Track Cleaning Train

[Blacknight]

Friends,

Yesterday as I was driving home from work I saw something I had never seen before.  It was a train of 5 maybe 6 locomotive shaped "cars" being "pulled" by a locomotive that I could not identify.  There were sparks coming from each of the "cars" following the locomotive, and each had an errie glow from underneath.  I assume, and we know what happens when we assume, that they were cleaning, or prepping the track in some way.  Have any of you seen this?  Could you tell me what it was?  If I am in the wrong place to ask this let me know.  I am not subscribed to Trains Magazine so I can't ask there, and I did a Google search on it and all I got was the plethora of Model railroading track cleaning cars.  As for the details on this Consist, I will gladly provide all I can if it is necessary, but I figure with all of the knowledge on this board I will get someone who knows all about it.

Curious in Alabama,

Steve

 

[cacole]

 It was a rail grinder -- it reshapes the railhead into the correct profile for maximum locomotive traction and long-term wear.

Here's a video of a Loram Rail Grinder at work.  There are other companies that provide this service to the railroads, and some roads own their own grinders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc0Cdeh0ztY 

The tank cars at the end are filled with water for fire suppression, and the crew members riding on the back of the caboose are there to spray water on trackside grass fires; however, this train seems to be operating in a very moist environment where there's no chance of a fire.

 

[Anonymous]

I've always thought it would be interesting to build a scale rail grinder that cleaned the track though... I bet I'm not the only one!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 They're good for starting trackside fires too. Anytime one comes through here the local fire departments are busy for hours afterwards chasing down trackside fires as well well putting out burning crossties.

[Blacknight]

 See?  I knew one of you guys would know right off the bat.

It's the Loram.  So are they under their own power or are they being pulled?

It was very cool looking as the sun was setting.  I wish I had my camera with me.  I probably would have caused a ruckus, since it was rush hour anyway.

 

Thanks for the info.  Now where do I find one I can kitbash for my layout?

Best regards,

Steve

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 The lead unit was pulling. The units behind just grind.

[Anonymous]

Yes, they are pulled by locomotives, often rebuilt from EMD GP series locomotives or older GE locomotives. The locomotives are owned by the rail grinder company and are only used in that service.

A rail grinder train consists of a locomotive, several grinder cars with several spinning grinding stones each, and then a water car or two equipped with high-pressure hoses to put out fires started by the sparks. That's the idea, anyway...

Each rail grinding train is different, so if you were to kitbash one, you should choose one, or create a freelanced version (there are so many types I don't think anyone would notice) from scratch. You'd want to install flickering LEDs underneath the cars (easy to do with DCC) to provide the sparks effect.

Good luck, and if you go ahead and build this, be sure to keep us updated with photos!

[miniwyo]

 The Harsco grinders use F40's to pull thiers, one on each end. But they chopped off the nose and built a platform and mounted water canons on them to put out the fires.

Not my photo

 

 

 I am actually building one,  but I am using a couple track cleaning cars. It will be functional rather than just appealing. But I might build a couple of cars to replace the cleaning cars if I want to run the train without cleaning.