Rail Grinding

Clinician: Jeff Paston

Room: Room 2
Fri, 8:00 pm -
9:00 pm

My presentation regards one of the concerns railroads have in track maintenance. Back when I edited the NER Coupler, I ran an article about how one prototype rail grinding train could be made in HO. My presentation deals with the companies and equipment that keep rails in top shape through the use of rail grinding. The HO model of such a train would be best as a track cleaning tool. The prototype actually grinds the rail top to a specific shape ensuring that locomotive and car wheels make appropriate contact and ensures extended life of the rail itself. It is indeed a subject rarely addressed in the model world, but nonetheless important for proper track maintenance. I will discuss a few of the companies that do this work, the trains they utilize, and a brief history of this work.