This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
11/13/2024
Compiled by Michael Popke
Built on a John Deere excavator base, the Brandt OTM Tracker offers superior reach, lifting capacity and handling precision, making it ideal for loading and unloading ties, rails and other materials, Brandt officials said in an email. Designed to ensure performance in demanding conditions, the OTM Tracker features a walking beam undercarriage and a custom boom that enhances its versatility.
The OTM Tracker can be seamlessly integrated with Brandt’s R5 OTM Power Unit; operators can transition from highway transport to rail operations in less than 30 minutes using the R5’s lift deck, company officials said. The integrated system allows for quick and easy climbing onto gondola cars. The material handling equipment can travel at highway speeds or 30 mph on rails, providing efficient transportation between job sites.
The OTM Tracker also prioritizes operator safety with stabilizing clamps, reduced tail swing and remote-controlled transfer systems.
Diversified Metal Fabricators offers the DMF RW-2300HS, a front-mounted, hydrostatic creep drive system designed to operate independently of vehicle transmission. With a 33,000-pound gross axle weight rating, the front hydrostatic system can be mounted forward of the front tandems and, in special applications, behind the cab.??
Full wireless control operates the Neotec motorized front axle without needing to integrate into the vehicle, company officials said. The system operates at up to 7 mph in creep mode and disengages for up to 25 mph in freewheel mode using vehicle propulsion. The unit also is rated for 88,000 pounds at a 2% incline and up to 200,000 pounds on level track.??
Additionally, the system allows users to operate vehicle equipment without having to disengage the Power Take-Off to advance the truck down the track. Also, because the RW-2300HS operates independent of the transmission, the vehicle can be moved off track if necessary.??
From tie distribution to positive train control foundation installation, Herzog’s technology is designed to streamline operations and minimizes crew time spent on track, company officials said.
The company’s material handling equipment is designed to handle a variety of materials across multiple worksites, reducing the need for multiple trips and limiting disruptions to railway operations.
With equipment offerings that include the CarTopper®, Rail Unloading Machine, Automated Tie-Down Car® and Multi-Purpose Machine®, Herzog can provide a variety of services. They range from rail distribution to aggregate hauling and distribution, to on-rail snow removal and vegetation control, enabling the company to form long-term partnerships with all Class Is, company officials said.
The advanced equipment design ensures that crews can work more safely and efficiently in challenging railroad maintenance environments, company officials said.
Demand for continuous-welded rail (CWR) has remained strong over the past several years and continues to grow with increased federal funding, L.B. Foster officials said. The company owns and operates an upgraded fleet of trains to ship CWR to railroads and transit agencies throughout North America.??
In addition to shipping CWR in 1,600-foot lengths, BNSF Logistics, L.B. Foster and Steel Dynamics ship rail in 320-foot lengths, L.B. Foster officials said. BNSF Logistics designed and manufactured a five-car consist that can handle 60 320-foot pieces of rail. The patent-pending solution allows the 320-foot rails to be loaded in groups of five via overhead magnetic cranes, significantly reducing loading time compared with typical end-loading of individual rails.
Prior to the development of the new five-car consist, rail manufactured by Steel Dynamics in 320-foot lengths needed to be cut back to 80 feet or welded to 1,600-foot pieces for shipment. The new consist allows rail to be shipped without any additional handling or processing and brings added efficiency to the job site with less welding and labor.
The 320-foot lengths also allow for fewer joints or welds, providing a safer rail with less maintenance and fewer potential failure points, company officials said, adding that they are ideal for curve patch, extended grade crossings and other high-stress areas.
Four years after delivering its first Material Handling Car (MHC) into its contract service fleet, Loram delivered its 100th MHC to the market in 2023. Customers say the material throughput and offloading capabilities of the MHC product improve the efficiency of their ballast cleaning operations, Loram officials said.
Pulled by a 3,600-horsepower, six-axle drive power unit, Loram’s newest 7000 self-powered slot trains (SPS 7000 series) bring additional efficiency to customer work sites, company officials said. The increase in available horsepower and driven axles offer customers new options regarding how much equipment and material can be towed during engineering projects.
All of Loram’s slot trains can load and unload any type of material that is within reach of the excavator; these machines pick up and offload ballast, riprap, rail, ties, and other material that needs to be placed or removed during maintenance operations.
Meanwhile, Loram’s DumpTrains can deliver 1,500 tons of material to work sites, stockpiles or washout locations and unload a full consist in under an hour. Offloading is done up to 45 feet from the track centerline. The DumpTrain for Curves® offers all the same features as the traditional DumpTrain® but can operate while in curves as well as tangent track.
Omaha Track offers Ford F250 pickups equipped with premium hi-rail gear, allowing seamless transitions between on-road and on-track tasks, company officials said.
Whether for rail maintenance, inspections or utility work, F250 hi-rail pickups combine the rugged power of a truck with the specialized functionality required for rail applications, they said. Engineered to meet the toughest demands, the vehicles undergo a build and inspection process to ensure they meet company standards.
Additionally, Liebherr excavators are available for larger-scale projects. Ideal for rail maintenance, construction and material handling tasks, the machines help maximize productivity while reducing downtime, company officials said.
Plasser American’s MFS material handling units are designed as a standard railroad vehicle, featuring a floor conveyor belt in the hopper and a transfer conveyor belt at the unit’s front end. All conveyor belts are powered hydraulically, and a diesel engine supplies the power.
Four models — MFS40, MFS60, MFS100 and MFS100 S — can convey, store and unload up to 41 (MFS40), 61 (MFS60) or 90 (MFS100 and MFS100 S) cubic yards of ballast, spoils or other materials in train formation to and from various work sites. The MFS100 S also includes an additional transfer conveyor belt and ballast distribution devices, which allow for precise ballast distribution, company officials said.
The floor conveyor belt enables the hopper to be continuously filled or passing on material, while the transfer conveyor belt moves the loose material into the next hopper or to the side at a chosen location. The belt can be slewed 45 degrees to the left or right, and tilt warning and tilt protection systems prevent vehicle tipping during discharges. The unit comes with a protected workplace equipped with monitoring and control instruments for the conveyor system.
MFS units can be linked together in any number to form a material train. They also can be incorporated into a Ballast Distribution System (BDS100/BDS200) or used with ballast cleaning machines.
Units with a rigid transfer conveyor belt are typically used in formation as part of the conveyor line and/or as hoppers, while unloading is carried out by an MFS unit with a slewing conveyor belt, company officials said.
Versatility remains a priority for rail customers seeking material handling equipment, RCE Equipment Solutions officials said. To that end, the company last year introduced a series of John Deere-model Railavators featuring a patented hydraulic-powered, retractable hi-rail for use on and off track.
The series 210P, 245P and 250P Railavators incorporate RCE’s new Ultra Life Axles. The drives are made of high-strength alloy steel that offer two times more structural strength than existing cast-iron final drives, company officials said. Ultra Life Axles offer a three-year, unlimited hours warranty.
In September, RCE unveiled the New Series 85 P-Tier Railavator, a compact excavator featuring a large cab, a hi-rail system and the RCE-exclusive expandable undercarriage, company officials said. Railavators can be equipped with more than 20 attachments and customizable carts to move material.
RCE also introduced a series 5 P-Tier Swing Loader in 2023. It features a John Deere 544 P-Tier model machine designed to provide enhanced performance, efficiency and comfort, as well as spacious operator stations that include customizable ergonomic electrohydraulic controls and streamlined electrical and hydraulic routing, company officials said.
The standard loader boom and housing was replaced with a 200-degree turntable that enables the operator to accomplish swing crane functions. The main boom assembly retains its structural integrity to enable the Series 5 to accomplish wheel loader functions with 14,500 pounds of lift capacity.
Equipped with high-traction axles, the Series 5 P-Tier Swing Loader also provides enough drawbar pull to handle the positioning of continuous-welded rail, company officials said.
Shuttlewagon, a product of Wabtec, is a rail-car mover designed to streamline material handling operations. The rail-car movers are engineered to provide reliable and precise control, allowing operators to seamlessly maneuver rail cars with ease, company officials said. Shuttlewagon offers comfortable operator seating, intuitive controls and comprehensive safety systems.
Equipped with features such as a sliding cab, non-weight transfer coupling and powerful traction, the Shuttlewagon empowers users to optimize their material handling processes, reducing downtime, minimizing accident risk and improving safety, and increasing productivity, company officials said.
The product line encompasses a variety of models, from compact units designed for confined spaces to larger models that can handle heavier loads. Each machine is tailored to specific operational requirements, company officials said.
Michael Popke is a Madison, Wisconsin-based freelance writer. Email questions or comments to prograil@progressiverailroading.com.