Remote Health Monitoring Increases Reliability and Condition-Based Maintenance

This paper presents the technical approach taken to develop and implement a real-time health monitoring system to enable condition-based maintenance and remote health monitoring of two electric fleets operated by Amtrak. The monitoring devices and accompanying software, fault logic, rule sets, documentation manuals, and training forums assist mechanical maintenance crews, field service technicians, and onboard personnel to determine locomotive and consist train health and to take necessary maintenance actions as needed to maintain optimal equipment availability, reliability, and On Time Performance (OTP). This paper provides the status of that rollout and is designed to invite comment and discussion from others in the industry developing similar programs and processes to enable condition based maintenance.