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September 2026
Compiled by Jeff Stagl, Managing Editor
RBL Inc./Robolube Industries is striving to revolutionize the way railroads use hi-rail equipment to lubricate tracks, company officials said in an email. With stationery wayside applications, Robolube’s Hi Rail lubricators are versatile and economically more inclined, offering precise gauge face lubricating to ensure 100% grease consumption by trains, they said.
Developed in 1990, the Robolube Hi Rail lubricator is mounted on a hi-rail vehicle, enabling railroads to lubricate track anywhere in their networks. Both left and right application nozzles accommodate lubricating any curve while traveling along a track at 20 mph to 25 mph.
Robolube also provides an option to add lubricating capability on top of rail (TOR) areas. The Robolube Hi Rail lubricators are fully heated systems with a provision to heat the unit when the vehicle is parked overnight to ensure optimal grease temperatures for application, company officials said.
Roblube’s newly redesigned Model 1000 and Transfer pump system (hydraulically driven with onboard power take-off) now offers the ability to fill wayside lubricators with gauge face grease, as well as the option to fill TOR wayside lubricators. The Model 1000 provides the capacity to carry more than 1,100 pounds of grease.
The system also can be used to apply grease via hi-rail equipment and be employed when crews are out filling up wayside units, company officials said.
Effective friction management at the wheel/rail interface is a proven strategy for enhancing safety, extending asset life and reducing railroad operating costs. A global leader in rail-friction management, L.B. Foster offers a comprehensive portfolio of products, technologies and services designed to optimize performance across diverse operating environments, company officials said.
For wayside applications, SYNCURVE® synthetic all-season curve grease provides exceptional protection against gauge face wear protection at low application rates, providing extended carrydown and reduced consumable usage, they said.
The ALLCURVE® and DURACURVE® product lines offer petroleum-based alternatives with validated field performance, while BIOCURVE® biodegradable grease is ideal for environmentally sensitive territories.
To optimize top-of-rail (TOR) friction levels, L.B. Foster’s KELTRACK® portfolio of environmentally friendly, water-based friction modifiers includes seasonal and all-season formulations engineered for reliable performance under a broad range of operating conditions.
For heavy-haul operations, INFINITRACK® TOR oil provides extended protection exceeding eight miles of track. To address low adhesion challenges, ALLEVIATE® TOR traction enhancers increase wheel/rail friction, helping improve traction and train handling, L.B. Foster officials said.
For onboard applications, KELSAN® LCF and HPF solid-stick products can be applied directly to wheel flanges or treads to reduce wear and improve performance. The newly developed KELTRACK® On-Board application system further expands onboard friction management capabilities by enabling efficient TOR friction modifier applications beyond the reach of conventional wayside systems, company officials said.
Collectively, L.B. Foster’s solutions can help reduce wheel and rail wear, noise generation, fuel consumption and maintenance costs while supporting safer and more efficient railroad operations, they said.
By combining performance-validated consumables, advanced application technologies, monitoring systems and expert field services, L.B. Foster helps railroads implement friction management strategies aligned with their operational requirements and long-term asset management goals, company officials said.
Effective friction management plays a critical role in extending rail and wheel life, improving fuel efficiency, reducing noise and enhancing overall network performance. Backed by decades of wheel/rail interaction research and field experience, Loram provides a comprehensive friction management portfolio that combines advanced consumables, innovative application systems and expert support services, company officials said.
Loram offers a full range of top-of-rail (TOR) friction modifiers and gauge-face curve lubricants designed to address the distinct operating conditions encountered across freight, transit and passenger networks. Its product portfolio includes synthetic, water-based and hybrid TOR friction modifiers engineered to maintain an optimal coefficient of friction, helping railroads reduce lateral forces, improve vehicle steering, minimize wheel and rail wear, lower fuel consumption and decrease wheel-rail noise, Loram officials said.
For gauge-face lubrication, Loram provides products such as EcoCurve Heavy Haul, EcoCurve Trackside and RailKing HL, each of which is engineered to maximize protection while meeting the performance requirements of specific operating environments. Several formulations feature biodegradable and environmentally responsible characteristics, making them well suited for railroads operating in sensitive environments, Loram officials said.
Beyond consumables, the company offers a complete suite of friction management services. It works with railroads to develop site-specific, system-centric or hybrid friction management programs tailored to each operation’s needs.
Loram experts assist with site evaluation, system installation, calibration, remote monitoring, data analysis, consulting and ongoing maintenance support to help ensure maximum system uptime and return on investment, company officials said. Loram’s analytical and remote monitoring capabilities enable railroads to better understand system performance and capture the full financial benefits of their friction management programs, company officials said.
By combining advanced friction modifiers and lubricants with intelligent application systems and dedicated field expertise, Loram aims to help railroads optimize wheel/rail interaction, extend asset life, improve operational efficiency and reduce overall maintenance costs.
ECORail® is a line of biobased railroad lubricants supplied by Railmark Track Works since 2012. It consists of ECORail® rail switch-plate lubricant and ECORail® top-of-rail grease.
Both products are manufactured domestically from renewable, U.S.-grown crop-based oils, conform to the Environmental Protection Agency’s preferable purchasing criteria, and are considered BioPreferred® and biobased-labeled products by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Railmark Holdings Inc. officials said.
Base oils carry roughly twice the viscosity index of petroleum-based oils, providing stable viscosity across a wider operating range, and the natural polarity of biobased molecules helps them adhere to metal surfaces, they said.
The ECORail rail switch plate lubricant is a biodegradable, nontoxic, water-resistant lubricant formulated with natural seed oils, a lithium-based thickener and proprietary additives to protect railroad switches and switch machines from wear, rust and corrosion. It can be poured, brushed, wiped or applied with mechanical sprayers, and works with wayside lubricators requiring a liquid texture, company officials said.
It resists washout from rain and ice melt, penetrates switch components, and is less flammable than petroleum-based lubricants, they said. A frigid climate formulation is available where temperatures remain below zero degrees F.
The ECORail top-of-rail grease is a water-soluble compound formulated to modulate friction, reduce noise and reduce wheel hunting on tangent tracks. It contains moly-graph solids and biobased polymers that fill microcracks in the rail surface, and dries to the touch as a thin film.
The grease extends railhead and wheel-tread life, reduces lateral forces and derailment potential, increases fuel efficiency and lengthens rail grinding intervals, company officials said. It can work in all wayside lubricators, and is configured for manual and top-of-rail discharge.
Railmark also provides customized lubrication maintenance and friction-management programs that cover installation, maintenance and financing of wayside lubricators. Both products are available in five-gallon pails, 55-gallon drums and 275-gallon totes.
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