Union Pacific Rail Grinder run-by

A rail grinder on the Union Pacific's mainline in Portland, Ore., passes Tri-Met's 60th Avenue MAX light rail station. Our MAX train had passed the grinder back at the 42nd Ave. station, where it was grinding track. It was near dark and the sparks flying from the grinding wheels were spectacular, like Fourth of July sparklers. I couldn't get my camera running in time to capture the sight, so I detrained at the next stop to wait for the machine. Unfortunately, the track along the 60th Ave. station didn't need grinding and the unit simply raced by me toward its next work destination. Dang.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Union
• Pacific
• Railroad
• train
• locomotive
• rail
• grinder

[spcascades]

@SaltineCrackaAss I wouldn't go so far as to say smooth as a baby's bottom. The resulting ground rail face is quite course causing the wheels to "sing" as they roll over the rail. The main goal of the grinder is to re-contour the rail head and reduce the overall surface that the wheel rolls over, reducing friction. Basically makes the top of the railhead rounded again.

[SaltineCrackaAss]

@racerboy23432 They're just basically rail cleaners. Removing and grinding away all the excess wear and tear and debris from the rails. Afterwards, you have a perfect smooth as a baby's bottom rail.

[WJUStudent]

Just went by my house [northern CA], always fun to watch...as a kid I remember it going by in the summer and lighting everything on fire. The one that just went by had 3 water tanks, and I remember there being several tanks and men with hoses putting out the flames lol

[hbsharkman]

apparently they do.

[dutchtrainmanserie22]

Awesome video 5*****

[7676steve7676]

Do people get off to this stuff?

[ljones121]

yea i remember one night RG-17 passed through, it was pretty cool, dang thing glowed in the dark from half a mile away, and it was really funny, they didn't lift the grinders for the grade crossing on CSX, melted the road, lmao

[aemelton78]

the machines are owned by the company loram they are contracted out by each railroad i was an operator on one of these grinders for awhile rg311. they grind the rail back to its original composure. eleminating cracking and flattenning in the iron.

[Ivecofan09]

paranoia dont you think lol

[WWBZT1]

Yes they want you to think the train is "grinding" the track. In actuality, it is a super secret project. It is the worlds first Nuclear train.