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Railserve, a Berkshire Hathaway-owned Marmon Rail company, has introduced YardGUARD™, a new integrated safety system designed to enhance operational safety and efficiency in industrial railyards. The platform combines real-time engineered controls with daily switching operations, creating a coordinated network of technologies aimed at reducing risk and improving execution across rail environments.
YardGUARD™ brings together six interconnected safety solutions—CrossingGUARD™, DerailGUARD™, FoulGUARD™, GapGUARD™, StopGUARD™, and WatchGUARD™—into a single system that provides real-time visibility, alerts, and automated safeguards in critical yard areas.
The technology is designed to address common operational challenges, including limited visibility, reliance on radio communication, switch misalignment, derail status uncertainty, and railcar fouling issues. By integrating sensing, vision, communications, and cloud-based monitoring technologies, YardGUARD™ delivers synchronized yard-side indications and in-cab alerts to support safer and more informed decision-making.
“By combining field-proven execution with real-time visibility and automated safeguards, we’re enabling a higher level of consistency and control in complex yard environments,” said Laurie Stiles, President of Railserve.
Unlike standalone safety tools, YardGUARD™ is customized for each facility and embedded directly into Railserve’s operating model. The company says the system’s layered approach—including continuous monitoring, automated braking support, and multi-level verification—can help crews identify and address risks before incidents occur, particularly in low-visibility and high-tempo operating conditions.
Railserve views YardGUARD™ as a key step toward a more connected and technology-enabled future for industrial rail operations. The company is currently offering customer demonstrations and site assessments as part of the system’s rollout across North America.
© 2026 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.