CSX Puts Drone Technology to Work to Enhance Railcar Inspections at Curtis Bay

October 15, 2026 – At CSX, innovation often begins with a simple question: How can we use technology to make our railroad safer and more efficient?

At the CSX Curtis Bay coal terminal in Baltimore, Maryland, the railroad’s Safety team is putting that thinking into action with a new drone-based inspection process designed to identify residual coal in empty railcars before it creates potential safety concerns.

When coal remains inside a railcar after unloading, particularly during colder months when material can freeze in place, it can create uneven weight distribution. Identifying these conditions is an important step in supporting safe rail operations.

To address the challenge, the team developed a process using drones equipped with semi-automated flight paths. In about 30 minutes, the drones can survey the terminal’s entire empty-car yard, providing aerial footage that team members can review in real time or after the flight.

Approved flight routes accommodate both daytime and nighttime inspections, with spotlight capabilities providing additional visibility when needed. The approach gives employees another tool to assess railcar conditions while making inspections more efficient.

The initiative was led by Larry Gelo, director of Export Terminals Maintenance; Edward Cox, manager of Safety and Data Analytics; Andy Matthews, manager of Safety; and Kim Thomas, senior safety data analyst. Cox and Thomas serve as chief drone pilots, while Gelo also holds FAA Part 107 remote pilot certification.

During testing, the team successfully validated the flight routes, inspection workflow, and operating procedures. Although seasonal conditions did not produce partially loaded cars during the trial, Curtis Bay now has qualified local pilots and an established process ready for deployment when conditions warrant.

The project demonstrates how collaboration across Safety, Operations, and Maintenance can turn emerging technology into practical solutions for the railroad.

By combining employee expertise with innovative tools, CSX continues to find new ways to identify potential risks and keep safety at the center of its operations.