Can anyone out there tell me what this unusual looking RR track apparatus is?

Thanks to all who helped with this:

Rich Wentzel: That is a dragging equpment detector. You'll note that all the inverted "V" shaped detectors are flush with the railhead. Anything dragging lower than that will cause a problem somewhere down the line..

Tracy Schaff : Hi there Lee- I'm sure I don't have my terminology right- but this is a "defect detector" that detects if something is dragging from under the train. It signals an alarm, and if the train doesn't respond, or stop, I think an automatic stopping devise is activated... There is one near my house, and when the train passes, I hear an automated recording on my "train radio" that says all is OK...

Bill Ostrander: Looks like a dragging equipment detector. If any piece of the train was hanging too low, or a car were dragging off the track, that would bump one of those, and activate an alarm. Locally, it will broadcast a warning message on the railroad's VHF frequency.

kingetep@aol.com ... it might be used a locator point so the people in operations can tell the location of a train on that stretch of track. Have seen the same thing in my area and told this be a R.R. maintenance worker.

Ken Shanz: I believe that is a dragging equipment detector. I believe it will send a radio transmission if something hanging off the train strikes it. Or, that is were all the railroad linemen hide the valuable insulators until they remember to take them home to sell on eBay.