Norfolk Southern Places First Order for Advanced End-of-Train Technology with Progress Rail

Building upon its longstanding relationship of delivering quality products and services, Progress Rail has reached a preliminary agreement to supply its first new order of advanced Guardian End-of-Train (EOT) devices to Norfolk Southern. Progress Rail will deliver the state-of-the-art devices for use on Norfolk Southern’s fleet by the end of this year.

Earlier this year, Progress Rail purchased the intellectual property (IP) of Wise Electronics, a company based in Silver Springs, Maryland, for advanced technologies, including Locomotive Cab Units (LCUs) and EOT devices. The EOT devices transmit real-time vital information from the end of the train to the locomotive cab by way of a locomotive Head-of-Train device (or LCU).

Acquiring IP from Wise Electronics expands Progress Rail’s advanced technology offerings to railroad customers in North America and worldwide. The new technologies will become part of the company’s rolling stock product portfolio. These technologies not only enhance Progress Rail’s innovative product line for the rail industry, they also contribute to improved operational safety, accident investigation, security and vandalism prevention.

“Progress Rail has provided quality products and services to Norfolk Southern for many years, and we’re extremely pleased to see them take the first order of our latest rail technologies to aid in the operational safety of their fleet,” stated Progress Rail’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Analytics Paul Denton. “Compared to other similar technologies, our Guardian EOT features a more modern design with improved reliability, ergonomics, lighter weight and advanced power management. Its end-of-train coupler mount makes the Guardian EOT faster and safer to apply — a characteristic that train operators can appreciate.”

Progress Rail will assemble the new Guardian EOT units at its Arab, Alabama facility.