Why is feeling the rail car for vibrations not a reliable method for determining motor status?

Determining the status of a motor by feeling the rail car for vibrations may lead to misleading conclusions because low power conditions might not produce noticeable vibrations. When a motor operates under low power, it can run below the threshold necessary to create detectable vibrations that can be felt through the rail car. This means that the motor could be functioning at a reduced capacity without any physical indicators like vibrations, leading responders to mistakenly assess that the motor is inactive when, in fact, it is operating inadequately. Relying solely on tactile feedback does not provide a comprehensive understanding of motor conditions, reinforcing the need for more reliable diagnostics in such situations.