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July 2026
Compiled by Hazel Wheaton, Associate Editor
As railroads seek more efficient maintenance strategies for a range of environments, Loram’s compact Truckable Rail Grinder (RGT) delivers reliable, production-quality grinding capabilities to locations traditional equipment cannot easily reach, Loram officials said in an email.
The RGT is designed to remove corrugation, weld defects and surface damage while maintaining consistent performance across a range of track conditions. It enables railroads to address localized defects, switches, crossings and open track without the logistical constraints of larger grinding trains. Its flexible grinding configuration allows operators to execute targeted defect remediation and precise profile correction in complex areas such as turnouts and embedded track, company officials said.
Designed as a road-transportable platform, the RGT integrates an eight-stone grinding system mounted on a hi-rail, DOT-certified tractor-trailer configuration, allowing a seamless transition between road and rail. This enables rapid deployment, often within minutes of arrival, helping railroads maximize short maintenance windows and respond quickly to emerging defects.
Integrated spark containment, dust mitigation systems and onboard fire-suppression capabilities support safe operation in varied environments, while modern engine technology helps reduce emissions, company officials said.
Orgo-Thermit offers a range of battery and hydraulic grinders to grind both the web and the rail profile. The hydraulic grinders are well established in the industry and offer excellent performance, ergonomics and material removal rate, said Orgo-Thermit officials. Hydraulic profile grinders are available in lightweight and heavyweight profiles. The hydraulic web grinders are lightweight, to more easily maneuver around the web of the rail.
The newer battery grinders are part of the company’s +S™ range of battery tools, powered by EGO batteries. With identical material removal rates as the hydraulic tools, these grinders offer freedom of movement for the worker, as they do not need to be attached to a hydraulic power unit.
Each battery grinder requires two 12Ah EGO batteries; run times are 80 minutes for the web grinder and 60 minutes for the profile grinder. With multiple charging options and charging in a minimum of 75 minutes to full charge, the grinders offer durability and versatility, officials said.
Plasser American Corp. offers preventive maintenance through rail grinding and corrective/regenerative maintenance through milling.
Plasser American launched the Speno Australia rail grinding truck HRR12-9A in the North American market last year. Engineered for a broad range of applications — including switches and crossings, open track hot-spots, level crossings and embedded track — the machine combines hi-rail flexibility with superior metal removal capability, officials said. It is versatile and effective enough to be deployed across Class I networks and transit systems.
With a hybrid diesel-battery system, the Romill Urban 3 E3 rail milling machine can be operated emission-free in sensitive areas such as tunnels and stations. An integrated diesel generator extends the machine’s operational range while also providing quick charging capability for the batteries.
By combining the HRR12-9A grinding truck and the Romill Urban 3 E3 rail milling machine, Plasser American delivers comprehensive, efficient, and sustainable solutions as a full-service rail treatment provider, officials said.
RailWorks Corp. delivers turnkey switch and crossing rail grinding services for freight railroads and transit systems. The company’s experienced grinding crews deliver consistent, high-quality results, helping to extend rail life, improve reliability and enhance efficiency across rail networks, RailWorks officials said.
RailWorks’ advanced equipment efficiently services switches, guarded curves and road crossings. Their machines feature independent, hydraulically powered grinding units, a Jupiter II control system for precision performance, hydrostatic propulsion, fully computerized controls, integrated dust collection, pneumatic braking, water-spray fire-suppression systems and ergonomic operator cabins.
RailWorks offers complete, tailored grinding solutions that are designed to meet clients’ requirements for safety, quality and on-time performance.
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