DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 29, 2002-- Lat-Lon, a provider of wireless monitoring and GPS tracking devices to the freight industry, announced today deployment of its new RailTough™ Locomotive Monitoring System.

Lat-Lon developed the system in response to a request from a shortline that needed an economical way to monitor locomotives for overspeed events. The locomotives are used across a 120-mile section of track in Northern Nebraska that is subject to a 10mph speed limit. "We had a number of derailments that we were convinced were speed related" said Dennis Prewett, Manager of Nebraska Northeastern Railway, "the problem was we had no way to prove it. Lat-Lon proposed a wireless solution that fit our budgetary requirements, was easy to deploy, and easy to use".

Lat-Lon monitoring units utilize the AMPS cellular network to provide coverage across North America. "We operate in some very remote country, and we weren't sure a cellular system would work. But coverage has not been an issue at all" said Prewett adding, "I'm happy with the data we receive. Lat-Lon has been very responsive and easy to work with. This is an inexpensive way to monitor the speed of our trains". Lat-Lon units can be equipped with other types of monitoring devices, such as engine status indicators, impact detection devices, fuel level monitors, and open door alarm indicators.

The patented X-8 transmitter at the core of the new RailTough™ Locomotive Monitoring System has been in deployment in rail service for about two years. They are currently running on five Class-I railways and in use by numerous other companies. X-8 units have been proven under a wide variety of climate conditions, including Canadian winters, desert summer heat, and tropical storms. Lat-Lon broke new ground in the tracking and monitoring industry by making the X-8 a completely self-contained, industrially hardened, solar powered unit. Equipped with an optional magnetic mounting system, it can be installed on a locomotive, rail car or other mobile asset in minutes, and may be moved if necessary to allow flexibility in assets being tracked.

Data received at Lat-Lon can be automatically sent to a customer's fleet management software, and viewed on-line at http://www.lat-lon.com. Customers can access location histories, current fleet reports, and view asset locations with an interactive map with color-coded rail lines, towns and other features.

About Lat-Lon
Lat-Lon, LLC is based in Denver Colorado. It is a member of the Terminal Grain group of companies (established 1918) and is privately held. For further information contact John Felty at (303)937-7406 or email john@lat-lon.com, or visit http://www.lat-lon.com.