TRRS 547: Railroad Rail Replacement

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN - 23 Jul 2020

Just like any other kind of infrastructure, railroad track is ultimately an expendable resource, requiring periodic reconstruction or rehabilitation to remain in top operational form.

While the large steel rails of today’s railroads are hardy and can last for decades, over time they are surface worn by passing trains, and are subjected to stress and strain which precipitates in the formation of metal fatigue and internal cracking. While rail grinding does extend the life of the rail, eventually it becomes more cost effective to swap it out for new steel.

Special thanks to this crew for graciously allowing me to film their work and be good sports about it. It isn’t always easy working in front of an unknown camera lens, but I think this process is so neat and worth sharing with others. I hope that after watching this video you have also come to appreciate the process and honest work these guys do to keep trains rolling.

CSX Curve Rail Gang at Seymour
Consist:
- CSX LRC 200803 Sperling Railway Services Large Rail Saw
- CSX SP 200703 Nordco Single-Side Spike Puller
- CSX SP 200714 Nordco Single-Side Spike Puller
- CSX EX 201005 RCE Equipment Solutions/John Deere 225D Railavator
- CSX SC 200803 Sperling Railway Services Rail Scrap Retriever
- CSX TPM 200702 Sperling Railway Services Tie Plugging Machine
- CSX CA 201902 Knox Kershaw KKA Kribber Adzer
- CSX EX 201106 RCE Equipment Solutions/John Deere 225D Railavator
- CSX PC 200713 Rail Saw Cart
- Progress Rail Chemetron CMW33 In-Track Rail Welding Truck
- CSX SD 20172L Nordco Production Spike Driver
- CSX RH 200401 Teleweld Rail Heater
- CSX RHC 201001 Teleweld Rail Heater Cart
- CSX AA 200602 Nordco Anchor Applicator
- CSX AA 200202 Nordco Anchor Applicator
- CSX SD 20171L Nordco Production Spike Driver
- CSX SD 20173L Nordco Production Spike Driver
- CSX RAC 201903 Nordco Rail Anchor Cart
Location/Time:
- CSX Grand Rapids Terminal Sub, Grand Rapids, MI, Kalamazoo Ave xing/Seymour, on 23Jul2020 from 09:16 to 13:58 EDT

Thanks for watching! Make sure to leave a like and subscribe, for more from the Thornapple River Rail Series! Your support keeps this channel rolling – don’t forget to leave your thoughts and questions in the comments below!

Videography Equipment:
- Primary: Sony FDR-AX53 4K Camcorder
- Aerial Platform: DJI Phantom 3 Advanced Drone
- Radio Scanner: Uniden Bearcat BC125AT
- Edited with: Cyberlink PowerDirector 16

Created by Alex Christmas. Copyright 2020, as the Thornapple River Rail Series, All Rights Reserved

[richardscott]

I’m an old man now. When I graduated from university my first job was to work for Frontier College. We were sent to remote work locations to teach labourers basic literacy skills; primarily reading and writing English.Of course there was no internet in those days. My posting was to a Steel Gang in Northern Alberta, working for the Northern Alberta Railroad. I worked during the day on the Steel Gang and in the evenings taught classes (mostly to immigrant workers). The most striking thing about this video is how mechanized the work is now. Virtually all the work was done manually ( I was a “Clawbar man”). It was the single most back breaking job I ever had. The living and working conditions were positively Dickensian. There were two showers for a gang of about 75 labourers, and we lived in converted box cars-8 men to a car. Truly the worst job I ever had. But these were some of the most memorable characters I’ve ever met.

[roberthenry]

This is one of the very few rail maintenance videos which has a human narrator explaining each step of what is being done. Cannot thank you enough.

[billmoran]

Maintenance of Way are the toughest jobs on the railroad. Even though mechanized now, it’s still hard, dirty sweaty backbreaking work. It takes fewer people than it used to, and more feet of rail can be replaced quickly, but the work is just as hard. As a railroader, I’ve always respected these guys.

[richardpeters]

Absolutely one of the most outstanding informational and educational railroad videos that I have ever seen . Well done!!!

[sleepyjay]

Very nice video! Like how the tires smoke @ 19:00 as they drive over the still hot weld.

[Korey]

I love it when someone gets deep into the specific technicalities that nobody else would understand

[GFSwinger]

13:30 Quarter of a million dollar track maintenance machine comes equipped with two $9.99 O'Cedar straw broom heads.

[googoo-gjoob]

serious business.... from a 7th generation RRer, i say 'Hats off to YOU, sir.'
im a retired 38 year MOW employee and i give you a 98.5 on this video.
very well done.

[dleland]

Thank you CSX for allowing us to look over your shoulder and learn how it's done. Bravo! This was a very informative video and I appreciate you for publishing it.

[dixondiaz]

It’s amazing how flexible the iron rails are.

[azjoe_]

I would have never guessed that the rails could wiggle like a snake. That explains how they make curves on railroad tracks. Amazing.

[FreihEitner]

From about 9:20 onward, it's amazing how flexible solid steel can be when you have the proper tools.

[bj]

Always wondered what all the different machine's purposes were! Your video was both interesting and easy to understand. Thanks!

[onemorething]

It's unbelievable they built railroads. It's even more unbelievable the tools they developed to repair said railroad.

[TheGuccibane]

I love how heavy machines make giant steel rails wiggle like noodles

[tarstarkusz]

It is truly amazing how flexible that steel is!

[BenWillKing]

I don't know how on earth you gathered all this detailed information, but this was absolutely fascinating and informative. Job well done, excellent video!

[ikkyuru]

As a high school kid back in 1963 and 1964, I became a dani dancer who worked on railroad putting in ribbon steel, back then we had a lot of spark mal action, I got very good in hammering the sparks down, outside spark called anchor.spike, we were working in MT and Wa state, but in 1964 Glacier Park got flooded out, so we spent a lot of time, putting in new track, pay was$2.89 per hour, great pay for a high school.kid, we had a sixty man crew, it was a great time be working!

[rileyeld]

I love the way this guy writes and narrates. It’s like something out of the 1950’s haha

[Legendary_Comfy_Fox]

Grand Rapids, MI. Yay someone here also likes trains!