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