Have you ever been riding on Amtrak and there was a hot box on bored, what happend?, what did Amtrak do about it, and can the locomotrives get a hot box?

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JONATHON D. ORTIZ

We did get triggered by one once, on the Lake Shore Ltd. But it was a false reading and we carried on. All they do is check it visually (they know roughly which axle because the detector tells them). If it is okay then they can proceed, otherwise, depending on the severity, they'll carry on to the next siding at reduced speed and leave the offending car on the house track for maintenance to deal with later.

Locos are equally susceptible since they have wheels too. ;-)

Even as late as the "fifties' railroads were ordering freight cars equipped with friction bearings; I think it was the "thirties" for passenger cars.

The term used today is Defective Equipment and that condition is reported to the crew by means of a lineside device known as a Defective Equipment Detector, or DED. Defective Equipment not only includes overheated bearings but also dragging equipment; some Detectors can even report shifted loads.

On an Auto Train ride during Feb 01 (in our waning days of "normalcy"), #53 had a hotbox on an auto carrier; it was mildly hot and the train was able to continue to Sanford as opposed to setting it out. Had the latter occurred, you can be sure MY auto would have been in it.

From listening to the Conductor's radio, the procedure was when the DED notified the crew of the problem, the train would be stopped and an inspection made. If the bearing can be touched with a bare hand, it's safe to proceed. The train would then proceed at restricted speed (30mph) until the next DED was passed. If that passage was "negatoive' i.e. no report, then the train could return to normal speed (70mph). However, if return to normal speed caused a subsequent DED to issue a report, then we start the procedure all over again.

You want to be careful about touching the bearing cap with your hand! Usual procedure is to use a Tempilstick, basically a crayon that melts at 200 degrees F. If it leaves a mark, the bearing is hot.

There are about 50 to 100 hot bearing caused derailments per year in the US, despite detectors. Problem is, a roller bearing can heat up and fail very quickly (unlike a friction bearing, which can stay hot for quite a while before the axle burns off). Solution is probably some sort of on-board monitoring, rather than use of wayside detectors.

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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy

quote:

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Originally posted by JONATHON:
Rresor,
On my last trip to Fullerton, I seen an Amtrak Surflinner comming from L.A. and its locomotive was smoking from undernieth.

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Could be the Surfliner that had a hotbox that I heard on my scanner a few weeks ago. The engineer radioed the dispatcher about it and the train stopped for a while to check it out. Never did find out what happened as the train got too far away for my scanner to pick it up anymore.

Those with scanners or near the conductors with radios can hear the DED "voice" as train passes by indicate track #, axle #s, and hopefully the words "No Defects".

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Trust Jesus,Ride Amtrak.

Never heard one give too few, but I'd imagine that was more important as it might have meant something dropping off the rear (perhaps with isolated brakes). Perhaps the engineers looked out the window and could still see their last car?

Sorry Mr. T- it's just so rare!

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F40PH #757099-8
March 29, 1976-August 17, 2001
Best of the best, requisecat in pacis