[supercat]

From what I've read (real quickly, in the 10 minutes or so) the railroad engineers are performing visual inspections as they go, however, the FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) has a specially designed train for inspecting track geometry.

Right, but if the recorders were used on general-purpose trains, they might be able to, with proper software, detect rail problems which develop between inspections.

[Bill Rice]

"...but if the recorders were used on general-purpose trains, they might be able to, with proper software, detect rail problems which develop between inspections."

Your idea to prevent more accidents might put a couple of people out of work.
The Union workers will be outraged!