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July 2026
Compiled by Bridget Dean, Senior Associate Editor
Winter introduces a unique set of challenges for rail operations, from reduced adhesion on icy rail to increased rolling resistance caused by cold temperatures and diminished lubrication performance. Maintaining reliability in winter conditions requires more than reactive measures such as maintenance; it demands intelligent active control, ZTR officials said in an email.
ZTR’s NexSys III-i supports winter preparedness by helping locomotives operate efficiently and reliably under changing conditions, they said. Its integrated SmartStart automatic engine stop-start system is based on real-time parameters, helping ensure locomotives remain within optimal conditions and reducing the risk of cold weather starting issues. By maintaining engine readiness without unnecessary idling, railroads can better balance engine starting reliability and fuel efficiency during winter months, ZTR officials said.
Snow, ice and frost on tracks also pose challenges to traction systems. Lubricants are not as effective in cold temperatures, increasing load resistance. NexSys addresses this through advanced control algorithms that optimize power delivery and maximize adhesion, ZTR officials said. This enables locomotives to maintain consistent tractive effort, even in challenging cold weather conditions, they added.
Additionally, real-time diagnostics and visibility through ZTR’s Vision platform provide operators and maintenance teams with better insight into locomotive performance. This allows for faster identification of issues and more informed operational decision-making during periods when reliability is critical, company officials said.
Together, these capabilities help railroads prepare for and operate through winter conditions with improved performance, efficiency and predictability, ensuring fleets remain productive even in the most demanding environments.
Railroads rely on precise temperature management to protect critical equipment and keep operations moving. ThermOmegaTech® aims to help rail operators stay ahead of winter conditions with its thermostatic freeze protection solutions.
ThermOmegaTech’s GURU® Plug and GURU PC® Valve can prevent costly freeze damage to locomotives and passenger-rail cars. These self-operating valves automatically protect locomotive cooling systems and passenger-car potable water systems from freezing, ThermOmegaTech officials said. This eliminates the potential of cracked pipes or tanks, unexpected downtime and expensive repairs.
Reliable and fully automatic, GURU® freeze protection requires no external power, making it ideal for unattended equipment and power outage conditions, company officials said.
Beyond freeze protection, ThermOmegaTech applies thermostatic technology across dozens of applications requiring precise temperature regulation. For low-carbon locomotives, including hydrogen, battery-electric and hybrid platforms, the valves can support liquid cooling and thermal management through mixing, bypass and inline configurations, according to ThermOmegaTech. The valves can also regulate temperatures for fuel cells, power electronics and batteries without external power, reducing complexity while improving thermal management performance.
For more than 40 years, the GURU® Plug has been an industry standard, protecting North America’s Class Is, OEMs and short-line operators, ThermOmegaTech officials said. The GURU PC® Valve extends that same proven protection to passenger rail equipment used by national and regional rail operators.
Winter weather presents significant challenges for locomotive operators. Freezing temperatures can lead to cold starts, increase engine wear and elevate the risk of locomotive engine freeze-ups during extended periods of inactivity. To avoid these issues, many railroads rely on continuous engine idling, consuming 5 to 8 gallons of fuel per hour, Power Drives Inc. officials said.
Designed specifically for cold-weather operations, the PowerHouse™ Hybrid from Power Drives provides an alternative to continuous idling. The patented system is SmartWay-verified by the EPA. Operating at just 0.38 gallons of fuel per hour, the system maintains critical locomotive systems and keeps equipment ready for service, company officials said.
Powered directly from the locomotive battery bank for up to seven days without starting the engine, the PowerHouse™ Hybrid maintains engine oil and coolant temperatures above 100 degrees F. By maintaining critical temperatures, the system eliminates cold starts, prevents wet stacking, reduces engine wear and eliminates the risk of locomotive engine freeze-ups, according to Power Drives.
The result is improved reliability and greater protection of valuable locomotive assets throughout the winter season. By reducing the need for prolonged engine idling, many operators report seasonal fuel savings exceeding 10,000 gallons per locomotive, often achieving a return on investment in just a few months while reducing NOx emissions by up to 97%, company officials said.
Winter presents some of the most demanding conditions faced by railway maintenance crews. Heavy snowfall, drifting snow, ice accumulation and reduced visibility can quickly impact track accessibility, switch operation and overall network reliability. Railroads operating in northern climates require specialized equipment capable of maintaining track infrastructure while keeping crews productive and safe during extreme weather events, Knox Kershaw Inc. officials said.
The Knox Kershaw KSF940 Snow Fighter/Ballast Regulator was designed specifically to address these challenges, they said. Built on the company’s proven ballast regulator platform, the KSF940 incorporates cold-weather features such as high-capacity snow wings, a four-season plow and a snow switch cleaning system that allow operators to efficiently clear snow from main lines, sidings, yards and critical switch locations.
The machine’s large-capacity blower can discharge snow away from the track structure, helping prevent re-accumulation and improving operational efficiency during prolonged winter storms, company officials said. The KSF940 also features special cold-weather heating systems and an enclosed operator cab for improved comfort and visibility.
For many railroads and contractors, equipment utilization throughout the year is equally important, Knox Kershaw officials said. One of the KSF940’s advantages is its ability to transition from winter snow-fighting duties to ballast regulation and track maintenance work during warmer months by replacing snow equipment with ballast gear for year-round use.
Hotstart auxiliary power units (APU) and shore power engine heaters are designed for use when a locomotive is idling, whether in a yard or at a remote location. These systems help maintain the prime mover fluids at optimal operating temperatures during cold weather conditions while charging the locomotive batteries, Hotstart officials said.
Installing such aftermarket equipment reduces unnecessary locomotive idling, resulting in increased fuel savings and reduced wear and tear on engine components. Furthermore, using a Hotstart system to keep locomotives warm eliminates issues like wet stacking and reduces AESS-related restarts, company officials said.
The APU runs on diesel fuel sourced from the locomotive, consuming an average of 0.5 gallons per hour — a significant reduction from the locomotive’s standard consumption of 4 to 5 gallons per hour. The APU does not require shore power, allowing it to be utilized remotely.
Shore power systems utilize existing yard electricity, eliminating the need for diesel fuel during idle periods. These electric systems have minimal maintenance requirements. Hotstart supplies numerous configurations and heat outputs, providing an idle reduction solution for most locomotive applications, company officials said.
A major focus in the industry is emissions regulations, and Hotstart’s idle reduction equipment can play a crucial role in helping railroads upgrade locomotives from Tier 0 to Tier 0-plus standards, they added. Hotstart’s equipment is also SmartWay-verified by the EPA, opening opportunities for increased federal grant funding.
Winter conditions and temperatures can cause headaches for rail personnel in charge of signaling systems; for those working in yard environments, the pain can be significant. Yards typically operate under conditions that are not ideal for signaling equipment even in the best weather. Add snow, ice and freezing temperatures to the mix, and loss of productivity in the yard and systemwide delays can become an operator’s winter reality.
Frauscher’s Track Vacancy System (FTVS) is widely used in rail yards to provide reliable train detection, even in the harshest of conditions, company officials said. The FTVS offers a simple, flexible design that makes it suitable for many non-vital yard applications such as switch point protection, grade crossings, end-of-track warning systems and storage track management, they said.
The workhorse of FTVS is an inductive wheel sensor that is clamped to a rail without drilling. This sensor does not rely on shunting to detect trains, and its weatherproof IP68 rating keeps it operating reliably in all weather conditions and subpar environments, Frauscher officials said. Reliable train detection facilitates efficient vehicle movement throughout the yard, helping to keep schedules on time and yard productivity at a high level.
In addition to non-vital train detection with FTVS, Frauscher also offers vital train detection up to SIL4 safety level with the Frauscher Advanced Counter (FAdC). The FAdC axle counter shares the same characteristics of the FTVS, including its weatherproof rating, no drilling requirement and non-reliance on shunting, company officials said.
Today’s customers are increasingly seeking energy-efficient and technology-integrated products, such as Railway Equipment Co.’s (RECo) new redundant switch heater—the first in the industry that can operate on both natural gas/propane and electric power, according to RECo.
To prepare for winter, railroads should conduct thorough preseason inspections and maintenance on all heating and monitoring equipment while keeping essential spare parts on hand, the company recommends. In the past two years, demand has been strong for installations featuring RECo’s GHAB Concentrator, which monitors up to 12 switch heaters from a single location and delivers real-time status updates to central offices.
The company continues to evolve its product line with new combo gas/electric units that were successfully tested last winter for improved efficiency and fuel savings in remote areas. In research and development, RECo is making progress on more sophisticated monitoring systems and eco-friendly heating solutions, with promising test results from its new induction heating technology, company officials said.
From snow- and ice-melting solutions for switches to defect detectors, critical wayside assets and comfort heating for passenger vehicles, Thermon’s products can be found throughout North America helping railroads maintain operations through the most adverse winter conditions, company officials said.
Thermon’s Hellfire 905 Blizzard Duty is designed to minimize emissions and fuel consumption while maximizing performance, while the Fastrax SwitchBlade heating elements lead the industry in their ability to transfer heat to rail, resulting in less demand for electricity and faster response times to winter events, Thermon officials said.
By working with customers, the company has found a multitude of ways to increase wayside scanner uptime. Solutions range from heated covers to cold- and hot-air blowers designed for the devices. With this broad product range, Thermon can provide the right solution for unique applications, company officials said.
With IRIS-certified manufacturing locations throughout North America, Thermon has served the rail and transit industry for many decades. The company plans to continue providing process heating technologies that ensure customers are best prepared to battle winter.
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