Transportation Heating: Railway, Transit, and Freight
For over 60 years, Thermon has been leading the way in industrial heating solutions. We manufacture a wide range of transportation heating products, from radiant floor heating systems and duct heaters to railroad switch heaters, prioritizing safety, reliability and energy efficiency. With an understanding that each client has unique requirements, we design heating solutions to meet your specific requirements, operating conditions, and environmental needs. From Fastrax for outdoor rail heating to Velocity for passenger compartment comfort, our broad product range covers all transportation heating needs. So whether you’re in freight railway, or passenger transit, Thermon offers the perfect blend of expertise and innovation to keep your operations running and customers warm.
Applications
Trackside Applications
Braving harsh winter conditions, Thermon’s rail heating packages are the front line in combating ice and snow buildup on railway switches and wayside inspection systems, which can prevent a major cause of delays. Our advanced Energy Management System (EMS) keeps a vigilant eye on site conditions like precipitation, rail and ambient temperatures, activating heating as needed. With our industry-leading expertise and engineering support, we ensure safe and timely rail operations, even in the frostiest of conditions.
Onboard Applications
Whether it’s maintaining a warm and comfortable cabin environment or ensuring doors operate smoothly, Thermon has you covered. We offer solutions like under floor heating, overhead duct heaters, and threshold and door pocket heaters, designed specifically for onboard applications. Our products excel in harsh conditions and challenging climates, ensuring passenger safety and uninterrupted operations. Count on Thermon for reliable, high-quality onboard heating solutions, crafted for longevity and exceptional performance.
Comprehensive Rail Heating Solutions
Ensuring the safety and efficiency of railways is paramount in transportation, and a pivotal aspect of this is the effective management of railway switches and wayside inspection systems. Freezing temperatures, snow and ice can cause major disruptions to railway switches and wayside inspection systems, potentially risking both cargo and passenger safety as well as causing costly delays. As such, rail heating solutions are not only beneficial but also essential for seamless transportation operations.
Hellfire™ Gas Fired Forced Air Railway Switch Heaters
Hellfire™ track and switch heater products are ideal for extreme climates when strong winds, winter storms and blizzards make rail transportation difficult. The Hellfire™ 900/905 and Hellfire 400 gas fired forced air heaters consist of a combustion chamber, duct system and a powerful centrifugal fan that conducts high-velocity heated air to critical points below rails and points within switches, clearing accumulated snow and \ice and preventing freezing. With high efficiency of 95%, Hellfire maximizes heat output. Insulated duct work minimizes heat loss which maximizes snow clearing performance. The aerodynamic impeller minimizes noise, improving passenger experience and making it suitable for use in urban environments. A system of designated sensors monitor rail and ambient air temperatures, and environmental precipitation levels, delivering heat to the entire switch, from point to heel, when and where it is needed, without overheating ties or ballasts.
SwitchBlade® Rail and Switch Heaters
Designed with the rugged rail industry in mind, the patented SwitchBlade® Heaters stand out due to their high-quality and stainless-steel construction for long-lasting performance and trouble-free operation, even in the harshest of conditions. What sets the SwitchBlade® apart is its flat profile that guarantees maximum heat transfer and double sheath construction, positioning it as the most efficient electric element rail track and switch heater available. The versatility of SwitchBlade’s design makes it ideal for use in a variety of applications – from Fastrax® crib and platform heaters to scanner heating and all-encompassing Fastrax® switch heating packages. For those dealing with the challenge of snow and ice on railway switches and tracks, SwitchBlade® is essential for ensuring safe and timely delivery of both passengers and goods.
Electric Round Tubular Rail Heaters
The Fastrax® Electric Round Tubular Rail Heater is a boon for older rail switch installations that may lack the space for flatter heater profiles. Nestled within the recess web area of the rail, it ensures that railway switch components remain free of disruptive ice and snow. Its electrically isolated sheath and patented spring clamp technology cater to the expansion and contraction of the heater, while its premium-grade marine power cable leads provide resistance against severe weather and chemicals. Among its many benefits, the heater boasts easy installation with no drilling required, excellent internal electrical insulation, compatibility with most switch configurations and flexibility in design to cater to any heating requirement in the rail industry. Moreover, its sturdy stainless-steel construction promises durability and resistance against corrosion, even in the most rugged environments.
Crib Heaters
Fastrax® Crib Heaters play an essential role in ensuring smooth rail switch operation and easy maintenance of switch rods, particularly during the winter months. By targeting the crib area at the critical switch point, these heaters efficiently combat ice and snow build-up, which can otherwise cause railroad track switch malfunctions. Equipped with exclusive jack bolt technology, our crib heaters offer a secure fit that eliminates movement and potential switch fouling, leading to fewer costly downtime. The elimination of ice and snow from tie cribs containing switch and gauge rods, dragging equipment detectors and hot bearing or wheel scanners ensures unobstructed operation and access for maintenance, even in harsh winter conditions.
Electric Hot Air Blowers for Railroad Switch Heating
Combating ice and snow buildup, particularly in the railway switch point area, is vital for uninterrupted switch operations. The Fastrax® FEB Electric Hot Air Blower switch heater emerges as a top solution designed to deliver high-velocity heated air via a duct system to critical areas of the switch. Assembled in a robust, fully enclosed housing, this heater integrates essential features: a high-pressure blower, an advanced electrical heating system, and innovative electronic controls. With a range of wattage units available and its all-aluminum construction, the FEB is adaptable to any track heating application.
Platform Heaters
When temperatures plummet, the safety of railway personnel is also at risk. Beyond safeguarding the vulnerable railway switch areas, these heaters ensure safer, slip-free access to equipment for personnel. This dual focus not only makes the use of potentially harmful snow removal chemicals unnecessary but also provides peace of mind for those on the ground. Crafted from durable corrosion-resistant aluminum, these heaters face the challenges of the harshest railroad environments head-on. Regardless of the severity of weather conditions, our platform heaters maintain heated rail switch areas, ensuring smooth operations and personnel safety.
Rail Heating Controls and Sensors
In the realm of railway heaters, the efficacy of track switches and heating products is crucial. Yet, it’s the integration of rail heating controls and sensors that truly augments their capabilities. These sophisticated systems, from rail thermostats to snow sensors, not only increase significant energy savings but they also bolster reliability and ensure safety. Sensors detect the need for heat and automate the switch heating operations, ensuring seamless and efficient rail heating along the railway.
Precipitation and Snow Sensors
Engineered for the challenging railroad landscape, Fastrax® ArcticSense Snow Sensors are pivotal in safeguarding tracks against icy threats. These sensors, adaptable for both aerial and ground setups, activate heaters the moment precipitation below 3°C (38°F) is detected. Their precision ensures heaters operate only when necessary, responding even to the lightest snowfall. Powerful in design, yet compact in form, these sensors excel in detecting all forms of precipitation—snow, sleet or rain. Their design also allows smooth integration with existing Fastrax™ products, ensuring a comprehensive shield against winter’s unpredictability.
Energy Management Systems
A seamless balance of efficiency and adaptability, the Fastrax® Energy Management System (EMS) is the epitome of smart railway heating. Its primary role is to initiate heating in the presence of freezing rain or snow with precise monitoring of site conditions such as precipitation, ambient air temperature and rail temperature. Its components include a circuit board and ambient air temperature sensors. Optional precipitation sensors and rail thermostats are also available. Other offerings range from the Hellfire™ Energy Management System, which is fully integrated with all EMS components, to the Single Heater EMS for end sidings and the Multi-Heater EMS for larger configurations. This system ensures that each switch heater is activated only when needed, optimizing energy consumption and bolstering efficiency.
Rail Heating Control Panels
Fastrax™ AC and DC Control Panels stand as a beacon of innovation for electric rail heating, suitable for any switch layout or configuration. Both the alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) panels are meticulously designed to cater to distinct power needs. While the AC panels offer features like ground fault protection and NEMA 4X construction for enhanced safety and weather resistance, the DC panels emphasize using available DC power from OCS or 3rd rail for switch heating, eliminating the need for expensive AC power feeds. Both types ensure efficiency with ArcticSense snow sensing and come pre-wired and tested, ensuring ease of installation and servicing. They are encapsulated in robust NEMA4 enclosures—stainless steel for AC and fiberglass for DC. Their features, from manual buttons to hermetically sealed contactors, reflect a commitment to reliability, safety and adaptability in diverse railway conditions.
Transit Cabin Heating: Thermon Velocity
Underfloor Heating
Journeying in the cold needn’t be an uncomfortable experience. Thermon Heating Systems’ advanced radiant floor heating solutions are an embodiment of warmth, reliability, and innovation. Their Caloritech™ Strip Heaters and Calvane™ assemblies are specifically tailored for under-floor heating needs in transit rail applications. Leveraging the science behind radiant floor heating systems, these heaters guarantee even heat distribution across passenger and cab compartments. With an integrated floor heat thermostat, passengers can enjoy a perfectly warmed cabin, all while ensuring energy efficiency. Whether it’s the Caloritech™ Strip Heater, known for its meticulous design, or the patented Caloritech™ Calvane™ Heating Assembly, delivering superior heat transfer properties, transit authorities are equipped with the very best in-floor electric heating systems.
Threshold and Door Pocket Heating
Combating the adverse effects of cold climates, especially the accumulation of snow and ice on train door thresholds, is vital for passenger safety. Thermon’s threshold and door pocket heating solutions, featuring the unique CALBAR™ heating element, ensure that train doors remain operational and safe. These heaters are designed for durability, are capable of withstanding harsh environments and are tested rigorously, including being submerged for up to 24 hours to ensure water-resistant properties. The use of thermal imaging and instrumented testing guarantees the heater’s performance and longevity.
Overhead Duct Heaters
Transit cabins also benefit from warmth radiating from above, ensuring that every corner remains cozy. Thermon’s air duct heater solutions, branded as Caloritech™ HVAC Heaters, are meticulously crafted for this very purpose. Designed to operate with primary HVAC systems, these heaters are more than just sources of ceiling heat. They are technologically engineered to uniformly fill the cabin with warmth. The DFF and DIF series are exemplary in their design, with tubular elements offering robust heating. In contrast, the DOF Series is remarkable with its high-grade nickel-chromium resistant wires, ensuring effective and consistent warmth. Whether it’s for the cab heater requirements in the driver’s compartment or ensuring a consistent cabin heater experience for passengers, these heaters epitomize efficiency and comfort in overhead heating.
Forced Air Cabin Heaters
For transit cars requiring an immediate and powerful heating solution, Thermon’s Forced Air Heaters are the answer. Available in three models – RCH1, RCH2 and RCH3, these heaters are crafted for various applications, including operator cabs, lavatories and passenger areas. Whether it’s the efficient RCH1 Fan-Forced Calvane™ Cab Heater or the versatile RCH2 Fan-Forced Electric Open Coil Cab Heater, users are assured of efficient and economical comfort. The RCH3 takes it up a notch with a design that uses an axial flow fan, ensuring maximum warmth for passengers.
Advice & Support from Transit Heating Experts
Navigating the intricate world of transit heating can be daunting, but Thermon’s team of dedicated experts stands ready to assist, offering deep insights, technical expertise and tailored solutions to meet your unique needs. Whether you’re exploring product specifications, grappling with heating challenges or simply seeking advice on the best solution for your transit system, we’re just a call or click away. At Thermon, we don’t just offer products; we offer partnerships, ensuring that you have the support and expertise you need at every turn. Connect with us, and let our knowledge guide your transit heating journey.
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