COLD

heavy coat, hat, and gloves. Fortunately, the railway supply industry o ers some solutions for making the task of winter maintenance a bit easier.

For example, Pettibone told RT&S that its Speed Swing is thought by many to be the original, do-it-all rail crane for various maintenance-of-way and rail service tasks. is machine can have dozens of diverse attachments, including options to clear snow from railways and surrounding areas.

The Speed Swing is highly versatile and quickly transitions between jobs, traveling at 25 mph on hi-rail and 20 mph with all-terrain rubber tires. The tires also afford greater maneuverability off the rails, simplifying many winter maintenance tasks.

A standard Speed Swing unit can be equipped with snow blowers and adjustable V-plows for heavy-duty snow removal. In addition, a sweeper-broom attachment can brush the snow o switches. e use of cold-weather uids is another smart measure for winter preparedness. Less viscous gear oil and hydraulic uids will perform better in cold temperatures. Customers can specify cold-weather packages for their Speed Swing when built at the factory. Alternatively, maintenance techs should change uids when servicing before winter.

Pettibone’s Speed Swing 445F is thought by many to be the original “do it all” rail crane.

A specialized track-cleaning attachment – a large bucket designed for travel right on the rails – can also be employed in snow removal. is bucket cleans the snow o the tracks via built-in notches that slide over each rail as the bucket advances.

Pettibone o ers diesel heating systems for the Speed Swing for operation in colder northern climates. e operator can program the system to start the engine at a speci c time before work begins. is ensures the machine is ready to go – with the engine, hydraulics, and inside of the cab all properly heated – without needlessly idling overnight and burning costly fuel.

Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company, points out to RT&S that winter operations require planning and positioning resources and assets and ensuring those assets are ready for the cold winter months by keeping them maintained and in topnotch condition. Progress Rail has a range of products to help customers remain productive during winter.

The company’s Kershaw® Model 60 is a multi-purpose machine platform that can be used as a heavy-duty snow fighter. It has benching snow wings, a high-output snow auger, and a highspeed V plow or four-season plow with flanges. In warmer months, the Model 60 can be transformed into a ballast regulator or brush cutter to tackle a full range of maintenance-of-way jobs.

As Progress Rail looks ahead to 2023, they anticipate customers will continue to demand more value for their money and increased productivity and reliability. And the company continues to develop new products. For example, Progress Rail developed and delivered the first of their new high-output snow fighters. This machine sports a 415 HP Cat® C9.3B diesel engine coupled to upgraded drive train components, including a new power-shift transmission and variable displacement traction pump and motor. The machine also incorporates all new heavy-duty axles and can transmit 30% more tractive effort than previous models. The machine can deal with the most severe winter climatic conditions and is equipped to keep operators comfortable and safe in the harshest conditions. ermon told RT&S that the Hell re 905 gas- red hot air switch heater is the industry’s most powerful and reliable heater intended for locations with high wind and snowfall, such as in the mid-west and other harsh winter regions of the US and Canada. e improved performance eliminates the need for switch covers in some applications, as seen in the photo of an installation in the Rocky Mountains. e ve hp 3600 rpm motor, aerodynamic impeller, and inlet cone increase air ow by 50% to 3000 standard cubic feet per minute while maintaining the quiet operation of 62 decibels at 25 feet. e design provides burner e ciency of 95%, which is veried by testing emissions before shipment. Additionally, openings added to the burner pro le plate allow bypass air ow to maintain the ideal air velocity across the burner without compromising e ciency, ame signal strength, or reliability. e exhaust ange, gas supply pressure, burner, and many control components, are downward compatible with existing Hell re 900 or Mark 6 systems. e Variable Frequency Drive option allows the 905 to be installed in locations that otherwise can’t handle the in-rush current of the direct startup.

Thermon provides freight and transit railways throughout North America with a portfolio of products purpose-built to ensure wayside equipment functions as intended in even the harshest winter conditions. Products include Fastrax and SwitchBlade electric heating elements and controllers, Hellfire gas and electric hot air blowers for track switches, heated covers to keep hot box detectors functional, and crib and platform heaters for a variety of applications.

When con gured with Hell re track duct systems, increased air ow provides greater point nozzle and track duct vent exit velocities and uniform heat distribution over the switch from toe to heel.