Eastern Railroad Discussion > New Defect Detector on the CSX Pittsburgh Sub?

I'm out on my deck listening to the CSX frequencies and I heard a defect detector at milepost 300.2.  That would be near Scott Haven PA.  I have never heard that one before.  I have heard the one at Fitz Henry PA (mp 290.5).  So it seems odd that there would be another one added less than 10 miles away.  

It has a different "voice" than the other detectors and didn't announce CSX.  Could this be a temporary defect detector?  If it is permanent that would give me a heads-up on trains coming from either direction.

If it sounds computer synthesized, it's probably a Southern Technologies SmartScan NG2. CSX has been using these as their preferred model, in place of the slightly older Progress Rail MicroHBD, for about 5-6 years now. It's the newest model offered by either STC or PR and can accommodate trains up to 4,000 axles in length. 

Though not as quickly or deliberately as Norfolk Southern, CSX is following industry trends by filling in gaps between Detectors so the average is between 10-15 miles on average between units. The addition of this unit would therefore make a lot of sense. 

Does it broadcast on 160.230 ?     Asking for a friend who visits his son in that area.

SZ

Yes, on the CSX Road Channel 160.23 MHz (AAR Channel 8).  I'm listening now waiting for something to go by to make sure I'm not going crazy.  I'll post again if I hear anything.

Finally, a train passed by on track 1 with 636 axles at MP 290.5.

Then I heard the one at 300.2 announce the same number of axles, so I wasn't dreaming it.

GP40 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I
> Though not as quickly or deliberately as Norfolk
> Southern, CSX is following industry trends by
> filling in gaps between Detectors so the average
> is between 10-15 miles on average between units.
> The addition of this unit would therefore make a
> lot of sense. 
I've noticed in my area of Southern Indiana some of the DD's quit giving out train length and now just give axle count. Wondering what the reasoning is for dropping the length. I have heard conversations before where the DS wants to put a train in a tight fitting siding and the crew will reference the DD's on train length.