried over PTC and displayed in the locomotives cab. Thus the radio is not needed as often.

As mentioned earlier, adding the EOT and HOT UHF frequencies will usually produce data sounds indicating a nearby train.
DPU frequencies are also used and can be added.
I also agree about narrowing down your frequencies scanned to just those used by the sub you are monitoring.

 

[ArkTex]

One other thing.
Many defect detectors are being reprogrammed to Only transmit on an actual defect detection. This cuts down on distraction in the cab from unnecessary radio traffic.
The old days of hearing axle counts and train speed etc are fading away regarding defect detectors.
Some of the detectors around my area only announce the milepost now. That's basically just a confirmation the detector is working.
Some are totally silent now unless they detect a defect.

Also, a lot of what was routine radio traffic can now be carried over PTC and displayed in the locomotives cab. Thus the radio is not needed as often.

As mentioned earlier, adding the EOT and HOT UHF frequencies will usually produce data sounds indicating a nearby train.
DPU frequencies are also used and can be added.
I also agree about narrowing down your frequencies scanned to just those used by the sub you are monitoring.

So the AAR frequencies are basically useless depending if they're used on the Sub I'm near or not?

 

[AK9R]

No, the AAR frequencies are not useless, but the railroad near you may only use one or two of them. Therefore, why scan 90+ channels that you aren't likely to hear anything on?

 

[laidback]

Defect detectors transmit on the 'road channel' ,open a detector in your location a nd you will see the 'road channel'.

 

[laidback]

Another site to refference: https://fragis.fra.dot.gov/GISFRASafety/

 

[wa8pyr]

Quite possibly because they didn't say anything.

Train crews usually only talk on the radio to communicate between the train and dispatcher or yardmaster or to communicate between the engineer and conductor/brakeman on the ground while switching. A train may communicate with the dispatcher when the train enters a particular territory controlled by the dispatcher, but there may be no communications after that as the train movement is controlled by the lineside signals. If the train runs into difficulty, they'll call the dispatcher.

One form of communication that you are likely to hear are the talking defect detectors. These are spaced 10 to 20 miles apart. They'll announce that a train is passing the detector and then they'll announce the results after the train has passed. Defect detectors are usually on the "road" channel for the territory where they are located.

You said that you are scanning all of the AAR channels. That may be a mistake. Rail communications can be very short and your scanner may miss them as it's scanning around. The RR database can help you figure out the active channels in your area. Concentrate on scanning just those channels.

Finally, you may need to network with other railfans in your area. You can find them in railroad forums, railroad groups on Facebook, and other online watering holes. You may also want to ask in your state forum here on RadioReference to see if there are other railfans who can help.

Something else to keep in mind is that, because of PTC, some railroads have reduced the amount of chatter quite a bit. A lot of what you'll hear is trains calling signals, and some railroads are calling signals a lot less than they did before.

 

[RRR]

Having the scanner search for CTSS / DCS. will only slow down the scanning speed.

If it is left alone, it will still hear the communications, weather CTSS / DCS is used or not.

On that note, CSX, besides NXDN, is using CTSS a little more frequently lately I noticed

 

[burner50]

Defect detectors transmit on the 'road channel' ,open a detector in your location a nd you will see the 'road channel'.

If they transmit...

Many detectors either don't transmit, or only transmit on detected defect.

 

[JoshuaHufford]

What antenna are you using?

 

[jbhunt04]

Having the scanner search for CTSS / DCS. will only slow down the scanning speed.

If it is left alone, it will still hear the communications, weather CTSS / DCS is used or not.

On that note, CSX, besides NXDN, is using CTSS a little more frequently lately I noticed

Where are they using CTSS and NXDN at?

 

[scanmanmi]

My dad used to work on the railroad and I didn't know these detectors existed. How long have they been in use? I ran across a video here

 

[cbehr91]

My dad used to work on the railroad and I didn't know these detectors existed. How long have they been in use? I ran across a video here

Talking detectors have been commonly around since the 1980s.

 

[jbhunt04]

CSX has taken the train length off of its detectors, system wide, as far as I know. The two DDs I pick up on my scanner on the Henderson Sub, just give milepost no., defect or no defects, and axle count now. The crew still calls out their signals though.