Abstract: A method for detecting breaks or defects in railroad spikes transmits an ultrasonic signal that propagates along the body of the spike and detects the resulting reflected ultrasonic signal. The reflected signal is then analyzed to automatically detect the presence of a break or defect in the spike based on the time delay between the reflected signal and the transmitted signal.

Abstract: A system of train control uses a quasi-moving block methodology for controlling operation of a plurality of trains from a remote office. The office parses the route information for each train into non-overlapping movement authorities that are issued via a communications network. As each train proceeds, it communicates with the office to automatically roll up its movement authority and release the portion of the movement authority behind the train. The office then extends the movement authority of the subsequent train to reflect the released portion of the movement authority of the leading train. The track can be divided into a series of track circuits to enable detection of broken rail or unexpected occupancy. The office segment can then control operation of trains accordingly if broken rail or unexpected occupancy is detected in the train's movement authority.

Abstract: A system enables operation and control of railroad trains by remotely-located train operators. A centralized communication management server facilitates and manages virtual links between trains to be controlled and the appropriate remote train operators. The server routes train health and status information from each train as gathered by a locomotive control unit to the appropriate remote operator. The server also routes locomotive video, audio, train dynamics information, and other sensory data as gathered by the locomotive control unit from each train to the appropriate remote operator. Operator commands from each remote operator are routed by the server to the locomotive control unit in the appropriate train. The locomotive control unit executes received remote operator commands via conventional locomotive systems and interfaces. The locomotive control unit works with existing locomotive systems to bring a train to a safe and orderly stop in the event communication with the remote operator is lost.

Abstract: A method for detecting broken rail and track occupancies measures both the electrical current and voltage on each end of the block of track. This allows a broken rail to be detected even with a shunting axle (occupancy) in the same detection block. The method also provides broken rail detection capability to support modes of operation in which a following train maintains safe spacing from a leading train without the use of track circuit information for train location, allowing for reduced train spacing. The current and voltage measurements are used to make binary decisions, in order to minimize the sensitivity to variations in track impedance characteristics. When combined with train location information, this method also allows for identifying the location of a rail break.

Abstract: A system for inspecting railroad rail using phased array ultrasonic technology measures the time of flight of ultrasonic signals at locations across the rail head to determine the wear profile of the rail. The rail wear profile is then used to adjust the focal laws of the phased array ultrasonic probes to dynamically compensate for changes in the rail profile as the inspection vehicle moves along the rails.

Abstract: A system for inspecting railroad rail using phased array ultrasonic technology includes both high-speed and high-resolution inspection modes that obviate the need for an operator to dismount the truck to perform detail inspection. In high-speed inspection mode, the phased array probes operate at fixed angles with respect to the rail to identify potential rail defects as the vehicle moves along the track. The vehicle can then return to the location of a potential rail defect and switch to a high-resolution inspection mode in which the phased array probes sweep over a range of beam angles at the location of a potential rail defect.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting broken rail, unintentionally misaligned turnouts, and track occupancy ahead of or behind a railway vehicle traveling on a railroad track. Shunts extend between the rails at intervals along the railroad track. Each shunt has electrical signal transmission characteristics differing from those of adjacent shunts. A test unit on the railway vehicle induces a test signal in a first rail to create a track circuit in which the test signal propagates along the first rail, through at least one of the shunts, returns to the railway vehicle along the second rail, and through the wheels and axle of the railway vehicle. The test signal has electrical properties selected to interact with at least one of the shunts. The received test signal on the second rail is analyzed to identify predetermined conditions concerning the status of the railroad track.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting broken rail, track continuity, and track occupancy ahead of or behind a railroad vehicle traveling in fixed-block territory equipped with an AC track code wayside signal system or cab signal overlay system, and a communications link. This method, when used as an integral part of a communications-based train control (CBTC) or positive train control (PTC) system, allows immediate, automatic detection of broken rail, track occupancies, or open turnouts ahead of or behind a train in an occupied block. It also facilitates true moving-block or virtual block CBTC or PTC, thereby enabling higher efficiency and track utilization.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting broken rail, unintentionally misaligned turnouts, and track occupancy ahead of or behind a railway vehicle traveling on a railroad track. Shunts extend between the rails at intervals along the railroad track. Each shunt has electrical signal transmission characteristics differing from those of adjacent shunts. A test unit on the railway vehicle induces a test signal in a first rail to create a track circuit in which the test signal propagates along the first rail, through at least one of the shunts, returns to the railway vehicle along the second rail, and through the wheels and axle of the railway vehicle. The test signal has electrical properties selected to interact with at least one of the shunts. The received test signal on the second rail is analyzed to identify predetermined conditions concerning the status of the railroad track.

Abstract: Railroad rail steels having a pearlitic structure and containing 0.720 to 0.860 wt % carbon; 1.000 to 1.280 wt % manganese; 0.450 to 1.000 wt % silicon; 0.010 to 0.100 wt % copper; 0.150 to 0.280 wt % chromium; 0.0010 to 0.0500 wt % aluminum; 0.050 to 0.120 wt % nickel; 0.100 to 0.260 wt % molybdenum; 0.100 to 0.210 wt % vanadium; 0.0010 to 0.0065 wt % nitrogen; 0.0010 to 0.0080 wt % phosphorus; 0.0010 to 0.0040 wt % sulfur; and 0.0100 to 0.0350 wt % niobium with the remainder of said steel being iron, can be used to make railway rails that are particularly resistant to rolling contact fatigue and, hence, shelling.

Abstract: A rail joint assembly joining the ends of two rails together includes a pair of joint bars. Each joint bar having one side configured to the rail web side. Mechanical fasteners mount the joint bars to the web sides. Pairs of load bearing keys are embedded in web counter bores at predetermined depths into the webs and embedded in adjacent joint bar counter bores at predetermined depths into the joint bars. The pairs of keys in the webs and the joint bars transfer railway loads through the joint and substantially strengthen the rail joint assembly.

Abstract: A rail joint assembly joining the ends of two rails together includes a pair of joint bars. Each joint bar having one side configured to the rail web side. Mechanical fasteners mount the joint bars to the web sides. Pairs of load bearing keys are embedded in web counter bores at predetermined depths into the webs and embedded in adjacent joint bar counter bores at predetermined depths into the joint bars. The pairs of keys in the webs and the joint bars transfer railway loads through the joint and substantially strengthen the rail joint assembly.

Abstract: Steels having a pearlitic structure and containing 0.65 to 0.80 weight percent carbon, 0.90 to 1.10 weight percent silicon, 0.85 to 1.15 weight percent manganese, 0.001 to 0.030 weight percent phosphorus, 0.009 to 0.013 weight percent niobium, 0.05 to 0.15 nickel, 0.20 to 0.30 weight percent molybdenum, 0.10 to 0.30 weight percent vanadium and 0.005 to 0.040 weight percent sulfur with the remainder of said steel being iron and incidental impurities, can be used to make railway wheels that are particularly resistant to rolling contact fatigue and, hence, shelling.

Abstract: Steels having a pearlitic structure and containing 0.65 to 0.80 weight percent carbon, 0.90 to 1.10 weight percent silicon, 0.85 to 1.15 weight percent manganese, 0.001 to 0.030 weight percent phosphorus, 0.009 to 0.013 weight percent niobium, 0.05 to 0.15 nickel, 0.20 to 0.30 weight percent molybdenum, 0.10 to 0.30 weight percent vanadium and 0.005 to 0.040 weight percent sulfur with the remainder of said steel being iron and incidental impurities, can be used to make railway wheels that are particularly resistant to rolling contact fatigue and, hence, shelling.

Abstract: Steels having a pearlitic structure and containing 0.65 to 0.80 weight percent carbon, 0.90 to 1.10 weight percent silicon, 0.85 to 1.15 weight percent manganese, 0.001 to 0.030 weight percent phosphorus, 0.009 to weight percent niobium, 0.05 to 0.15 nickel, 0.20 to 0.30 weight percent molybdenum, 0.10 to 0.30 weight percent vanadium and 0.005 to 0.040 weight percent sulfur with the remainder of said steel being iron and incidental impurities, can be used to make railway wheels that are particularly resistant to rolling contact fatigue and, hence, shelling.

Abstract: Steels having a pearlitic structure and containing 0.6 to 0.8 wt. % carbon; 0.70 to 1.00 wt. % silicon and 0.8 to 1.2 wt. % manganese can be further alloyed with chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, niobium and/or copper and used to make railway wheels, railway rims and railway rails that are particularly resistant to rolling contact fatigue and, hence, shelling.

Abstract: Steels having a pearlitic structure and containing 0.65 to 0.80 weight percent carbon, 0.90 to 1.10 weight percent silicon, 0.85 to 1.15 weight percent manganese, 0.001 to 0.030 weight percent phosphorus, 0.009 to 0.013 weight percent niobium, 0.05 to 0.15 nickel, 0.20 to 0.30 weight percent molybdenum, 0.10 to 0.30 weight percent vanadium and 0.005 to 0.040 weight percent sulfur with the remainder of said steel being iron and incidental impurities, can be used to make railway wheels that are particularly resistant to rolling contact fatigue and, hence, shelling.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting transverse cracks beneath horizontal cracks in the rail way track. As a transporter moves over rail, a saturation magnetic field is generated into and across the rail head using a toroidal-shaped DC saturation magnet located a predetermined distance above the rail head. Any transverse cracks in the rail head are detected with a low frequency eddy current probe mounted centrally between the opposing pole ends of the DC magnet and over the rail head. A force is applied to the low frequency eddy current probe to hold the probe towards the rail head as the transporter moves on the rail so as to follow the wear pattern of the rail head and to minimize lift-off. A second sensor is used to sense the presence of non-relevant indications that falsely indicate possible transverse cracks by the low frequency eddy current probe.

Abstract: A system and method for removing cross-talk in measured forces between a railway wheel set and the railhead of underlying track such as found in angle of attack measurements for shallow curvature track. The angle of attack for the leading and trailing sets of wheels in trucks of rail vehicles is measured traveling over track in a wayside system. At a first point on the outside rail of a track vertical force is measured with a first vertical strain gage, lateral force is measured with a first lateral strain gage and an outside angle of attack timing signal is measured with a first angle of attack strain gage. This process is repeated on the inside track so that a raw angle of attack for each set of wheels can be determined based upon speed and time difference. Position signals obtained from position strain gages are used to remove cross-talk thereby improving accuracy. The sensed position signals are calibrated to known forces on the railhead.

Abstract: Steels having a pearlitic structure and containing 0.60 to 1.0 weight percent carbon, 1.1 to 3.0 weight percent silicon, 0.45 to 0.85 weight percent manganese, less than 0.050 weight percent sulfur and less than 0.050 weight percent phosphorus, with the remainder of said steel being iron and incidental impurities, can be used to make railway wheels that are resistant to martensite transformations and, hence, spalling. The addition of 0.50 to 1.0 weight percent chromium to such steels further improves their resistance to spalling.