Arrangement for detecting the presence of snow, ice and other freezing precipitation, particularly on railway track structures, and the like

An arrangement for detecting the presence of snow, ice and other forms of freezing precipitation, particularly on road surfaces and railroad track structures, comprising, in combination, at least one first and at least one second electrode positioned one above the other and spaced from each other in the vertical direction by at least one respective interelectrode gap which can be bridged over by snow, ice and other forms of freezing precipitation, wherein the lower of said electrodes has the configuration of a clamp adapted to be secured to the foot portion of a railway track rail and both of said electrodes normally being at ambient temperature;

• and circuit means electrically connected across said electrodes and operative for detecting the bridging of the interelectrode gap by snow, ice or other forms of freezing precipitation by detecting the interelectrode gap resistance decrease resulting from such bridging of the interelectrode gap, the lower of said electrodes being provided with a sloping run-off surface for effecting the run-off or rain water falling upon said lower electrodes, whereby to prevent rain water from accumulating within said interelectrode gap and activating said circuit means.