Hot Bearing Detector (rail road)

[Dibbons]

Could help prevent accidents/disasters:

 

[Fran Blacker]

Rumor there were two 10 miles apart they went by,T/F I don't know.

 

[toolmanmike]

Sounds like they better fix those rails.

 

[Budnicks]

Operator error...

 

[Photon440]

We used to hear those hot box reports coming over the radio all the time, been in use for years before I retired. Here's an example of what they'd pick up:

Notice the glowing adapter above this failed roller bearing. A few more miles and it's likely that the axle would shear off. Rather than hot bearing detector, we called them a Hot Box detector, from back in the days when most of the rail wheels used friction bearings enclosed in a journal box.

 

[Runcharger]

Yes: They've saved millions of dollars over the years. I can't remember how long they've been in use probably 40 years I guess. Unfortunately they spelled the end of the caboose along with the EOT monitors.

 

[Dave6T4]

I worked at Canadian Timken in St. Thomas, Ontario in the 1970's. We had a railway bearing department there, and also supplied those "stink bomb" hot bearing warning devices. They were terrible if one went off "accidentally" in the shop. Smelled worse than a skunk that dined at Taco Bell.

 

[Photon440]

Those little brass cartridges about the size of a CO2 bottle for a pellet gun? I still have a few of those kicking around here somewhere. There was a hole in the bearing adapter that accepted the cartridge, if one went off then it would be detected by the crew in the trailing caboose.

 

[Runcharger]

Yup: Wake up the guys in the caboose. They smelled awful.

 

[kiwigtx]

Don't know how old the program is, but I saw the Alaskan Railroad show last night, and the guys were hauling a million dollars' worth of pipes to Anchorage. They had a wheel sensor go off....turned out it was a hot wheel - a brake unit had stuck on. The guys kicked the brake unit, and disconnected the air to that one car, kicked some snow on the red-hot wheel, and all was good.
Lucky it wasn't a bearing fail....I was waiting for that after seeing this thread.

 

[Bold & Old]

on the CSXT
after the audio from the satellite voice recorder went off on the locomotive radio announcing that a hot box was detected saying..... hot box detector mile post (blab blab) (axle 244 for example)... they recorded axles so you could go into your train profile manifest to find the faulty axle. Then we had to walk both sides of the train til we found the problem.... we were equipped with a pencil looking marker that we then tested the axle bearing with it and if it melts we had to call it in to the dispatcher via satellite for instructions... most generally we had the set it out of are train generally on the nearest spur or siding.

 

[Bold & Old]

Yes: They've saved millions of dollars over the years. I can't remember how long they've been in use probably 40 years I guess. Unfortunately they spelled the end of the caboose along with the EOT monitors.

with out the cabooses the CSXT road jobs went down to a one man crew (conductor one trainman) near my retirement....... this meant I had to walk both sides of the train looking for anything that may cause a problem such as a derailment from a hot box.... included dragging equipment ect after the detector was alerted are train via satellite voice recorder. This took a long time due to long trains..... glad I retired a year after the crew consist agreement was implemented...by the new rules.

i also remember there were times the hot box detector was faulty but still had to preform this task for safety reasons according to the rule book.... thus trains did not get over the road as they were meant to be.

The yard jobs had cabs but they were used as a shoving platforms with a one man crew so we did not need to hang on the side of a cars leading point for many miles... protecting any obstructions that might cause a problem via radio.

Hope all this makes sence..... but this is how we did it on the CSXT.

 

[Bold & Old]

Yup: Wake up the guys in the caboose. They smelled awful.

I dont recall a smelly stink bomb...

 

[Runcharger]

Yes walking a 2 mile train up and down on ballast is just not realistic. Lots of the ideas were formulated by desk drivers. I worked on BCRail in B.C. Canada and we had pretty challenging track, lots of 2.2, lots of bridges etc. CN took us over and figured they were really going to show us old guys how to run a railroad, lots of disasters when they did. Glad I'm done with it all. My nephew is a hogger now and I told him just do what management says no matter how stupid and cash the cheque every 2 weeks.

 

[F4R/T]

I still firmly believe rail is the best way to move a load. I just hope folks get what they need and the rail company does the right thing and doesn’t go belly up. I recall my dad running Emds on a short line and he started with 4-5 guys and wound up with two , later on I went on to be the mechanic on his old Emds, and spent some time running them around a little here and there. Those old switchers are very durable, reliable and simple.

 

[Runcharger]

I totally agree: Some of our Locies were 40 years old and got the job done. It's still the most efficient, safest and least polluting method of transport. I've driven truck as well and to me cross country trucking is stupid if there is a railway available. Trains for long distance or bulk, trucks for local and regional deliveries.
The manning issue was pretty dumb if you ask me. If you divide a second wage over 150 carloads it doesn't add up to a hill of beans to a freight rate, just straight greed by the CEO's to pad their bonus is what it was. A straight 9-5 job with weekends off you can expect 100% but when you're working irregular shifts and trying to sleep whenever you can it's a good thing to have 2 sets of eyes when if you have a mometary lapse of judgement your actions can potentially level a town.