Defect detectors are real and in use on the major railroads today. When a detector spots a potentially bad or hot axle it sends a phone message to the engineer and conductor. They then have to stop the train and manually inspect it. The detector measures the heat of the axles and if one is above "X" percent above the rest it sends the message that axle # blank is suspect. They have to count back to the numbered axle and check 5 cars on either side of it. They use a special pencil to place on the axles and if one is bad it will melt the wax like substance. That is so they won't get burnt by a hot axle. If they find a car with one they then have to set it off the train at the first siding that they can.
I learned this from train watching with a retired BNSF engineer recently. I may have got something a little wrong, but I think it is reasonably accurate. At least close enough for government work.
Art
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