Sparks fly during BNSF Track Maintenance

Harnsco Track Technologies train crew polishing the tracks around Monroe, WA. Sparks fly!

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• trains
• track
• sparks
• fire

[loophole3]

cool. how did you manage to catch that footage?

[69BigDog69]

At the right place, at the right time basically. It was moving slow, so I went home, grabbed my camera, caught up and passed the unit and waited for it to catch up to shoot the video.

[dking133115]

There is nothing wrong going on there. That is called a rail grinder. This train here is grinding the rails. This is an awesome footage!! They usually grind the rails once or twice a year. It is the coolest thing that you would want to see!! i have a video of a rail grinder grinding the rails at night by my house.

[BNSFmow]

yeah the rail grinder shapes the ball of the rail back into place, over time it tends to get flat spots, very cool video

[ryanrule2]

just saw them doing this in chicago at night. quite a show. 

[captainmcduche]

one hell of a ride lol

[318Captain]

@dking133115 whats the purpose of grinding the rails? Ive never seen it done around here let alone heard about it...

[JIM1278]

Really what fires specifically are you talking about in the Northwest? Dont think for a second that the railroad hasnt paid for any fires they have started. In fact they have to reimburse local fire depts. if they are even called out to a possible fire so get your facts straight yes the railroad has reimbursed millions. the biggest reason they grind rail is to reduce drag to save fuel which helps the enviroment you seem like a tree hugger so maybe you can appreciate that.

[JIM1278]

Yes they do atleast on the bnsf I have done it many times we even have a truck with foward looking infrared on hirails to spot hot spots

[pjtesar101]

not really theres a cabosse in the back and they spray water on it - thats what loram does at least

[carnadero]

I wonder, do the railroads have a crew following the grinder to put out any fires in the surrounding brush the sparks might have caused?

[FamousNateNat138]

grinding not polishing

[Robert08010]

Polishing? But I never see sparks when I use Lemon Pledge at home. Just a bright shine!

This is intersting to see though. They just replaced the rails behind my house with welded rail so I think it will be a long time before I see anything like this done out back.

[1ynohtna1]

You should see this at night....