An Evening With the Rail Grinding Train

[@raymondbailey4538]

Mark! This is THE BEST VID of Rail grinding I have ever seen! Your inside access, and night at the Tahacipi Loop! Dosn't get any better! The inside information is priceless. I used to live in Southern California and miss the countryside. Added in is Trains and your insider's view makes your channel unique! Thank you, Sir! -- And your hired driver 😁

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you very much. We appreciate the kind words and had a lot of fun making the video.

[@gragor11]

Ya, No kidding. No other night time Loram grinding video is like this one. Glad you didn't fall off the cliff.

[@spnky0071]

Thanks, Mark and Jennifer for another great video, and the Loram crew for being so kind and informative.

[@kens.3729]

Great job recording this Loram Grinding train. Lights look like it could be a Christmas Holiday Train from a distance. 😬👍

[@FishplateFilms]

Thanks for the tour Mark! I work with the rail grinder at night when it comes to our side of Brisbane . WE check the turnouts for damage and insulated joints for swarf / filings. It is pretty cool to see it working in the dark and it is a very clever piece of equipment. Cheers Gregg.

[@markverloop8787]

I never knew how many pieces of equipment it takes to maintain the right of ways, repair the engine Rail cars ,etc etc, VERY INFORMATIVE 😊😊

[@Dave-zj1zj]

Thank you, LORAN Guys, for giving him a hat and letting him film this so we could be amazed.

[@paulmatulavich7321]

SPECTACULAR coverage of this seldom-seen railroad operation. EXCELLENT filming under low light conditions. Wish I was there!

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you! It's appreciated!

[@duanerigge1870]

Best time to watch rail grinding is at night 🌙

[@GeorgeJansen]

Excellent host with continued access 💙💙💙💙💙

[@steffannobody9460]

Thank you very much both of you for catching Loram at night. More fun watching them at night than the daytime.

[@ronaldunderwood4353]

Keep making ur videos and I'll keep watching em 😀😀😀😀😀😀

[@willyct207]

Thanks Mr Mark and Jennifer this grinding train at night time was very spectacular!!!! 👍👍👍👍👌

[@artillerest43rdva7]

looks like a Christmas tree. or a fire work display that is going off with a bunch of low level displays. it is just amazing seeing it at night. I saw one during the day light it is not as intense you lost so much of the sparks in the sun light. what a contrast at night it is so much more intense. another great video ( with out the wind issues) thanks for the M.O.W. equipment doing what they do best.

[@brunsonachiu]

what sight to behold especially driving along the 58 aloha

[@jasonbabila6006]

I used to like riding in the infrared truck following the rail grinding train especially during the winter nights or after it rained, I'll get some shut eye, nothing is gonna burn when everything is wet or covered in snow.

[@Thibbs136]

One of the coolest videos I’ve seen! Thank you Mark!

[@TheCelltek]

Nice job! Always enjoy the rail grinders.

[@lewistodd9242]

Great night video of the grinding train Mark. I really enjoyed it with my morning coffee. Have a great day.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Happy to help make your morning!

[@littlelittledeer1435]

Thank you so much for sharing. I'd do the lowliest job they have - and for free - to experience the wonders of this machine.

[@w.m.6018]

Fantastic Video Marc! It‘s a Real documentary. Never saw a rail grinding Train in action. BR Werner

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Hey Werner! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for checking it out!

[@robinwoodbury2563]

Mark, this truly is a milestone video for you, and major kudos to Jennifer for so expertly pacing the grinding train while you recorded. What a great team!

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you. We're really glad you enjoyed it!

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Awesome video of the rail grinder Mark especially the short pacing of it, This really brings back memories for myself, I used to ride the back nd of them putting out the fires when I first started on the RR, Then when I became section foreman I ended up piloting them over our territory on our Railroad. There was one time that a grinding wheel exploded and went through the edge of the guard while grinding and hit on of the Loram support trucks about an eight of a mile away. Thanks very much for sharing this one., I will be getting back out to video the rail grinder again very soon when the local track inspector gives me a call when its coming on the line past our house.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thanks for the compliments and for checking it out! I'll be sure to keep my eyes open for your video!

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

@@MarkClayMcGowan Your very welcome and always looking forward to watching your videos., I do have a video of the rail grinder already on or MoW playlist that was taken a handful of years ago with my camera, However I want to get back out and take better video and such with my phone which has been doing very well videoing. My wife and I would like to thank you very much for the sub to our channel.

[@kens.3729]

You are Right about the View up above looking “Cool 😎 as Hell”. Exit of Tunnel 9 looked Great. Thanks Mark! 👍

[@RickKerr]

.... first time I've seen grinding at night too. I've spent a lot of time with CSX crews along the double main in the Akron, Ohio area as the fiber optic cable protection guy for AT&T

[@brianhickey5949]

A big westbound - I don't think there are any small trains in Yehachapi :) Nice horn salute "shave and a haircut..." Probably the best information and views of a rail grinder I have seen! Very cool video!

[@jardiff5983]

I took a project at Edward's AFB and lived in Tehachapi for about 9 months. A cool little town with the best BBQ joint I have ever eaten at, but my God! The trains! Seems like every 10 minutes a train was rolling through town. There were 4 crossings and it didn't matter if it was 2 AM or 2 PM, the engineers would lay on the horn like they were ringing in the new year.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

I grew up there and worked the area for SP and UP most of my 40 year career in the signal department. I once lived about 200 yards from the track and, although I worked for the RR, never got used to train horns and the shaking of the old house in which I lived. As to the crossings, there is no difference in the rules for night or day as far as sounding the horn. I used to stay in Madera near the tracks when working up there and there are more crossings closer together at higher speeds so it was like one long blast all the way through town. And people still get hit by trains...incredible! Thanks for checking it out!

[@louGriggs1944]

Great video. Not the kind of thing you see everyday. Thanks.

[@billdennis2993]

Thx Mark we lived in Tehachapi in '90s never saw anything like that on the rails.

[@samallan6616]

You've knocked it out of the park this time, Mark. Awesome!!! Thanks a lot!!!

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@drywinddotnet]

Great vid!!! Grinder plus night trains can't be beat.

[@jeffw7998]

Really enjoy your videos and your expert commentary. Excellent content!!

[@timmullaney7326]

That video was amazing! The night shoot was really incredible. Thanks Mark and a special thank you for Jennifer's help making the moving shots possible.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Our pleasure!

[@ronaldunderwood4353]

I've never seen one of these operate before, looks cool.

[@ralphwatten2426]

I worked on the BN from the mid 70's to the early 90's and it was always a big deal when the rail grinders were in town. They did a great job on the rails and it seamed they worked 24 hours a day. Most of them were from down south and lived out of they're pickup campers. The rail grinder here moves a lot faster than the grinders of the past.

[@sgrizzz]

great video. i did see the grinder train on the cam at night . it was fun to watch.

[@samfuller6273]

Have you ever noticed all the rocks around the railroad tracks are rust brown? That's from 130 years of trains grinding the rails... If you look on a sunny day you can see when a train goes by the sparkling of steel in the air. They land on the rocks around the railroad tracks and turn them Rust Brown.

[@rickwilson5611]

well and they haul raw ores all over the place, as well as rusty rainwater dripping off the train itself.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

There is no ballast that old except, possibly, on a branch line. Ballast on mainlines is cleaned and/or changed out at regular intervals as it is what holds the structure in place. The color of ballast depends on where they got it. the UP (and SP before them) have the lighter colored stuff in my corner of the world. BNSF has the same up the valley, but the darker, brown stuff across the desert. Check out this video to see a shoulder ballast cleaner at work! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJ6aqKamdq9_jqM

[@wasatchrangerailway6921]

Hey Mark! Can you imagine the Loram Rail Grinder in HO scale??? I would love to build this to run on my model railroad!!!!!

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

That would be cool!

[@michaelwhite7275]

Thank you, for sharing your wisdom about this wonderful piece of machinery. Great job!!!!

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

I have to give props to the crew who shared what information they could to help bring it to you as more than just a plain ol' video. Thanks for checking it out!

[@EasternRailVideos]

Great video always love seeing the rail grinder in my area working

[@tinindian9543]

Well done Mark , looked like a great time, props to the crew also !

[@davidthelibrarian]

Pretty awesome man! Thanks for filming and sharing!

[@larrywebber2971]

Mark - this video and the coverage of the derailment signal and track repair/replacement are great! Thanks so much for sharing this.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

My pleasure!

[@Andrea.583]

Really interesting, we have similar trains in the UK also operated by Loram. Only ever once saw one working.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it and I always love to hear from subscribers and viewers abroad!

[@taco472]

Really‘Kool’ video Mark , looked like you had a great assistant, thanks for sharing. Shout out to the grinding train crew . 👍

[@brianbickley8368]

Really cool! I didn't know they grinded the tracks!

[@samfuller6273]

Grinding rail makes the rail last longer. It'll get out the micro fishers so they don't turn into cracks. It also reshapes the rail to make the rolling resistance back by making the rail back into a "rail shape". (Before grinding) The inside rail always looks like a mushroom and the outside rail looks like it's been ground away with the death wheel! Tehachapi is the hardest area on rail that I've ever seen. The curves are too tight for all the engineering that is put into wheels and rails so scraping, friction, and grinding of the trains through the Tehachapi pass has always been a problem. Everything is unique going between Mojave and Bakersfield not just the loop. It has its own specific speeds and rules that only apply to that area.

[@richardwatts5020]

Thank you for that explanation. I wondered why they did that procedure.

[@jeff9104]

Thanks Sam

[@rogerpenske2411]

Agreed. Thankyouverymuch for the explanation, Sammy

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Here is a follow up piece I did about that kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3_WZGSkrq-ZjJo

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Here is a follow up piece I did about that kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3_WZGSkrq-ZjJo

[@jonathansabatino3987]

This is the best Rail grinder video ever!

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thanks! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. It was a long night but great fun to make!

[@malcolmcollins3734]

great video thoroughly enjoyed it . First tiime i have seen a grinding train at work .

[@andross51]

lol when I was a young kid, for some reason Loram rail grinders used to scare me as a kid! Today I think they are one of the coolest things to enjoy while railfanning! Nice night coverage of this cool rail grinder Mark! :)

[@rsmith.182]

Great video of the the rail grinding consist. I was traveling west on a highway here in Washington state one night many years ago on the way to my graveyard shift. The rails for the BNSF ran parallel to the highway and rail grinder was traveling in the same direction ad it was an amazing sight. This was long before cell phones so only could watch for a few minutes. Did not know at the time that such machines existed. It must have been a good show for you and your wife up there near the loop. Thanks and hope you continue making interesting videos.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

It was a great date night! Greasy burgers and a rail grinder! Stay tuned. Much more to come! Thanks for checking it out!

[@ADHJkvsNgsMBbTQe]

Fascinating. Thank you!

[@SFKelvin]

11:55 grinding video. Awesome.

[@planetwisconsin9901]

3 DPU's! They are moving some heavy trains!

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Up to 15K tons! I don't think that was one of the super heavyweights but certainly a heavyweight! Thanks for checking it out!

[@kevinmoe4417]

Thank you so much for your time and dedication to filming this. It was a spectacular sight and I am sure very hard to film at night. Not something you see everyday! Thanks again and keep up the great work.From cold snowy Michigan!

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you for checking it out and for the kind words. This one was a blast to shoot as it was a first for me as well! Sorry to hear about the weather. We're taking the Harley to the coast this weekend! OOOHHHHH...That was uncalled for!

[@briankemp5206]

Cool up close video on grinding rails, Great job Mark and Jennifer! Very informative on the grinders.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dougsoerensen1430]

What an awesome video! I have never seen anything like that. What a great night recording. Thanks for the work involved in getting this done.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

My pleasure! It was such fun following it around!

[@ccrx6700]

Pretty neat stuff! Thanks for sharing that with us Mark. First time I ever saw the Loram grinder was after dark and over 30 year ago and had zero clue what it was at the time. I see you've become a subscriber of mine, Thank You, that totally impressed me! You are a real railroader! I've watched many of your videos in the past and always enjoy your sharing with us your knowledge, that is much appreciated. You do a very good job with your shows.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you for the kind words! It's always neat to see how things are done in other places. Thanks for checking it out!

[@petewilliams7425]

Superb video excellent work ,very well done.

[@rrelectric5159]

Great video Mark. I have see a rail grinder working at night. It is spectacular to watch and you did a great job of catching the sight of it as well as the sound and the feel. Keep doing what you're doing.

[@araneaetvelivolum1086]

That was an awesome effort, Jennifer and Mark. Thanks so much for doing this, excellent footage, i truly enjoyed it.

[@J3scribe]

That was epic! Nice work Mark. Not sure how wise it is to be breathing in the acrid cloud of steel and stone dust, but what the hell, it's not every day you get to witness one of these remarkable trains at work! And how awesome to see it working from overhead. Just badass! Great video!

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Ahhh..If all the crap I've done in my life hasn't killed me yet, this grinder won't! When the light is right on the Tehachapi, you can see particles in the air from steel and brakes. I always wondered how bad that was for me but, other than the damage Covid did to my lungs, they look pretty good!

[@J3scribe]

@@MarkClayMcGowan And it's not like I'm one to talk, I smoked for 40+ years. So yeah, it's nice to be alive and well!

[@mikepate6404]

Outstanding video. Professional film crews couldn't beat that one.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you very much! It was a long but enjoyable night and I am glad people have seemed to enjoy it! Thanks for checking it out!

[@mikepate6404]

I think your assistant contributed a lot to that one. I hope to make a trip to Tehachapi in the near future I just recently retired myself.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

I couldn't have done it without her. And me getting in the back of the truck was her idea!

[@davesargenti6641]

Yea.. She a trooper helping you out.. Go Jennifer!!!

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

And she had to work the next day! She says it was worth it!

[@charlesglandon7840]

Great video you are the most informative and show so much that others don't thank you. I think this one of your best. I have learned a lot about trains since I started your videos. Keep them coming.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you! Jennifer says it's one of my best but I think that's just because she is in it! Thanks for the kind words!

[@charlesglandon7840]

@@MarkClayMcGowan Jennifer did a great job driving you around in the dark, she needs to go with you more often.

[@roger8772]

Wow Mark.. Great video bud..

[@duanerigge1870]

Mark. Thank you! I have learned so much about railroading and railway maintenance and signals from your numerous railfan videos. You are treasure.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you! I love sharing it all with all of you!

[@michaelstowers5612]

Mark, Great Video. I have watching you since your days working signals (2+ years). I myself am a C+S Supervisor-just like you were. I got to tell you, I love the magical nature of this video. NO ONE else has ever shown this track maint. procedure. Keep up the great work! Mike Roanoke, VA

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Well, hello to a fellow "guy on the ground!" This was actually a very enjoyable video to shoot and I am glad it has been so well received. Thanks for checking it out!

[@georgesmith8113]

Good job! 👍👊😎

[@davec9244]

Alien caterpillar, what a light show! My what a fire hazard! Thank you stay safe

[@chrisstromberg6527]

This is so much cooler to see in action at night, excellent video Mark!!!!

[@paulsto6516]

What a spectacular event! Thanks for bringing us along.

[@davidpoulsen3640]

Thank you Mark , this is something special for me as I was born and raised in Bakersfield and my main hobby has always been model railroading . I didn't know anything about railgrninding . But I do understand the need for it as I'm a sheet metal journeyman , retired ! Never seen anything like this before ! David Poulsen

[@chuckleeii8355]

AWESOME video Mark...WELL DONE!

[@dboatube]

13.38 pst usa - This vid is now the best loran grinder vid on the web! day or night, this beats any grinder vid we have ever seen! even vids put out by loran themselves. being able to follow along really made the vid jump to the top of the pack! hopes are your new loran friends will allow you to document their cool equipment close up and get a good look under those spark covers. keep up the great work/hobby. PS. looks like the side of a curse ship with light from the portholes.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you! It does seem to be pretty popular just as Jennifer predicted it would be. I'd love to catch them again sometime. Right now they are up the valley where right of way roads are either sketchy or non existent! You've given me the idea to contact the company and see what's up! Thanks!

[@PhotoBobSD]

Thanks for something new!!

[@bob-bf3ru]

Outstanding Video

[@FredE528]

That was super cool!!!

[@mcresq65]

Think it was during the summer of '21 sometime, but a Loram train came through on our UPline through town in Central Illinois. They ground overnight, which was, simply put ... Stunning. Now because of an Amtrak high-speed intention in the area, we're stuck with the danged black fence, so that means a more limited access for the wife and I. But, being 693 feet from my front door, we weren't going to pass up THIS opportunity to check it out. We went to a crossing, walked our way in slightly, and stood well beck. Figured we'd leave when asked. Never were. Very cool. We however, DID NOT get hats!!!!

[@brunsonachiu]

great video aloha

[@markhayes6407]

It was like a light show. A much better catch at night. VERY COOL!

[@ryandevlin4572]

Absolutely great video. It’s a amazing spectacle at night👍

[@janiesoito4494]

Great date night and video. Night time rail grinding is the best. Thanks.

[@m.showers1242]

Thanks for a great video!

[@leocrisp6543]

Seen one of these when I worked back in Syracuse,my I my place of employment was off the tracks I loaded semi tankers ! It was an amazing site seeing it work at night and the sounds are awesome and the smell of grinding steel is strong ! Thanks this is an awesome video !

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed it!

[@johnclements8549]

That was an awesome video of the Rail Grinder Train at night! Thanks...

[@jamesclapp6940]

THANK YOU !

[@waggtech4883]

Date night! Pretty cool stuff!

[@chuckmorris7043]

Mark: this is really a good one, Thanks for thinking of your 'crew out here in the Internet.

[@glenrummel4483]

This is an awesome video of a very interesting process especially at night. The LORAM Grinders I've seen in the past have been much shorter in length. Great job, keep up the great work1

[@wmhoward2249]

That was just way cool

[@fridgeratorsam4042]

Great catch and great shots! One to watch more than once. It'd be interesting if you could show a comparison on a fresh ground rail and one that that isn't to see if there's any discernable difference.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

I'll see what I can do! Thanks for checking it out!

[@moregltfirephotography4857]

Nice! First time I saw one of these I had no idea what it was! One time someone in my county called 911 because they saw what they described as "a train leaking something on fire" haha ive chased these before very fun and different to see

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

The crew said they get calls every time they run!

[@moregltfirephotography4857]

@@MarkClayMcGowan im sure haha

[@Samanthareneeheart1]

One of the few videos of the Loram rail grinder at night nice catch! It looks kind of like a super liner amtrarck.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

That's what I thought. My oldest daughter said it looked like a two story motel in the shot from the ground. You should friend me on Facebook (if you use it) Mark McGowan (put Bakersfield in the search) or Instagram @Motopoet59. That is where I share my stills.

[@Samanthareneeheart1]

@@MarkClayMcGowan ok mark i do (from time to time lol)

[@zplates]

Fantastic!

[@Tone76602]

Like it a lot

[@JD-zm4eh]

Very cool.

[@TheCAT3512]

Great video Mark I enjoyed it a lot I am surprised you got to go to the loop I thought is was closed to the public

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

It is but I am well connected! Thanks for checking it out!

[@silverman785]

Really cool

[@PowderMill]

Outstanding video and look at something I’ve always been so curious about. Thank You!

[@joycecalderone281]

It looked like a fiery centipede.