Need advice... Railroad mowing tractor!

[PapaPerk]

Howdy all. Have an usual question for you all... Looking for some opinions.

My friend is in search of a tractor to mow and maintain a railroad right of way! Budget is around $10K. The tractor would be used along the tracks to knock down brush, etc with a bushog. As you know railway right aways can be a little burly.

My initial thoughts is a 4wd with loader running a 6' bush hog. I was thinking of something the size of a Kubota M5040. Sure would be a good application for industrial tires.

What are your thoughts? An older Deere or Ford maybe an excellent choice.

Any advice much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[flusher]

4WD, FEL, 6-ft hog, 50 hp tractor--for $10K? Look for used tractor like a 1980s vintage JD 2640 tractor (the "Field of Dreams" tractor). My neighbor has one with FEL but no 4WD that he bought for about $7K.

There are plenty of similar tractors in the 30-50 year old range that you might consider. But good luck in finding one with 4WD that fits your $10K budget.

My 1964 MF135 diesel (45 hp engine, 37 hp pto) would handle a 6-ft hog OK. But no 4WD, no FEL and standard gear shift tranny. Cost me $3600 with 4600 hours showing.

 

[dusty3030]

How many miles does he have to mow and how often?

This is wooly work. I'd skip the FEL. Use that money to have a forestry cage built on it and add some skid plates and foam the tires.

Does the 10,000 include the cutter? If so he needs to bite the bullet and buy a heavy duty one and that will burn up near half of the 10 just in the cutter.

 

[DHD]

How much railway right of way are they trying to maintain ?
How steep are the banks ?

 

[bcp]

On the tracks? Beside the tracks? Much sidehill?

Just some ideas:

Hedge cutter - Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki - The classic vehicle and machinery wiki

Mitchell Equipment - Rail Gear Product Details

Rail Trailers - JCB Fastrac Rail Conversion

Hy Rail Tractor Brush Cutter NEW - Listing # 1801 - Leading the industry in railroad equipment sales...

Bruce

 

[Dr_Zinj]

First image that popped into my mind was a gigantic cutter bar suitable for going through locomotives.

 

[pohorsky]

Howdy all. Have an usual question for you all... Looking for some opinions.

My friend is in search of a tractor to mow and maintain a railroad right of way! Budget is around $10K. The tractor would be used along the tracks to knock down brush, etc with a bushog. As you know railway right aways can be a little burly.

My initial thoughts is a 4wd with loader running a 6' bush hog. I was thinking of something the size of a Kubota M5040. Sure would be a good application for industrial tires.

What are your thoughts? An older Deere or Ford maybe an excellent choice.

Any advice much appreciated. Thanks!

I've seen some mowers on a backhoe or boom. Something that could be angled as need be. I don't see the need for a FEL, but it you had a bachhoe that would already be there.

 

[PapaPerk]

On the tracks? Beside the tracks? Much sidehill? Just some ideas: Hedge cutter - Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki - The classic vehicle and machinery wiki Mitchell Equipment - Rail Gear Product Details Rail Trailers - JCB Fastrac Rail Conversion Hy Rail Tractor Brush Cutter NEW - Listing # 1801 - Leading the industry in railroad equipment sales... Bruce

Beside the tracks. Right of way mowing. So ditches and hills.

 

[whis]

he ain't gonna get what he needs for 10k

 

[Cub 7274]

I would not want that job

 

[dave1949]

Sounds like a real equipment beater to me. A lot depends on the area and how well graded and groomed the ROW is. Wet areas, rocks, etc. would ruin your friends day.

Are there utility poles to mow around? Used to always be utility lines running along the RR, not so much anymore I think.

 

[MossRoad]

Are these live tracks or old abandoned tracks? Just curious.

 

[beckmurph]

How bout a good sprayer and a large amount of RoundUp?
:shocked:

 

[2458n]

County where my farm is uses a 60,000 dollar set -up for their ditch bank mower. Soil and water conservation uses it. All tax dollars on your real estate taxes. They just sold a Cat 320 excavator used for 65,000. This is the type money you are talking.

 

[jenkinsph]

County where my farm is uses a 60,000 dollar set -up for their ditch bank mower. Soil and water conservation uses it. All tax dollars on your real estate taxes. They just sold a Cat 320 excavator used for 65,000. This is the type money you are talking.

Plus insurance almost the same as his tractor budget per year.

 

[engine29]

I agree, 10,000 isn't going to get much of anything that he really needs.

 

[PapaPerk]

County where my farm is uses a 60,000 dollar set -up for their ditch bank mower. Soil and water conservation uses it. All tax dollars on your real estate taxes. They just sold a Cat 320 excavator used for 65,000. This is the type money you are talking.

This is for hobby use... Not professional.

 

[Sysop]

Expensive hobby. About the only thing I can think of in a $10k budget that will be safe would be an army of weedwackers.

I've seen some mowers on a backhoe or boom. Something that could be angled as need be. I don't see the need for a FEL, but it you had a bachhoe that would already be there.

They are called Boom Mowers and they resemble a backhoe but are made quite different; and a small one like a BushHog RMB1445 is going to be more than the budget allows. They cost about $14k new. and you still need a 5000# tractor with about 40HP to run it.

 

[PapaPerk]

Guys I need to reign you in some. Lol!! I'm not talking about an exotic mowing tractor with boom pole and rail road wheels.

I'm seeking any advice on tractors similar to the one I have posted a pic of. This tractor with abush hog would be real nice.