The railway industry demands computing solutions that can withstand extreme conditions while maintaining continuous operation.
From locomotive cabs to signal control houses to passenger information systems, industrial-grade computers serve as the backbone of modern rail infrastructure, enabling everything including real-time tracking, semi-autonomous train control, and predictive maintenance systems.
Modern locomotives rely heavily on onboard computing systems for critical operations. These systems must function reliably despite constant vibration, temperature fluctuations, and electromagnetic interference from traction motors. Industrial computers in locomotive cabs typically handle:
Federal mandates require PTC implementation across passenger and freight railroads. These safety systems prevent train-to-train collisions, overspeed derailments in curves and work zones, and unauthorized incursions into protected areas. The computing hardware must process GPS data, track databases, and real-time communications while meeting strict safety certification requirements.
Locomotive control systems monitor engine performance, fuel consumption, and component health. Industrial computers process data from hundreds of sensors, enabling engineers to optimize performance and identify maintenance needs before failures occur.
Highway-rail intersections require robust computing systems that coordinate warning signals, gate operations, and traffic detection. These systems must function reliably despite exposure to weather extremes, electrical transients, and environmental contamination.
Digital monitoring systems enhance traditional track circuit diagnostics, providing more detailed analysis of train detection performance. Ruggedized computers process signal characteristics to identify potential equipment failures and distinguish between normal train detection and system anomalies.
Specialized rail cars equipped with rugged computers analyze track conditions at mainline speeds. These systems process data from laser sensors, accelerometers, and GPS units to identify maintenance needs.
Flaw detection cars use computers to control ultrasonic sensors and analyze reflected signals for internal rail defects. Real-time processing enables immediate notification of critical defects.
Permanent monitoring installations use rugged computers to analyze structural health data from sensors measuring strain, vibration, and environmental conditions.
Railroad computing environments present severe challenges that standard commercial computers cannot address.
Railroad equipment must operate reliably in conditions across the globe. Rugged computers designed for railroad use incorporate components and thermal management systems designed for wide operating temperatures.
Locomotive-mounted computers experience continuous vibration and, occasionally, severe shocks from wheel slip or emergency braking. Shock mounting and ruggedized components are essential for enhanced safety and reliability.
Traction motors, power systems, and radio equipment create significant electromagnetic interference, producing needs for EMI shielding and filtering to maintain signal integrity.
Rain, snow, dust, and diesel exhaust can penetrate enclosures. NEMA and IP-protected enclosures protect sensitive electronics from environmental contamination.
Railroad power systems present unique challenges for industrial-grade computers.
North American freight locomotives typically use 110V DC power with significant voltage variations and electrical noise. Electronic equipment used in the railway industry must include robust power conditioning and backup systems.
Signal systems often rely on utility power with battery backup. Railroad industry computers must operate efficiently to maximize backup power duration during outages.
Remote monitoring equipment increasingly uses solar power for non-safety-critical applications. Low-power computers enable extended autonomous functionality in locations without utility power.
Modern train management depends on reliable data transfer across vast networks for operational efficiency.
Locomotive consists require reliable communication between units. Computers manage this communication while maintaining backup control capabilities.
Dispatchers control signals and switches across hundreds of miles of track. Industrial computers at wayside locations must maintain reliable communication with control centers despite challenging RF environments.
Predictive maintenance programs require continuous collection and transmission to analyze vast amounts of real-time information collected from remote sensors. Railway computing must support various communication methods including cellular, satellite, and radio networks.
Railway infrastructure must meet strict safety and regulatory requirements.
Federal Railroad Administration regulations and American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association standards govern equipment design and testing requirements for railroad applications. Computing systems must meet these rigorous specifications for safety-critical operations.
Critical safety operations increasingly incorporate Safety Integrity Level (SIL) concepts alongside traditional railroad standards, demanding fault-tolerant hardware and software designs.
As railway infrastructure becomes more connected, cybersecurity becomes increasingly important. Computers must incorporate security features while maintaining operational reliability.
VarTech Systems manufactures industrial computing solutions engineered for the demanding requirements of railroad operations. Our products are trusted by CSX, Norfolk Southern, and Holland LP, among many other companies from the industry.
Our products address critical challenges facing railway infrastructure through purpose-built designs combining environmental protection, reliable performance, and customization capabilities.
VarTech's DiamondVue panel mount computers serve as operator interfaces for wayside signal systems, crossing controllers, and yard operations. Built to meet NEMA 4X and IP66 protection standards, these units prevent dust and water ingress while operating in temperature ranges from -40°C to 70°C.
Display sizes from 8.4" to 43" accommodate compact control panels in signal houses and large-format displays in classification yard towers. Sunlight-readable displays with up to 1800 nits support outdoor visibility for grade crossing monitoring and terminal operations, while industrial touchscreen options enable both bare-hand and gloved operation.
The PowerCube's compact, scalable design addresses space constraints in railroad control cabinets and equipment racks. With dimensions starting at 7" x 6.5" x 3", these computers integrate into wayside signal installations where cabinet space is limited.
The PowerCube handles data-intensive processing with up to 64 GB RAM and 8 TB SSD storage while operating in extreme temperatures. Custom power input configurations support 110V DC locomotive power and alternative power sources common in remote railroad installations.
The ToughCube's fully sealed IP67 enclosure and integrated shock mount make it suitable for locomotive cab installations and mobile inspection equipment.
Measuring 12" x 10" x 3", it provides computing power for track geometry analysis and ultrasonic testing applications while withstanding continuous vibration and temperature extremes from -40°C to 70°C. Optional MIL-STD compliance features, including EMI shielding, protect against interference from traction motors and railroad power systems.
Railroad technology continues evolving with digital transformation and, more recently, artificial intelligence, driving new requirements for industrial computing.
Research into autonomous trains requires sophisticated AI algorithms and sensor processing capabilities. Edge computing's latest technologies enable real-time decision making while reducing communication bandwidth requirements.
Widespread sensor deployment for recording environmental conditions and operational optimization will require distributed computing capabilities purpose-built for the network edge.
Next-generation cellular networks will enable new applications requiring high-bandwidth, low-latency communications. Computers must support these new communication standards while maintaining backward compatibility.
Industrial-grade computers form the technological foundation of modern railroad operations, enabling the safety, efficiency, and reliability that passengers and freight companies demand. As railway computing technologies continue advancing, especially with artificial intelligence's rapid innovations, ruggedized computing platforms will play an increasingly critical role in transportation infrastructure.
At VarTech Systems, our Project Managers—with an average of 15+ years of industry experience—are ready to customize a computer, monitor, or HMI workstation solution to meet your needs. Drawing from extensive backgrounds in manufacturing, military, oil and gas, and marine applications, they provide expert guidance throughout your project journey.
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Based in Clemmons, North Carolina, VarTech Systems Inc. engineers and builds custom industrial and rugged computers, monitors, and HMIs.
