Rails side & Track Maintence

[Timber]

I'm getting ready to do some maintenance clearing on my rail side through our industrial park. I have ground level access in & out of my warehouse but not at my compound. I also brought several implements with for the job at hand. My trailers are equipped with 5000 lb rail gates & had no problem lifting my B7800 into the trailer. It was nice to be able to transport everything all at once. I needed my Brush cutter, Man lift, Box Blade, & 72" rake.

 

[Timber]

I have quite a bit of work to do, I spent $4000 on the initial clearing of the line into my new facility. I still have several trees to take down and lots of liming to do. It is suppose to be clear 15' from the center of the rail to each side up to 17' high.

 

[Timber]

This is my 1st time running through this so their is some hidden obstructions such as large stones & stumps cut too high. Mostly vegetation though, as I go through it I can remove what I can so it will be easier the next time

 

[Timber]

I do have a bit of work left to do but here is some of the progress pictures so far

 

[kebo]

Interesting project. Approximately how many feet of rail are you having to maintain? I guess the spur runs out to a switch on a mainline?? Just curious, but what kind of material or products will the rail cars be transporting from/to your facility?

 

[jimmysisson]

And how are you limbing up 17'? I'd think there'd be lots of ballast to run the mower into - do you keep it high?
Jim

 

[Timber]

Interesting project. Approximately how many feet of rail are you having to maintain? I guess the spur runs out to a switch on a mainline?? Just curious, but what kind of material or products will the rail cars be transporting from/to your facility?

I inbound rolls of paper from the Midwest & Canada.I'm sure it is over 1000 feet to the next spur that is my sole responsibility but is a good 1/2 mile out to the main line with shared responsibility. Unfortunately the current arrangement has me responsible to the next switch up. Their are 3 of us the will be maintaining the line after the 1st of the year. We have 2 deadbeats that are closer to the main line so they tend to resist any of the shared expenses. I have spent almost 25 grand on this line so far this year replacing ties & putting in a new switch so I can double switch my cars near my building.

 

[Timber]

And how are you limbing up 17'? I'd think there'd be lots of ballast to run the mower into - do you keep it high?
Jim

Hi Jim,
I have a man basket that I use with a set of forks on the loader. I also have a 10' gas powered poll saw for liming off the branches that overhang the tracks. I will be cutting back several trees also that are to close to the rail. The man basket on the tractor is a perfect combination to trim through the wood along the track. Much of the lower brush I do back over with the cutter high and lower it down onto it. What ever it takes to get the job done.

 

[TripleR]

Did you build the man basket or buy it? I plan on something like that. If I can't buy one, I will have my sons build one. For really high work, we rent a cherry picker, but for many applications, what you have would be just the ticket.

 

[savageactor7]

I really like that man basket...gives me some ideas on the bi-yearly pole saw topping of all our cedar trees easier. :thumbsup:

 

[rd_macgregor]

I wondered if a tree shear would be a good tool for that job. I have overhanging branches on woods trails and along fencelines that I would like to trim back, but with just me doing the job, it is really laborious to do.
There are several manufacturers, but the WorkSaver is on a rotating pole, so it would have more reach for overhead work.
Worksaver Tree Shear

The rail spur is a lot of work initially, but shouldn't be as big a hassle in the long run...mostly just periodic mowing. The rail folks ought to be pleased with how good a job you've done.

BOB

 

[Timber]

I am pretty sure I got it at Grainger's. It was not very expensive if I remember but I'm not sure it was a few years ago. Their are several models. The B7800 is a very easy tractor to climb through the loader into the basket. The loader frame is kind of and exoskeleton around the engine compartment. The grapple actually fits inside the basket and holds the tray against the fork backstop.

 

[Timber]

I wondered if a tree shear would be a good tool for that job. I have overhanging branches on woods trails and along fencelines that I would like to trim back, but with just me doing the job, it is really laborious to do.
There are several manufacturers, but the WorkSaver is on a rotating pole, so it would have more reach for overhead work.
Worksaver Tree Shear

The rail spur is a lot of work initially, but shouldn't be as big a hassle in the long run...mostly just periodic mowing. The rail folks ought to be pleased with how good a job you've done.

BOB

That is a nice attachment Bob but you are correct. Once the initial clearing is complete it will be much easier to maintain. I did hire a crew to open the line through when I moved the warehouse. As you could imagine I had more on my plate to deal with at time so it was just easier to get my service up and running. Now that I have settled in and have a little room to work I am going through & finishing the job & removing everything that will interfere with cutting on a regular basis

 

[Timber]

We are actually having a meeting this afternoon with all the business that use the rail in the park. Our Train Master will be there as well as someone from the property management. Their is only 5 business that use rail in the park. Last winter we had a major breakdown in service because of 12 inches of snow every Wednesday 5 weeks in a row. It created a massive build up of snow in a short period of time & crippled our infrastructure. The good thing that came out of it is this year we are assembled & organized.

 

[Timber]

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJXjY1U6Q9g&feature=youtube_gdata_player


Still working on rail side maintence

I spent another weekend cutting back trees and limbs along the rail side before the snow comes.

 

[jake98]

That's the kind of thing that would be fun, if you didn't have to worry about making a living, huh?

 

[slofr8]

Timber, as a railroad employee since 1990 I can't tell you how good this is to see. Until a buy out in June of this year, I'd seen nothing but a steady decline in our rail lines to the point of being unprofitable to the customers and dangerous to the rail workers. We would have to shove rail cars to customers, at night, with tree branches scraping the side of our equipment. You had to know which side of the car to ride and when to switch to the other side with only a lantern for light. Many industries had shut their lights off or quit repairing them when they burnt out due to cut backs.
Except for gauge issues that can't be seen from pictures, that rail looks to be in decent shape.
We've been bought up and things are getting upgraded here. For the first time in many many years I'm working for a railroad that thinks long term.
Any way, I hope this works out for you. Good job!
Dan.

 

[Timber]

Thank you Dan for your post. I have been a rail customer for the last 7 years myself in New England. The last 4 years my rail side was close to the main line with very little vegetation. This past summer I moved deeper into the park and reopened an overgrown line. I spent over 4 grand cutting the ground vegetation but had to handel the tree work myself. I work pretty close with my train master & road master. CSX is my local line & my relationship with the rail road fantastic by 10 compared to 7 years ago. As I stated earlier in the thread the rail users in this park have become organized & CSX has been part of that. We have invested about 80 grand into this rail within the park this year alone.

I walk the line a lot checking cage, greasing the high side of the curve, keeping the ties clear of leaves & stone. We have a switch point that is bad and another one that needs dressing. Their seems to be an endless amount of ties that need replacing & there is no shortage of broken gage rods. That all said the track in the park is in pretty good shape. It never ceases to amaze me what people take for granted. It is a lot cheaper to repair the gage before a derail than after one but the some people just don't get it.

 

[Rail Dawg]

Having walked railroad tracks for literally thousands of miles over the years it's great to see someone working hard to bring rail back to life.

Keep up the good work Timber.

 

[davygp38]

I agree, it is nice to see a customer keep his siding in good repair. Once you cut back the initial growth you will be good to go. Don't forget to get to know your switching crew. If you get to know the regular Conductor, and engineer, they will work with you.