A device has been developed by researchers at New York’s Stony Brook University that is capable of harvesting energy from train-induced rail track vibrations. The energy produced through this device is capable of powering signal lights, structural monitoring systems, and even railway track switch systems. The U.S. has the longest rail tracks in the world with over 140,700 miles of track, with many of these located in remote areas. It’s very important, but very costly to power the side track electrical infrastructure, such as signal lights, cross gates, track switches, and monitoring sensors. Professor Lei Zuo along with graduate students Gopinath Reddy Penamalli, Teng Lin, and John Wang all from the University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering claims their invention can harness 200 watts of electric energy from train-induced track deflections to power track-side electrical devices. Professor Zuo estimates that such a device could save more than $10 million U.S. dollars per year in track side power costs for the New York State area alone, together with a reduction of 3,000 tons of carbon dioxide every year. This can truly lower our statewide railyways carbon footprint.