This project developed a Magnetic Rail Movement Measuring Device (MRMMD) that improves railway safety and maintenance by enabling early detection and timely alerts to mitigate derailments, track damage and costly repairs. Under full dynamic loads, this portable device measures true rail temperature, track bed temperature, ambient temperature, lateral and vertical movements, and superelevation in real-time using specialized sensors. It features a cloud-based data communication system that relays sensor data to a dashboard or smart devices, facilitating real-time warnings and preventive actions. Unlike existing methods, the MRMMD tracks key data points based on actual dynamic loads and temperatures. Magnetically attached to the rail, the MRMMD operates in several modes, including an automatic mode that activates upon train approach to measure and record horizontal rail push, vertical track pumping, superelevation, and rail temperature. The device sends alerts when preset tolerances are reached and allows data to be accessed remotely via Bluetooth and cloud connectivity. Twenty prototypes of the MRMMD were developed and tested successfully with major rail and transit agencies, demonstrating the system's feasibility.

The Final Report is available here.