System, method, and apparatus for improving safety of ECP-equipped trains with flammable cargo

A computer-implemented method for monitoring and responding to at least one railcar's derailment, for a train equipped with an ECP air brake arrangement, wherein the train comprises at least one locomotive and the at least one railcar connected to a trainline network of a trainline positioned on and between the at least one locomotive and the at least one railcar, the trainline configured to transmit communication signals and electrical power to ECP system components of the at least one railcar, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving or determining railcar data comprising a condition or parameter associated with the at least one railcar;
• (b) comparing the railcar data to a threshold condition or parameter that is indicative of railcar derailment;
• (c) determining that the railcar data surpasses the threshold condition or parameter;
• (d) determining, based on the railcar data, that the at least one railcar is configured to carry cargo of a predetermined type of material;
• and
• (e) in response to determining that the railcar data surpasses the threshold condition or parameter and that the at least one railcar is configured to carry cargo of the predetermined type of material, transmitting at least one first message at least partially through the trainline network configured to cause at least one power supply controller to deactivate power supplied to the at least one railcar from at least one power supply positioned on the train that is configured to transmit electricity via the trainline.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium including program instructions that, when executed by at least one computer including at least one processor, causes the at least one computer to:

• receive railcar data comprising a condition or parameter associated with at least one railcar in a train comprising at least one locomotive, the at least one locomotive and the at least one railcar connected to a trainline network of a trainline positioned on and between the at least one locomotive and the at least one railcar, the trainline configured to transmit communication signals and electrical power to ECP system components of the at least one railcar;
• compare the railcar data to a threshold condition or parameter that is indicative of derailment;
• determine that the railcar data surpasses the threshold condition or parameter;
• determine, based on the railcar data, that the at least one railcar is configured to carry cargo of a predetermined type of material;
• and
• in response to determining that the railcar data surpasses the threshold condition or parameter and that the at least one railcar is configured to carry cargo of the predetermined type of material, transmit at least one first message at least partially through the trainline network configured to cause a power supply controller to deactivate power supplied to the at least one railcar from at least one power supply positioned on the train that is configured to transmit electricity via the trainline.