Abstract: The system comprises a track profile database stored in a memory that has data relative to the identity of one or more wayside devices for a track and data relative to a location associated with each of the one or more wayside devices on the track. A camera generates visible spectral data of the wayside equipment as the vehicle travels on the track. A data storage device is provided for storing the spectral data received from the camera and data relative to a location of the powered vehicle when the camera generates the spectral data of the wayside equipment wherein the location of the powered vehicle represents the location of the wayside equipment. A controller is configured to compare the location data of the wayside equipment in the database to the location data associated with the spectral data of the wayside equipment stored in the data storage device.

Abstract: A method and monitoring unit for recording the status of a railroad vehicle prior to a potential accident. In a monitoring unit mounted in or on a railroad vehicle, such as a locomotive, a video camera is provided to continuously view a scene that the railroad vehicle approaches. The monitoring unit continuously monitors the status of an emergency brake of the railroad vehicle and the status of a horn of the railroad vehicle. Video signals from the video camera are continuously stored. A control unit in the monitoring unit detects the application of both the emergency brake and blast of the horn within a predetermined time window. Video signals from the video camera are captured for a predetermined period of time after detecting that the application of the emergency brake and horn blast within the predetermined time window.

Abstract: A traffic control system for mobile units has a plurality of stationary, passive units having electronic store capacity and transmit and receive facilities. The store of the passive units contains an information code which is unique to the unit and is related to the position by a mobile unit, the stationary units supply their information code, enabling the mobile unit to calculate its position. The store of the stationary units, in addition to the information codes of the units, contains stored traffic messages which are supplied together with the information code upon interrogation from the mobile unit. The movement from the mobile unit can be adjusted according to the traffic information received.

Abstract: A system for positively determining that an engineman has actually activated a manual whistle valve to sound a pneumatic warning horn on a railway vehicle having a low pressure and high pressure sensing apparatus for conveying signals to an event recorder for monitoring and recording the pressure of an air supply source and the sounding of the pneumatic warning device.

Abstract: A braking distance verification system is disclosed which makes use of a specially designed pulse to voltage converter circuit and a portable computer-based data acquisition system to measure grade, speed, and distance information of any rail vehicle. The preferred embodiment of the device is particularly adapted for mass transit systems. It provides a method and apparatus for physical verification, under actual test conditions, that an adequate braking distance has been provided in each block of a signal block design system. The portable system may be used with any vehicle braking system which provides an electronic wheel tachometer or equivalent, or may utilize a portable doppler radar if tachometer information is not available.

Abstract: In an automatic train-line air brake pressure monitoring system, a peak detector and hold circuit determines the peak voltage of an input signal representing the air pressure in the air brake system. A signal representing the present peak voltage of the input signal from the previously detected peak voltage is subtracted from the presently detected peak voltage to provide a subtraction output signal such that signals representative of the air brake pressure can be generated. The monitoring system may provide emergency air brake condition signals, as well as a number of programmable monitoring signals representative of different pressures within the air brake pressure system.