Do they place AEI tags on one side of the a railcar or both?
Supposed to be on both, doesn’t always happen. Typically two AEI scanners at each location as well. Gets interesting with double track.
I would presume both sides. There is one in Bellville, MI on NS, but it is only on one side of the track. That would necessitate RFID readers on both sides of the cars.
Both, usually one on each end. I can confirm this as I just had to replace 60 of them in -40 weather. Also re-decaled the cars. But thats another story.
From the “AEI Rail History” page on its / “SoftRail” website, at: http://www.aeitag.com/aeirailhis.html
“It was finally decided by the AEI Committee in the summer of 1990 that two tags would be mounted on each rail car, one on each side.” [emphasis added - PDN] Before that, it says that tests determined the tags worked well in other positions, too.
Lots of interesting info there, if you’re into that kind of thing.
- Paul North.
But, somehow, many wind up as “suitable ballast material” in many of my strolls along the R/W…[*-)]
Thats because many of the holders on the cars are beat to heck and no one bothers to fix them. The tags just fall off.