Derailment defense: Three suppliers share their solutions for derailment prevention and response

Compiled by Bridget Dean, Associate Editor

BossPac Technologies

Undetected rail breaks can result in significant revenue losses, environmental impacts and safety risks for the public and crew. BossPac Technologies’ Broken Rail Sensors (BRS) are installed in nonsignalized (dark territory) networks, providing an economical option to monitor for rail breaks without costly centralized traffic control infrastructure.

Each BRS is compact, solar-powered and communicates wirelessly. BRS units use DC current to measure the integrity of the rail. They operate in groups of one to 10 sensors, each positioned 1 mile apart, where they transmit and receive low voltage signals through the rail. When one sensor detects a rail break, its group member sensors validate the reading, greatly reducing false positives, BossPac officials said in an email.

The sensors offer multiple options to wirelessly communicate data. A self-healing mesh network allows interconnectedness among network devices, ensuring continuous data flow even if some units are offline. Hot box detectors are integrated into this mesh network, serving as gateways to upload data to BossPac’s back office. All BRS units are equipped with 4G LTE modems for data uploads to the back office via LTE networks.

BossPac began installing BRS on along Class I tracks in 2021 and has since then detected hundreds of rail breaks. The technology provides Class Is with a cost-effective system that is 80% less expensive than centralized traffic control, company officials said. Coupled with its advanced back-office data analytics, BossPac enhances the safety of its clients’ train operations.

Hulcher Services Inc.

Hulcher derailment crews use specialized equipment to remove debris, perform track repair and restore rail functionality.

Hulcher Services Inc.

Hulcher Services Inc. specializes in derailment prevention and recovery services to help restore rail operations quickly and efficiently. The company’s expert teams provide 24/7 derailment and rapid response recovery. Hulcher derailment crews use specialized equipment to remove debris, perform track repair and restore rail functionality, Hulcher officials said.

In addition to derailment response, Hulcher provides preventative services such as vegetation control, track and right-of-way maintenance to reduce the likelihood of derailments occurring.

Crews utilize heavy equipment safely and efficiently, including sidebooms, dozers and vacuum trucks to rerail locomotives and rail cars, perform onsite traction motor or wheel changes and clean up commodities. Hulcher also can perform emergency hazardous material response and containment.

With strategically located teams, Hulcher ensures fast and efficient service, company officials said. As an industry leader in customer responsiveness, Hulcher guarantees that crew and equipment will be on the road to the derailment site within an hour of a service call, they said.

Hulcher’s crews are trained and certified to work for all Class Is, and with over 50 years of rail experience, the company can respond to any derailment situation to reopen the tracks, remove any product and clean up the site.

Genesis

Genesis derailment equipment is unique because it requires fewer support trucks and personnel, which saves customers money, Genesis officials said.

Genesis

Genesis is a full-service railroad maintenance provider, offering mechanical, engineering, transportation and equipment services. The company is dedicated to constructing reliable railroad infrastructure, supporting customer maintenance projects, responding to emergencies when necessary and providing specialized equipment to get the job done, Genesis officials said.

When a train derails, railroads need an immediate response from experts who have the experience and equipment to manage any situation. Genesis Rail Services can be that partner when emergencies arise, according to the company. Annually, Genesis responds to approximately 150 derailments for various customers.

Derailment response times vary depending on the destination and dispatch location, but Genesis crews typically arrive at their dispatch locations within one hour of the emergency call. Upon arrival, they will mobilize immediately to the derailment location, Genesis officials said.

Genesis officials believe their specialized equipment is unique because it requires fewer support trucks and personnel when hauling it to the job site than other equipment, saving a customer money. Additionally, Genesis derailment crews set up the large equipment in as little as 20 minutes.

Genesis crews not only handle the derailment cleanup, but they also can repair the track at the same time. While onsite, they can also provide a thorough track inspection to help prevent derailments in the future.

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