hot box detectors

[kamikaze1]

hello fellow scanners i was wondering if anyone has the freqs. for thses box detectors

DED — Dragging Equipment Detector

HCD — High Car Detector (includes Excessive Height Detectors)

HBD — Hot Box Detector (includes TSA, SAD and HBD detectors)

WCD — Wide Car Detector

SSD — Stress State Detector

SWD — Sliding Wheel Detector

WID — Wheel Impact Detector

 

[AK9R]

The various defect detectors usually announce themselves on the road channel in that area. That way the crews can hear the report.

 

[kamikaze1]

do u know witch channels they would reside on?

 

[Nasby]

Find out what railroad(s) pass through your area (most likely CSX and/or Norfolk Sounthern). Next, go to the database for your state and check the "railroads" section. Then simply program the road channels into your scanner that correspond with the railroad in your area.

 

[burner50]

Usually they broadcast on whatever the road frequency is in the area.


Many are talk on defect only, so you may not hear them at all unless they catch something wrong.


Where I am we have a HBD every 20-25miles, and a DED every couple miles.

 

[kamikaze1]

thanks yall apreceate the help i added 160.65000khz and its picking it up every hr. witch is weird b/c this is in SC Line (Asheville District Dispatchers) maybe this is freq for my area for hotbox detectors

thnx again

 

[KR4BD]

On the old CNO&TP line (NS) between Cincinnati, OH and Chattanooga, TN, the Hotbox detectors are placed about every 20-25 miles and operate on the Road Frequency of 160.95. I live about two miles from the one at Brannon, KY (just south of Lexington). It's voice message typically goes like this:

Norfolk Southern, Milepost Eight Seven Dot Eight, No Defects....(pause) and then repeats. If there is a hot wheel, dragging equipment or other problem, it will so annouce this, as well, giving the axle number and which side of the train where the offending problem can be located.

 

[kamikaze1]

so all of these detectors are dectected when a train passes or at other parts of the track?

 

[STARFIRE]

Check what your road channel for your area is and that should get you started. I know the detectors we have only have a power output of only a few miles. Were are you located?

 

[chrismol1]

so all of these detectors are dectected when a train passes or at other parts of the track?

They transmit twice when a train passes over them. They usually transmit on the Road Channel.

From the database it looks like Monroe Subdivision runs through greenwood. The Road Channel listed is 160.590 try that frequency

 

[cifn2]

Again to restate what has been said, There is not specific channel for DEFECT DETECTORS, they are the same as the Road Channels used by train crews. You might hear the dispatcher, the defect detectors and trains too on the same channel. Also most defect detectors are very low power, and minimal range. The antennas on the sheds are usually about 1/4 wave size (19" + or minus.)

 

[burner50]

They transmit twice when a train passes over them.

Not always. There are many types of silent detectors, that are talk on defect only or not at all.

 

[godfollower]

Not always. There are many types of silent detectors, that are talk on defect only or not at all.

One other observation I've made, at least out here in the mountainous areas: There tend to be a LOT of non-talking detectors (as opposed to talking detectors). Aka, talk on defect only, or as the BNSF Railway puts it: 'Exception Reporting'. When you look at the official RR timetables, you really have to look to realize which are talking detectors (transmits on every train). And they tend to be placed to protect bridges, tunnels, and other fixed, but relatively narrow spaces. And they (non-talking) tend to be quite close to each other, so they probably use the same equipment to transmit the reports.

 

[cbehr91]

Out west there are more detectors that are set to "Talk On Defect Only", especially on BNSF, however there are some UP lines, like the Triple Track main across Nebraska, whose detectors don't talk.

Do you know what railroad runs through your town?

If NS (Norfolk Southern), then 160.950 should pick up any detectors in your area. If CSX, there are several frequencies that they might be on (160.590, 161.100, 161.370). You really should familiarize yourself with the line in your area. Find a timetable. Figure out what the subdivision or district name is. That will help you better understand what frequencies are active in your area.

 

[KF0SKV]

Do you know what railroad runs through your town?

Yes, Nebraska Central Railroad, we don't have detectors. Our trains run too slow. Some defect detectors don't detect very well with slow-running trains. Detectors detect too well when the UP 3985 or UP 844 passes by.

 

[cifn2]

Most defect detectors won't detect very well if at all below 30 MPH.

 

[Confuzzled]

do u know witch channels they would reside on?

What do witches have to do with it? Maybe use their brooms to sweep up?

It's voice message typically goes like this:

Norfolk Southern, Milepost Eight Seven Dot Eight, No Defects....(pause) and then repeats.

WOW!!! That must be exciting!!!

 

[K4DHR]

Yes, Nebraska Central Railroad, we don't have detectors. Our trains run too slow. Some defect detectors don't detect very well with slow-running trains. Detectors detect too well when the UP 3985 or UP 844 passes by.

Ha, true enough. It was funny listening to the detectors when 3985 was running across Missouri and Illinois last fall. Up to that point, I may have heard a hot box detector go off maybe twice in 10+ years of railfanning, but with 3985 it set it off for multiple axles!

IIRC, most detectors don't work below about 10 mph. Most rulebooks I've read require a crew to stop and inspect a train manually if they roll by a detector going too slow, or at least run at a reduced speed until passing the next one down the line.

 

[burner50]

Most defect detectors won't detect very well if at all below 30 MPH.

I've never heard that before. Seems pretty counter-productive, and I've rolled over tons of them at less than 30.

IIRC, most detectors don't work below about 10 mph. Most rulebooks I've read require a crew to stop and inspect a train manually if they roll by a detector going too slow, or at least run at a reduced speed until passing the next one down the line.

Generally, a detector doesn't work well below 10MPH. Sometimes they do. On UP They'll announce "Integrity Failure". There are special rules with an integrity failure, but you don't have to walk a train or run restricted speed until the next one. There are different rules for a train with alot of hazardous materials. They have to be walked immediately.

 

[ratboy]

Most of the ones around here talk after every train goes over. Here at work, I hear only a single CSX detector constantly. At home, I hear that detector, another CSX detector, and a couple of NS detectors. I kind of miss the NS detectors giving the axle counts. Every so often, the number would be shockingly beg.

I have a radio that's RR only, and when I hear an NS detector in Butler, IN on 160.800, that is my cue that the 2M band is open.