To provide a wireless train control system that can perform a stable operation. The wireless train control system controls a wireless-control compliant train following a wireless-control noncompliant train by a ground control device. A stop limit point of the wireless-control compliant train is set by a track circuit in which a tail end position of the wireless-control noncompliant train is present. By using a track-circuit state signal indicating that the track circuit is turned on or turned off and a time-element-added track-circuit state signal indicating turn-off at a timing delayed by a set time after the track-circuit state signal has indicated turn-off, when the track-circuit state signal indicates turn-off and the time-element-added track-circuit state signal indicates turn-on, it is determined that turn-off indicated by the track-circuit state signal is caused by the wireless-control compliant train that is a train itself being present, and the stop limit point is not updated.

A method for indicating a status of a railroad switch is configured for use in un-signaled (dark) territory utilizing vital audio messages. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a DTMF signal from a railway vehicle, initializing control of the switch, and triggering the reporting of a correspondence condition through vital relays or other electronic components.

The present invention provides a measuring assembly (11) for measuring a characteristic of the movement of a first rail relative to a second rail. The measuring assembly comprises a measuring gauge (15) for measuring the characteristic and a rail movement detection device (13) to which the measuring gauge is removably secured. The detection device comprises a first subassembly (19) and a second subassembly (39) wherein the first subassembly and second subassembly are slidably interconnected. The first subassembly comprises a first rail engagement portion spaced from a first end (23) of the first subassembly. The second subassembly comprises a second rail engagement portion spaced from a first end (43) of the second subassembly. The measuring gauge is secured between the first end of the first subassembly and the first end of the second subassembly. Movement of the first rail engagement portion relative to the second rail engagement portion causes the first end of the first subassembly to move away from the first end of the second subassembly, the characteristic of the movement being measured by the measuring gauge.

The present invention provides a measuring assembly (11) for measuring a characteristic of the movement of a first rail relative to a second rail. The measuring assembly comprises a measuring gauge (15) for measuring the characteristic and a rail movement detection device (13) to which the measuring gauge is removably secured. The detection device comprises a first subassembly (19) and a second subassembly (39) wherein the first subassembly and second subassembly are slidably interconnected. The first subassembly comprises a first rail engagement portion spaced from a first end (23) of the first subassembly. The second subassembly comprises a second rail engagement portion spaced from a first end (43) of the second subassembly. The measuring gauge is secured between the first end of the first subassembly and the first end of the second subassembly. Movement of the first rail engagement portion relative to the second rail engagement portion causes the first end of the first subassembly to move away from the first end of the second subassembly, the characteristic of the movement being measured by the measuring gauge.

Described are a system, method, and computer program product for automatic inspection of a train including one or more locomotives and/or railcars. The method includes activating, or causing the activation of, at least one scanning drone including at least one sensor configured to obtain primary inspection data of the train. The method also includes communicating at least one set of scanning drone operating instructions configured to cause the at least one scanning drone to obtain the primary inspection data along a travel path associated with the train. The method further includes receiving the primary inspection data from the at least one sensor. In further non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the method includes activating, or causing the activation of, at least one micro drone including at least one sensor configured to obtain secondary inspection data of the train.

Described are a system, method, and computer program product for automatic inspection of a train including one or more locomotives and/or railcars. The method includes activating, or causing the activation of, at least one scanning drone including at least one sensor configured to obtain primary inspection data of the train. The method also includes communicating at least one set of scanning drone operating instructions configured to cause the at least one scanning drone to obtain the primary inspection data along a travel path associated with the train. The method further includes receiving the primary inspection data from the at least one sensor. In further non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the method includes activating, or causing the activation of, at least one micro drone including at least one sensor configured to obtain secondary inspection data of the train.

The rail bond monitor has a frequency transmitter to generate an electronic signal at a known energy level to pass through two or more impedance bonds located at an insulated rail junction between two sections of railroad tracks in order to allow a change in energy level, under analysis, at a receiver to be detected from an expected amount of energy level. An energy level detector is coupled to the receiver to detect the energy level under analysis at the receiver and compare that to the expected amount of energy level, and then generate a notice signal configured to trigger a relay output when the change in energy level under analysis is beyond a threshold amount. The relay output sends an output into a rail controller to warn that a problem exists with the impedance bonds themselves and/or the electrical paths between the railroad tracks and the impedance bonds, at a given insulated rail junction.

A system for railroad directive management is presented. The system can receive a myriad of data related to a directive, track segments, and/or vehicle events on the track and/or track segments. Vehicle- and/or event-specific data can be compared with one or more thresholds, including force thresholds, temporal thresholds, environmental thresholds, and/or event thresholds to determine whether and what kind of directive modification should be instantiated. Specialized algorithms can be implemented to trace vehicle paths along the track to determine whether directive-related segments are traversed, and specialized clustering algorithms can be utilized to cluster data unique to a particular segment on a per-segment basis. The system can be integrated with existing track infrastructure and can further generate alerts to notify coupled systems and/or personnel of directives and/or modification thereof.

A system for railroad directive management is presented. The system can receive a myriad of data related to a directive, track segments, and/or vehicle events on the track and/or track segments. Vehicle- and/or event-specific data can be compared with one or more thresholds, including force thresholds, temporal thresholds, environmental thresholds, and/or event thresholds to determine whether and what kind of directive modification should be instantiated. Specialized algorithms can be implemented to trace vehicle paths along the track to determine whether directive-related segments are traversed, and specialized clustering algorithms can be utilized to cluster data unique to a particular segment on a per-segment basis. The system can be integrated with existing track infrastructure and can further generate alerts to notify coupled systems and/or personnel of directives and/or modification thereof.

A railway asset tracking and mapping system stores positions and visual imagery associated with physical railroad assets such as signals, road crossings, platforms, and mile posts along a segment of a railway track and displays the geographic positions and imagery of those physical assets in simultaneous and correlated track chart, video imagery, and map formats on an integrated interactive display. An associated method of displaying correlated track chart, video imagery an map is also disclosed.