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Sense a railcar

Sense a railcar

Sense a railcar

(OP)
A train of railcars, consisting of a locomotive and 100+ rail cars pass a station point.  The train moves at 3mph (~5km/hr).

A sensor is needed for detection of the passing of the engine, the gaps between the rail cars, and presence of a coal car.

The surrounding atmosphere is filled with coal dust, rain, snow and outdoor; northern climate weather conditions.  

The sensor cannot be within 9 feet (~3m) of the any edge of a rail car/locomotive.

0.5 second response (presence/absence of car) is the expectation.

The sensor can be mounted top or side.  

Optical is not acceptable.  Ultrasonic is not trusted.

Reliability is a main criterion, cost is way secondary.
Other ideas?

RE: Sense a railcar

What criteria establishes a coal car?  

You might get by with an overhead MMW/THz rangefinder.  It could profile the centerline of the train.  Might need a weight sensor to minimize the on-time of the rangefinder.

TTFN

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