CSX Equipment Detector Question

[KF0SKV]

Detectors get funny from time to time. I passed a detector one time on my way to Creston, Ia. Detector didn't talk, wasn't one of those "talk on defect" detectors.

Funny, though, it was during my adventures in Conductor Trainee class while I was on the train. The Hogger and Training Coordinator riding along never noticed the detector didn't talk until I looked at my signal awareness sheet and we passed the detector by 2 miles.

 

[BigC801]

Detectors get funny from time to time. I passed a detector one time on my way to Creston, Ia. Detector didn't talk, wasn't one of those "talk on defect" detectors.

Funny, though, it was during my adventures in Conductor Trainee class while I was on the train. The Hogger and Training Coordinator riding along never noticed the detector didn't talk until I looked at my signal awareness sheet and we passed the detector by 2 miles.

Half the time thats a dam test too, i hate it when they do that.

 

[petey_racer]

I live on a bit of a hill, with an Amtrak line about 2 miles to my East and a CSX (old Conrail) line to me West, both running North/South.
I hear: "Axle count: xxx, NO defects" ...all the time.

Thanks everyone for the detailed explanations.

I don't monitor much as the traffic is very transient. If there were a yard closer (there is a small one about 7-8 miles South of me but I don't hear much) I might listen more, but I have been a life long model railroader. I have been dormant in this hobby for several years now lacking a place to set up a layout.

 

[N2ICV]

I was a jitney drive in the 90's working with Conrail Philadelphia Division . One day I picked up a crew as we went by a HBD/DD the breakmen ask me too stop ,he got out and grabbed a stick and put it in the DD equipment between the rails. As a train was coming on that track about 2 miles away. He got in the van and told me a new engineneer was running the train ,so the train went by the HBD/DD the thing went off saying ............Belmont ..Pa.. Mile post 2...Beep Beep Beep axel 0 axle 0. The engineer came on the radio and said "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" Then the Phila., dispatcher said ...........I've been a dispatcher for years and thats a new one on me". LOL.
Boy I miss those days driving the jitney.

 

[BigC801]

lol thats great, i may have to try that some time.

 

[KF0SKV]

Besides sticks, rail grinders, 844, 3985 tend to screw with DD's real bad, especially rail. grinders. It's kinda funny hearing the DD go postal when every axle has a defect! Or some sort of software glitch makes the voice turn into Max Headroom, announcing every other word twice.

Rail grinders also tend to bring out a sleepy Vol. Fire Dept, expecting a big field fire.

 

[N9NRA]

LOL ! That sounds too funny! reminds me of a really dumb, but kinda funny stunt a friend of my brother pulled, can i pm ya with what happened? Still, i wouldda loved to hear that detector when it went off. Too cool! N9NRA

 

[deputydog3]

I live between Kenly and Micro, NC just off the CSX Main Line which is besdie US 301 Hwy.
I cannot find the frequency for the defect detector nor do I even know if there is one along this stretch of track.
The following freaks I have are as follows:
160.590
161.370
160.950
161.550
161.520
160.820

Are there any other ones I need to put in my scanner, if so, can you please let me know.

Thanks,
KC

 

[Josh]

Did you try 160.230? It's the CSX primary road channel in most areas

160.820 is not a valid railroad frequency. It'd have to be either 160.815 or 160.830

 

[kb2vxa]

Heh, rail grinders are so COOL! "Hey Clem lookit thet, th' dang train's on fahr!"

 

[Scott_PHX_APP]

Heh, rail grinders are so COOL! "Hey Clem lookit thet, th' dang train's on fahr!"

And if it's not the Train on fire, it's the grass and ties just behind the grinder...

 

[deputydog3]

Thanks Josh, I'll give her a try !

 

[tunnelmot]

Its seems the detectors on the UP line here may have gone to talk on defect only. Kinda sucks cause where ever I've lived since about 10 years old, I've grown fond of hearing them go off in the middle of the night.

Grew up in So Cal, and the old SP detectors had female voices, and they had a more natural sound than the ones I hear now, they may have been actual recordings.

(In a easy, soft, relaxed tone) "SP detector, Oak Creek Pass. Train speed one-four miles per hour...no defects...no defects....detector out"

Brings back good memories. (Hot California sun, desert sand, and almost-black-from-soot SD40T-2s)

I also miss the PBX channels, and the maintenance trucks with their external loudspeakers cranked up so anyone within a 1/4 mile could hear what was cooking. Cell phones were'nt the norm yet, so you could hear the DTMF tones and Foremen discussing all sorts of issues. Sometimes you could catch personal calls letting the wives know they would be home late. (This was around 1986-1989)

Listen to me...I'm only 30 years old and I'm talking about the good ole days.

Rich

 

[N9NRA]

Its seems the detectors on the UP line here may have gone to talk on defect only. Kinda sucks cause where ever I've lived since about 10 years old, I've grown fond of hearing them go off in the middle of the night.

Grew up in So Cal, and the old SP detectors had female voices, and they had a more natural sound than the ones I hear now, they may have been actual recordings.

(In a easy, soft, relaxed tone) "SP detector, Oak Creek Pass. Train speed one-four miles per hour...no defects...no defects....detector out"

Brings back good memories. (Hot California sun, desert sand, and almost-black-from-soot SD40T-2s)

I also miss the PBX channels, and the maintenance trucks with their external loudspeakers cranked up so anyone within a 1/4 mile could hear what was cooking. Cell phones were'nt the norm yet, so you could hear the DTMF tones and Foremen discussing all sorts of issues. Sometimes you could catch personal calls letting the wives know they would be home late. (This was around 1986-1989)

Listen to me...I'm only 30 years old and I'm talking about the good ole days.

Rich

hey there, and there`s nothing wrong with the good ole days. Not sure about where you`re at, but here in cold, snowy WI they still use the PBX`s yet, i can hear the DTMF tones when they dial up the dispatcher (called "toning-up" a dispatcher, i belive). Anyway, they do have cell handsets, but they still use the radio PBX around here, which is kinda nice. I`d venture a guess that`s gonna change in the somewhat near feuture, right? Intresting it will be, to see how digital will work out, given that all (or at least most anyway) of the railroad comms are simplex. N9NRA

 

[alexcsx12]

Im an engineer and 404 axels means :
* 102 cars and two engines and it could mean a train with so many engines and so mant engines.
alex allen

 

[Swipesy]

Im an engineer and 404 axels means :
* 102 cars and two engines and it could mean a train with so many engines and so mant engines.
alex allen

What is the formula for getting 102 cars and 2 engines? If there are 2 axels per car (forgetting about the locomotives and spider cars for a moment) why isn't the count for 404 closer to 200?

Thanks.

 

[Josh]

Freight cars typically have four axles, not two. a locomotive 4 or 6.

404/4 = 101.

Detectors that give axle counts, do not exclude ANY. This ridiculousness that they do is getting on my nerves.

 

[alexcsx12]

alex again

Im an engineer and 404 axels means :
* 102 cars and two engines and it could mean a train with so many engines and so mant engines.
alex allen

its alex again and i messed up the nessage its son many engines and so many cars on a train

 

[kc8iqz]

pickup of AMTRAK detectors

I just took a round trip to NYC from DC yesterday. It was the Acela and I was scanning. I could hear the station to conductor but i couldn't hear any detector transmissions. Has anyone picked up these transmissions from a passenger train? All I have seen are people who hear these detectors for besides the tracks.

Thanks....Gary KC8IQZ