Remote monitoring of grade crossing warning equipment

Apparatus for monitoring railroad grade crossing warning equipment, the apparatus comprising:

• circuitry for activating an annunciator at a grade crossing location in response to the approach of a train;
• a sensor for generating a signal responsive to the operation of the annunciator;
• circuitry responsive to the signal for generating information representing an operating status of the annunciator;
• and
• a communications link for communicating the information to a location remote from the grade crossing, further comprising:
• a database for receiving and storing the information;
• and
• a data processor associated with the database for processing the information.

Apparatus for monitoring railroad grade crossing warning equipment the apparatus comprising:

• circuitry for activating an annunciator at a grade crossing location in response to the approach of a train;
• a sensor for generating a signal responsive in the operation of the annunciator;
• circuitry responsive to the signal for generating information representing an operating status of the annunciator;
• and
• a communications link for communicating the information to a location remote from the grade crossing;
• further comprising a test circuit for selectively operating the annunciator in a test mode independent of the approach of a train.

Apparatus for monitoring railroad grade crossing warning equipment, the apparatus comprising:

• circuitry for activating an annunciator at a grade crossing location in response to the approach of a train;
• a sensor for generating a signal responsive to the operation of the annunciator;
• circuitry responsive to the signal for generating information representing an operating status of the annunciator;
• and
• a communications link for communicating the information to a location remote from the grade crossing;
• further comprising a maintenance center connected to the communications link for receiving the information ion.

Apparatus for monitoring railroad grade crossing warning equipment, the apparatus comprising:

• circuitry for activating an annunciator at a grade crossing location in response to the approach of a train;
• a sensor for generating a signal responsive to the operation of the annunciator;
• circuitry responsive to the signal for generating information representing an operating status of the annunciator;
• and
• a communications link for communicating the information to a location remote from the grade crossing;
• further comprising an operations center connected to the communications link for receiving the information.

A method of monitoring the operational status of an annuciator for railway grade crossing warning equipment, the method comprising:

• sensing the operation of an annuciator at a grade crossing location;
• generating a signal responsive to the operation of the annunciator;
• processing the signal to produce information indicative of an operating status of the annuciator;
• and
• transmitting the information to a location remote from the grade crossing location.