An interactive defect reporting system is designed to handle enroute equipment problems and repairs in a paperless process that enables on-board personnel to report equipment problems using a phone. After calling the system, the on-board personnel describes the, problem in their own words in as much detail as necessary. The computerized reporting system assigns a unique Trouble Ticket number to the report and all subsequent repairs. Mechanics listen to the Trouble Tickets or have transcribed copies faxed to their facilities. Trouble Tickets are also immediately available to all downline maintenance facilities so that mechanics can prepared for problems on a train well in advance of its arrival. Once a problem is fixed, the mechanics called in the repair and describe in detail what was done to fix the problem. On-board personnel can listen to the repairs or request a fax copy of the Trouble Ticket. The system updates an existing nationwide master system that contains all information pertaining to trains within the fleet so that any one with access to the master system can also access the Trouble Tickets and repair histories therefor. The interactive defect reporting system also has the capability of updating the nationwide master system with repair codes and equipment problem histories for auditing purposes.