Transportation  February 16, 2023

Derailments beware: Detection systems seek to prevent them

Jim Bilodeau stands next to a 3D printed model, not actual size, of a train wheel assembly that shows the location of the yellow heat sensors mounted in close proximity to the wheels. Ken Amundson/BizWest
By

LOVELAND — It’s top of mind since the Feb. 3 derailment on the Norfolk Southern Railway main track 1 in East Palestine, Ohio, where 11 of 38 derailed cars were carrying hazardous materials that leaked and burned.

With tens of thousands of rail cars traversing the nation’s rail lines, many right through America’s downtowns, how safe are those cars and the rails on which they ride?

Jim Bilodeau’s right hand is above the location of an acoustic sensor used to detect sound anomalies that could signal a failing bearing. Ken Amundson/BizWest

Trains, after all,…

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Ken Amundson is managing editor of BizWest. He has lived in Loveland and reported on issues in the region since 1987. Prior to Colorado, he reported and edited for news organizations in Minnesota and Iowa. He's a parent of two and grandparent of four, all of whom make their homes on the Front Range. A news junkie at heart, he also enjoys competitive sports, especially the Rapids.
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