It is useful to be able to monitor the magnetic changes in materials as external conditions are varied. This is especially true for structural components exposed to situations where they may fail. This paper describes a multistep investigation into detecting stress in railroad steel using surface magnetic hysteresis measurements. The technique is a new way of monitoring changes in the hysteresis parameters without the need to use solenoids or wrapping flux coils around specimens to be inspected. The potential exists for on-line monitoring of components in service. Magnetic testing may be able to meet present day needs for NDE of steel components