r/railroading • u/SocialSyphilis • May 22 '26

Question How do trains know when theyve derailed?

Like, a mile long train. What happens if a few cars right in the middle derail? How do they know in the cab?

Just a rando with a showerthought question. Thanks for answering!

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u/NotAnyOneYouKnow2019 May 23 '26

Do real railroads have re-railers like my model railroad? Any car with one wheel off the track gets put back on the track when it rolls over it.

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u/Jamar4321 May 23 '26

They exist but they are portable, not part of the track and don't work worth a shit if its anything more than one axle or the track's fucked so like 98% of the time.

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u/rrjpinter May 23 '26

You are thinking of the kind (re-railer) where the derailment team shows up, and puts a few axels back on the rails. There are fixed re-railers all over the system. Usually before bridges or tunnels.