hotbox

or hot box

[ hot-boks ]

noun

, Railroads.

1. a journal box overheated by excessive friction of an axle as a result of inadequate lubrication or the presence of foreign matter.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hotbox¹

First recorded in 1835–45; hot + box ¹

Example Sentences

The company said it would install 200 more hotbox detectors along its rail lines to fill gaps in a network of safety devices designed to catch overheating wheel bearings before they cause a derailment.

From Washington Post

There is currently no federal standard for the placement of “hotbox” detectors, which alert train operators that wheel bearings are defective and becoming dangerously overheated.

From Washington Post

The Association of American Railroads said freight lines would aim to install 1,000 new hotbox detectors on their networks, seeking to have the devices spaced, on average, 15 miles apart.

From Washington Post

Transportation Department has been urging railroads to take proactive steps in the wake of the derailment, including examining their use of hotbox detectors.

From Washington Post

The bipartisan Senate measure would strengthen rail car and railway detector inspection requirements such as mandating that a hotbox detector scan trains carrying hazardous materials every 10 miles.

From New York Times