A sensor arrangement for a railway system may include a rail claw that is connectable to a rail of the railway system, and a sensor that is configured to measure a spatial position of at least a segment of a movable railway element of the railway system by a contactless measurement and to differentiate between at least two different spatial positions of the segment of the movable railway element. The sensor may be mechanically connected with the rail claw. Furthermore, a method for monitoring a railway system is provided.

A method for monitoring a railway system is provided. The method may include arranging a sensor below a movable railway element of the railway system, and measuring a spatial position of at least a segment of the movable railway element by a contactless measurement by the sensor. The sensor may be configured to differentiate between at least two different spatial positions of the segment of the movable railway element, and the respective spatial position may relate to the distance between the segment of the movable railway element and a rail of the railway system. Furthermore, a sensor arrangement for a railway system is provided.

A monitoring unit for monitoring a railway track is provided. The monitoring unit may include a processing unit, at least one wheel sensor connectable to a rail of the railway track, and a sensor arrangement connectable to a railway switch of the railway track. The wheel sensor and the sensor arrangement may be connected with the processing unit, and the processing unit may include an output that is connectable to a signaling system. Furthermore, a method for monitoring a railway track is provided.

A sensor arrangement for a railway system is provided. The sensor arrangement may include a plurality of sensors, each sensor having a coil. The sensors may be arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement, each sensor may have a sensing range within which the respective sensor is configured to detect movement of electrically conductive material, and for each position along a sensing distance within the two-dimensional arrangement, the sensor arrangement may include at least two sensors of the plurality of sensors whose sensing range extends over the respective position.

A locomotive control system and method of use operable to provide operational control of a locomotive ensuing the detection that the locomotive will enter a railroad switch having the point blades incorrectly positioned. The locomotive control system further includes a point alignment detection sensor being operably coupled to a railroad switch and the point blades thereof. A plurality of track transceivers are mounted adjacent to the railroad switch and extend outward from the railroad switch along the railroad track. At least one engine transceiver is provided and is operably coupled to a locomotive. A controller is included and functions to provide logic and control of the locomotive control system. The method provides monitoring of the point blades of a railroad switch and detection of the movement of an approaching locomotive having entered the detection zone and is operable to prevent movement through the railroad switch if damage will occur thereto.

A detection and indication system for use in a railway switch machine which utilizes one or more roller members which physically interact with a point detector bar coupled to one or more switch points to provide an indication of a point failure upon movement of the point detector bar a predetermined distance from an initial position. The system includes a mounting structure structured to be coupled to a housing of the switch machine and a first sensing device coupled to the mounting structure. The first sensing device is positioned and structured to detect movement of the point detector bar a second predetermined distance from the initial position, wherein the second predetermined distance is less than the first predetermined distance.

A detection and indication system for use in a railway switch machine which utilizes one or more roller members which physically interact with a point detector bar coupled to one or more switch points to provide an indication of a point failure upon movement of the point detector bar a predetermined distance from an initial position. The system includes a mounting structure structured to be coupled to a housing of the switch machine and a first sensing device coupled to the mounting structure. The first sensing device is positioned and structured to detect movement of the point detector bar a second predetermined distance from the initial position, wherein the second predetermined distance is less than the first predetermined distance.

A locomotive control system and method of use operable to provide operational control of a locomotive ensuing the detection that the locomotive will enter a railroad switch having the point blades incorrectly positioned. The locomotive control system further includes a point alignment detection sensor being operably coupled to a railroad switch and the point blades thereof. A plurality of track transceivers are mounted adjacent to the railroad switch and extend outward from the railroad switch along the railroad track. At least one engine transceiver is provided and is operably coupled to a locomotive. A controller is included and functions to provide logic and control of the locomotive control system. The method provides monitoring of the point blades of a railroad switch and detection of the movement of an approaching locomotive having entered the detection zone and is operable to prevent movement through the railroad switch if damage will occur thereto.

A railroad switching apparatus utilizing a tie which is positioned under rails and points used in switching railroad cars. A support is interposed the tie and the rails and points and includes a passageway to guide the first and second indicator bars which are attached to the points. A slider is also employed at the attachment point of the indicator bars to the points to accommodate the thermal expansion and contraction of the rails and points. The indicator bars are formed into a coaxial unit in order to allow simple observation of the relative movement between the first and second indicator bars to determine proper movement of the points relative to the rails.

A switch control method and apparatus, and a storage medium are provided, which relate to the field of urban rail transit technologies. The method includes: in a process that a train requests a target object for a switch resource, determining that the train is a train before and nearest a switch in combination with switch information sent from an object controller; when the switch is in an idle state, requesting the object controller to move the switch if it is determined that a current switch orientation of the switch is inconsistent with a switch orientation required by the train for the switch, so that the object controller controls to move the switch, and adjusts a status of the switch to a locked state after the switch is moved; and controlling the train to pass through the switch according to a response message returned by the object controller.