A positive train control unit for a track way comprising: a plurality of different sensors selected from the group including a visual imager, an infrared imager, a radar, a doppler radar, a laser sensor, a laser ranging device, an acoustic sensor, and an acoustic ranging device, said plurality of different sensors having respective fields of view being adapted to sense at least in a predetermined direction along the track way; a first device configured to provide a representation of the location of said positive train control unit as location data; a processor to which said plurality of different sensors and said first device are coupled to receive the data sensed thereby, wherein said processor is configured to associate the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors with location data and with time data corresponding to a location and a time at which such data is acquired, whereby such data is geo-tagged and time-tagged to the location and time at which it is acquired; a data receiver configured to receive track way data from a track monitor, or switch data from a switch monitor, or track way data from a wayside monitor, or the data from a combination thereof, and to couple that data to said processor; a communication device configured to communicate at least along the track way proximate said positive train control unit; said processor being configured to determine from the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors, from the location data, and from data received by said data receiver, the location of said positive train control unit relative to a predetermined track way configuration; said processor being configured to determine from the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors whether there is an object on the track way proximate said positive train control unit; and said processor being configured to determine from data received by said data receiver whether there is an anomaly in the track way proximate said positive train control unit; and said processor being configured (a) if said processor determines that an object is in the track way proximate said positive train control unit, or (b) if said processor determines that there is an anomaly in the track way proximate said positive train control unit, or (c) if said processor determines any combination of (a) and (b), to cause said communication device to communicate an alert of an object in the track way, of an anomaly in the track way, or of both, whereby a train that is proximate said positive train control unit is alerted to such object and/or anomaly in the track way so that the speed of that train can be adjusted. a plurality of different sensors selected from the group including a visual imager, an infrared imager, a radar, a doppler radar, a laser sensor, a laser ranging device, an acoustic sensor, and an acoustic ranging device, said plurality of different sensors having respective fields of view being adapted to sense at least in a predetermined direction along the track way; a first device configured to provide a representation of the location of said positive train control unit as location data; a processor to which said plurality of different sensors and said first device are coupled to receive the data sensed thereby, wherein said processor is configured to associate the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors with location data and with time data corresponding to a location and a time at which such data is acquired, whereby such data is geo-tagged and time-tagged to the location and time at which it is acquired; a data receiver configured to receive track way data from a track monitor, or switch data from a switch monitor, or track way data from a wayside monitor, or the data from a combination thereof, and to couple that data to said processor; a communication device configured to communicate at least along the track way proximate said positive train control unit; said processor being configured to determine from the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors, from the location data, and from data received by said data receiver, the location of said positive train control unit relative to a predetermined track way configuration; said processor being configured to determine from the data sensed by said plurality of different sensors whether there is an object on the track way proximate said positive train control unit; and said processor being configured to determine from data received by said data receiver whether there is an anomaly in the track way proximate said positive train control unit; and said processor being configured (a) if said processor determines that an object is in the track way proximate said positive train control unit, or (b) if said processor determines that there is an anomaly in the track way proximate said positive train control unit, or (c) if said processor determines any combination of (a) and (b), (a) if said processor determines that an object is in the track way proximate said positive train control unit, or (b) if said processor determines that there is an anomaly in the track way proximate said positive train control unit, or (c) if said processor determines any combination of (a) and (b), to cause said communication device to communicate an alert of an object in the track way, of an anomaly in the track way, or of both, whereby a train that is proximate said positive train control unit is alerted to such object and/or anomaly in the track way so that the speed of that train can be adjusted.