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October 2025
Compiled by Bridget Dean, Associate Editor
When maintenance-of-way equipment (MOW) wears down, the machinery providers or resellers can choose to repair, scrap, sell, refurbish or use combinations of all the above to ensure their fleets stay in prime condition and valuable parts don’t go to waste. Progressive Railroading asked several MOW equipment suppliers and resellers how they manage their machinery fleets. The following four companies provided responses via email.
Holland remains committed to building and maintaining the most advanced flash-butt welding fleet in the industry, company officials said. Holland has expanded its long-term fleet replacement program to include new equipment offerings designed to make the fleet more reliable, efficient and ready to meet evolving customer needs.
The overall fleet program introduces new MobileWelders on a scheduled basis while maximizing the value of existing assets, Holland officials said. Equipment returned from older units is carefully evaluated for refurbishment and reuse, ensuring that service-ready components are placed back into operation when possible. This approach reduces waste and optimizes resources, Holland officials said.
Looking ahead, Holland is also using its fleet replacement program as an opportunity to diversify the types of equipment available. In addition to traditional units, the company is adding more battery-powered hybrid welders to improve efficiency and reduce the equipment’s environmental impact.
Holland is also leveraging its Extended Reach MobileWelders, which allow the delivery of higher-quality switch welding services on or off track.
By combining disciplined fleet replacement planning with forward-looking technology adoption, Holland is positioning its fleet to serve the rail industry with greater reliability, flexibility and quality for years to come, company officials said.
At Omaha Track, asset management and utilization drive operations, optimizing equipment performance across its lifecycle, from track construction and reclamation to tie recycling and secondhand steel processing, company officials said.
Through the Omaha Track Equipment (OTE) division, the company maintains an inventory exceeding 500 pieces of MOW and construction equipment, including custom hi-rail trucks, RailPac® processors, ballast regulators, spike pullers, tie inserters, trommel screens, shredders, grinders, magnet systems and heavy-duty cranes.
The company acquires stock via purchasing new units, sourcing from railroad buyouts and surplus sales, in-house design-build of specialized solutions, and equipment upfits for peak efficiency in rail salvage and material recovery.
“Specialized assets engineered for our rail salvage and recycling demands often face limited resale in open markets,” said Jeff Peterson, president of equipment.
Omaha Track counters that by prioritizing restoration and by adding modern components to older equipment, he added.
The company evaluates all equipment according to structural integrity, hydraulic and electrical systems, and FRA safety compliance. Viable units integrate into production jobs, then become available for rent or sale.
Omaha Track sustains a constant fleet of new and used equipment, focuses on field testing and refining for unmatched reliability, and provides 24/7 service and parts expertise as support, company officials said. Units failing evaluation are repurposed, with metals recycled to power the company’s steel processing lines.
Current market trends noted by Omaha Track are extending lifecycles, prompting longer holds and maintaining a second life refurbished inventory. The company’s buy-fix-use-sell-repurpose strategy prolongs asset value, supplies cost-effective, tested solutions to rail contractors and advances sustainable industry practices, company officials said.
Rail cars and MOW equipment continue to play a key role in the rail industry. As rail traffic grows, railroads and partner companies depend on reliable equipment from trusted sources.
That’s where Purple Wave Inc. comes in. In recent auctions, the company has featured items such as Rion Equipment shuttlewagon rail-car movers, ranging in age from seven to 18 years old, and including Navigator models NVX6030 and NVX5025, Purple Wave officials said.
“These rail cars would be a great addition to co-op plants, concrete producers or anyone that has rail and is looking for a shuttlewagon to move items around,” said Purple Wave Territory Sales Manager Mike Schnuelle. “These have been well-maintained machines and Rion Equipment has been a trusted partner of Purple Wave since April 2024.”
Purple Wave has become a source for selling shuttlewagon rail-car movers. The company sold four earlier this year for Eagle Railcar Services and Scott’s Equipment.
Buyers benefit from a straightforward auction process through Purple Wave, company officials said. From online bidding to secure payments, Purple Wave’s online platform offers an easy way to acquire rail equipment, they believe.
Railiron LLC is a reseller of MOW equipment and hi-rail trucks for the railroad industry. The company’s well-stocked inventory of specialized machines is sourced through direct purchases and partnerships with trusted companies, Railiron officials said.
The company specializes in reselling and leasing hard-to-find MOW equipment, such as hi-rail excavators, tampers and trucks. More recently, Railiron has been expanding into rail-car brokering. Additionally, the company sells items on behalf of companies that trust them to remarket their used equipment to buyers.
“We connect quality machines with those who need them, making us a reliable link in the railroad supply chain,” said Railiron CEO Troy Schott.
Used equipment is assessed for general usability; if it doesn’t meet company standards, Railiron either refurbishes or recycles it, company officials said. Any new equipment that Railiron purchases to lease is based on customer needs and is sourced through new equipment dealers.
Email comments and questions to bridget.dean@tradepress.com.
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