Maybe I’m missing out on something but I have never been able to locate the frequencies for hot box detectors. Are these standardized, like End of Train devices? Or, are they different? Can someone help me out? Thanks…oh, I mostly railfan UP.
they are on the road channels for that area
So are the hotbox detectors for BNSF.
railbullfan
I don’t understand the question…
Listen to them on the local road channel. If you are near one you will hear it. You can hear both UP and BNSF at Rochelle. They also help tip you off when a train is approaching on either line.
Jason, From your question, I know you don’t live in Northern Arizona or New Mexico. Yes the detectors will give you an idea where the trains are. But on the Gallup Sub between Winslow,Az and Belen,New Mexico all of the detectors have been turned off. Only if there is a defect will the detector talk… Bob
They havn’t been turned off, they are exception only detectors. Too bad. It is nice in hot or cold weather when they give ambient temp readings so you can determine if temperature related restrictions apply.
UP DETECTOR
MILEPOST 12.2
TRACK 2
NO DEFECTS
TOTAL AXEL
TWO-TWO-SIX
TRAIN SPEED
FIVE-FIVE MPH
DETECTOR OUT
Try to find a railfan website near your area that may list all the frequencies for your specific RR. I found one for my area (Cincy) that has all of NS, CSX, Paducah & Louisville, and TTI that I programmed in my scanner. Mainly all of Kentucky railraoads. On that website the End of Train Device was listed under a channel by itself for each RR.
I hope this helps also.
Brian (KY)
Observation of this thread indicates that to the Railfan the HBD’s don’t talk enough.
To the Train Dispatcher…they talk way too much…walking over the Dispathcer/Train Crew communications too many times to count.
Some detectors are programmed not to talk when there is another transmission in the area. This does not always work though. I have heard detectors on two different tracks at the same location trying to report at the same time. A related problem is the volume of radio transmissions. If I adjust the volume of my radio to hear a conductor who does not talk real loud I get blasted out the window by a dispatcher or a detector. If I adjust the volume for them then I can’t hear something else. Engine radios should be designed to maintain a constant output volume independent of the strength of the signal being received.
On BNSF we are currently quieting down some of the defect detectors except for the ones that protect bridges they will take as for the ones that are quiet they will talk when their is a defect. Rodney conductor BNSF