What is a Rail GRINDER? - SLOW MOTION FOOTAGE

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[@clanzocu390]

Worked for LORAM for several years, only did about a year on the main line grinder side then the rest was in the ballast division on BC-10 ballast cleaner. Normally those mainline grinders have one or two (depending on location and dryness) hi rail trucks with water tanks that follow behind about a quarter of a mile checking for flare ups from the sparks. When we were out west in the mountains their was a couple times we had started a brush fire and had to have the equipment (we were not aloud to call it a train) back up to use the larger water cannon to dose the brush and drown out the fire.

[@v12productions]

Very interesting. Yeah, they had a water truck following this one too, I just didn't record it.

[@jadenlarson9431]

how do they keep the grinding stones from getting too hot?

[@Mutatedordinary]

@@jadenlarson9431 They don’t…every so often the replace the worn down stones. I believe them to be made of some pummace or some actual stone.

[@wilfred8326]

Allowed* The reason it was referred to as a "unit" vs a "Train" would be Union Work Rules/Agreements. I went to an Amtrak interview YEARS AGO, In a shop in Boston, I proudly stated "my dad may have helped build this" (for a Construction company) and they got Protective of their territory that my dad had "scabbed out" but he didn't it was a non-RR Union.... plus it was 30+ years ago.....

[@vonbryanalicaya6374]

I’m on schedule for phone enterview with loram. Any advice?

[@rondevos99]

Had a chance to watch one in action, and it is amazing to watch. Shortly after it had passed, a freight train came by, and the sweet hum that came off those freshly ground rails was awesome.

[@v12productions]

Nice!

[@MsCriticalthinker201]

These grinders are also run over brand new rail installations. This is to remove the mill scale from the rails to promote conductivity between the wheels and the rails for signaling purposes. We hired Loram to do this on a new section of the MBTA Greenbush commuter rail project. The pivot of one of the grinder heads failed and that machine ruined a quarter mile of rail in minutes. Had to replace the rail.

[@ThatNorfolkSouthernGuy]

I seen the rail grinder before it was so cool but it was stopped I think it was filling up on water cuz there was a tanker truck right next to it

[@kablammy7]

I was a switchman at Southern Railroad starting in the late ' 70 ' s . Preface : On the midnight shift we would sometimes get our tasks done about and hour early and a lot of times we would head the engine towards the shop ( which takes us right by the yard office ) . Sometimes we would stop there and sometimes we would ease on to the shop and then go home . However, sometimes as we were approaching the yard office and the lead to the engine shop, we would get a call on the radio from the yardmaster ... ( and of course that would mean he had another task for us to do ... ) In the early ' 80 ' s, I used a cassette tape recorder to record the yardmaster calling our conductor . One morning at about 6 AM, we were pulling some cars into the yard and I dropped off the engine so I could line the switch for the engine to pull the cars into a yard track and then line the switch back after the cars cleared the straight track . I went to my truck and got the cassette tape recorder and as the engine came back up towards the yard office, I played the tape over the radio " Southern Simpson Yard Yardmaster Sloan calling job 41 Conductor Black over " . Well, the conductor was a nervous and anxious type of person and he was already on the back of the engine anticipating being able to drop off and go ( as usual ) . He answered rapidly " This is Conductor Black over " . Then I played it again " Southern Simpson Yard Yardmaster Sloan calling job 41 Conductor Black over " . At this point the engine was near the yard office and Conductor Black bounded off the engine and was headed into the yard office . At the same time, I went into the side door of the clerk's office which adjoined the yard office and as I arrived in the presence of the yard master and Mr. Black, I played the tape for them . Pretty funny stuff . Also, about that time was when we first started getting computer printouts for our switch lists . ( Previously EVERYTHING was hand written ) . That was the same time when I had a Radio Shack Color Computer and I learned BASIC computer language . I then made a program that created a random switch list that looked identical to the ones we would get from the clerks or from the remote printers that were out near the tracks in little air conditioned housings . So, one day I had my 3 fake switch lists, hidden in my overalls, and when the time came to get a new switch list, I volunteered to go get it . When I walked up to my two crewmen, I handed them the fake lists . They looked at it for a minute and were totally dumbfounded as the list looked genuine but had no correlating information that related to what we had in the yard ... ( back then all dot matrix printer output looked the same lol )

[@ayeshanasreen1395]

I spotted LORAM locomotive in India too its very useful for fresh working tracks with out any rust causing

[@brandonpittman4778]

This was an amazing vide of the rail grinder now the model train companies should make a model of it

[@v12productions]

Thanks! I'd buy one if they did.

[@TimLindsay]

great to see a photo of my hometown Toronto Rail grinder...

[@crumb_of_nopeamine_plz]

I didn't even know the rail grider existed!!! You wouldn't be able to use those in Australia too often, it would just cause fires everywhere, even with the spark protections! 😅

[@rocknhorse1411]

Great video. Caught the Loram train grinding the trestles Over the chattahoocee river at dawn a few years back. With the sparks flying in the early morning light was spectacular view.

[@v12productions]

That must have been an amazing sight!

[@usa_rail_productions]

You explain everything so well. Love your channel

[@whistlepostproductions4611]

Great video! I was blessed with some great night time footage of a grinder on the Abbeville some months back.

[@THE_IRON_HORSE]

Very well put together video, I loved seeing these Grider's and track bounce machines as I have seen many, railroads definitely do use some eye catching equipment

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@spacecat85]

I might have to look more into how those operate in detail bc that's really cool. or hot, what with all those sparks flying (I'll see myself out)

[@briangeorge7346]

Thank you gonna have read up on that Toronto grinder.

[@andrewpalm2103]

A very nice video. Thanks for the information on rail grinding operations and especially the patent diagrams. I wonder if there are any living quarters for the crew. Cheers from Wisconsin!

[@brycesmith314]

I worked for Loram but on their Shoulder Ballast Cleaner, but there aren't any living quarters so to speak but they do have full size fridges and quite a bit of space inside. Alot of their machines have enough space for even a grill for when youre stuck in train delay.

[@andrewpalm2103]

@@brycesmith314 Thanks for your answer!

[@billreal76]

Interesting ... I didn't know this existed, but it only makes sense to extend the life of the rail.

[@geoffreylee5199]

In Bala, Ontario, in March of 1995, we heard it coming on the CP Rail tracks. There was about two feet of snow still on the ground, as it rolled by, the sparks created a loud hissing sound and clouds of steam as it hit the snow.

[@kens.3729]

Very Detailed View of Rail Grinding. Another Channel I watch (Mark Clay McGowan) showed this process at Night which was Cool. Thanks! 👍

[@craigzahniser4702]

So, does the weight of the trains flatten the rail and Loram shores it up? Or does it shape the rail back to the way it was? Maybe a before and after pictures would help? Thanks for the video. Well done.

[@dangeary2134]

It’s more than just the weight of the train. Think of a blacksmith pounding on a piece of hot metal. It’s going to move around. Even though the rail and wheels are cold, that metal moves around. The straight track winds up with the railhead that fits perfectly into the flange on the wheels, it makes for more friction. Then, there is the material movement from the tonnage rolling over it, and that caused small cracks to form in the top, especially on heavily traveled lines. On curves, the outside rail where the wheels really want to go straight…. They get worn out the most, and the profile can cause some serious friction. The inside rail tends to get beaten flat, and flanges don’t usually ride next to it. More friction. More material movement in both rails, because the axles on trains are solid. So, renewing the profile on the rail not only saves money in fuel and repairs, it makes the track safer because all that weight will ride properly, and where it should between the rails.

[@Undar8ed03]

Kinda funny I ran across this video. I work for Loram now on a 400 series grinder like this one. I’m actually in my 1st week of learning to drive it.

[@scotabot7826]

You are one very talented young man, that's for sure!! Super quality productions!!! Thanks

[@scottn7cy]

This was very cool. Thanks for sharing!

[@v12productions]

Thanks for watching!

[@jasonquade9284]

Even though I cross tracks on foot every day for a decade going to work I had never seen one of these until a week ago. It was obvious it was grinding the track with some serious horse power. With all the sparks, lights and water spraying in the cold weather it was really cool in the dark. Would be cool to learn more about the technical details about how these work.

[@MoodyBlue42..]

Very impressive at night for sure 😁👍 Awesome documentary brother 👏

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@jenesisjones6706]

Loved the opening edits!

[@trainfan8622]

"don't fly away" I see what you did there lol

[@paulkoza8652]

Great video. It would be fantastic to see one in action. Since I live on the CSX main line in VA, it should be possible but I doubt Loram puts out a schedule.

[@v12productions]

Thanks! Yeah, I'm not sure how to predict when it's coming, but I hope you get to see it.

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Nice video explaining the Loram grinder!

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

@@v12productions you're welcome

[@nstrainfanyt]

I've seen my fair share of LORAM trains. They're definitely interesting to say the least.

[@kens.3729]

Keeping the High Rails in Good Shape is very important for the long term health of the Steel used by the Railroads. Mtce. costs Money. 😬👍

[@Kansas-Trains]

Very Cool Brother and keep up the great work 😊🇺🇸

[@v12productions]

Will do! Thanks!

[@wideslammer]

Interesting video. I like the new intro.

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@WabashAndWesternRails]

Love the new intro!

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@bobjohnson6371]

Another well done video .!!!

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@RuralTrainsOfIdahoYT]

Cool! I have seen one of these but not at work.

[@BossSpringsteen69]

Video does not describe what it's like being next to a working rail grinder. The variety of sounds plus the vibrations are quite intense.

[@tracksidecameraman9055]

Awesomely informative and detailed👌👌.

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@bnsffan6584]

Im on the scenic sub on the BNSF and the rail in monroe has holes in it.

[@RFMCabooseNP1713]

Great video.

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@spencerbass7142]

Good job.

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@Brianrockrailfan]

Awesome video

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@ronaldrondeau7870]

Very interesting info

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@evanperdue7222]

I love your vids

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@evanperdue7222]

Your wellcome

[@OuterMarkerProductions]

Got video of the rail grinder near downtown Atlanta and it did leave a small fire in the area.

[@MrBobity]

LORAM in Hamel, Minnesota, the factory is not that big, I delivered there on 2 jobs I had for nuts, and bolts, to pipe and fittings. Neat when you went passed the gate, to see these monsters. I have never seen them move very fast.

[@fevinman7162]

Great video thanks! Also really liked the intro. Is that new or just for your special videos?

[@v12productions]

Thanks! I'm just using the intro for longer, special videos.

[@bonelesschicken4122]

I work on one of these, I work on rg404 in wisconsin rn

[@v12productions]

Sweet!

[@creambob1]

Thor on wheels!

[@georgiatrainz4517]

I caught a Rail-Grinder hours ago. It was idling in a siding in Newnan. It was turned on but wasn't moving there were people there inspecting the engine but that's just my guess.

[@v12productions]

Cool! I hope you're able to see it in action.

[@georgiatrainz4517]

@@v12productions I didn't really see it. I left after 3-4 hours of seeing it. I did catch 3 CSX trains, though.

[@triadrailfanproductions]

Hey I love your channel. What is the intro song?

[@v12productions]

Thanks! It's called "Watch it Glow" and is available from KZbin's royalty free music library.

[@triadrailfanproductions]

@@v12productions Thanks ps love you channel!

[@atheistpeace7579]

Why do we use wood ties and not concrete like Europe does?

[@jimbobcramden]

The diagram is confusing

[@theromanorder]

I for some reason read it as rail gender