Hello from Eastern Washington -Spokane

[spokanesub60.1]

Hello
Question for any Spokane train watchers who might know.Curious about the new devices installed at the Velox Detector recently.I can see strobe flashes for each axle passing on some trains and a couple new "boxes" installed trackside.
See this every day as my office window looks out across a feild from the detector.

 

[Rader Sidetrack]

Hello
Question for any Spokane train watchers who might know.Curious about the new devices installed at the Velox Detector recently.I can see strobe flashes for each axle passing on some trains and a couple new "boxes" installed trackside.
See this every day as my office window looks out across a feild from the detector.

I don't have any specific knowledge about the Spokane location you mentioned, but you may be seeing the flashes from a "Wheel Wear and Dimension Detector". Here's a description from Canadian National:

"capture wheel profiles and wheel dimensions as the train passes over the sites at speeds of up to 65 mph using laser-video and strobe-video technology. Allows CN to intercept worn wheels that need replacement."​

Here the CN page discussing this:
http://www.cn.ca/en/corporate-citizenship-safety-mechanical.htm

Of course, the BNSF tracks in Spokane are not CN, but the devices may be similar.

 

[spokanesub60.1]

Velox Detector

Thanks, checked the CN link, from the information sounds like this is what is the strobe flashes are.Very interesting what they can do now.