Author: John B. Hopkins, Robert Abbott, F. Ross Holmstrom, Edward F. White, A. Timothy Newfell

Date of Publication:  July 1975

Sponsoring Agency:  U.S. Department of Transportation,Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Research and Development

Report No:  FRA-OR&D-75-80

Abstract:

The work described in this report was performed in the context of an overall program of the Transportation Systems Center (TSC) to provide a technical basis for the improvement of grade-crossing safety. The program is sponsored by the Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Research, Development and Demonstrations. The program supports Government activities designed to promote greater safety in railroad freight and passenger service.

This study describes a major research effort to explore the feasibility of a communication-link approach for grade-crossing applications. The project has been carried out in the TSC Mechanical Engineering Division under the overall direction of  J. Hopkins. R. Abbott, who has had general responsibility for field tests and system evaluation, prepared sections 3 ,4 ,6, and 7. Section 5 is drawn from studies carried out by Professor F.R.Holmstrom, Electrical Engineering Department, Lowell Technological Institute, under TSC contract DOT-TSC-589. Initial breadboard designs and circuit construction , and laboratory test and evaluation, have been the general responsibility of E. White. A.T. Newfell had primary responsibility for equipment acquisition and cooperative activities with the railroads . Their ingenuity in coping with difficult situations in a severe environment was crucial to the success of the project.

The effort has benefitted greatly from numerous discussions with many people associated with railroads , signal suppliers , the microwave and electronics community, and various levels and departments of Government. Special thanks are given to the many employees of the Boston & Maine Railroad who have contributed in great measure to the implementation of field tests.
 

No. of Pages:  109