DD - The Defect Detector |
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The DD is the Defect Detector. Situated on many railways these are sensors that broadcast their info after a train passes. They are used to check a train and sense faults.
There is a Defect Detector at milepost 21.1 near Crestwood. They record axle counts and the length of the train - vital for Traincrew for safety and double checking - important to know if the length is not what they were told on paper/word etc. This is because train sidings etc are only so long and if the train fits is based on length, eg if a train crew comes to Lagrange thinking they will fit into the 8400ft siding, and they are actually 8600ft long - trouble. The DD also look for vibration, heat and out of gauge objects. When axle bearings get hot they wear and can fail, so they warn the crew about any defects on the train. This is done by a audible radio tranmission. that we can hear as well. For a SB it about 15-20 minutes after we see it going south. For a NB it usally menas the train is 9 minutes away from the Steet and the camera. Check also: Wikipedia link on Defect Detectors |
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