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I had the rare opportunity to closely observe one of the most unusual rail maintenance devices when it was parked near South Hamilton Crossing in Hamilton, Ohio in July 2014.

As rail cars and locomotives pass over the tops of steel rail, pits, divots, and other deformities may occur on the rail surface or inside the rail profile. These imperfections lead to shorter rail life, and in extreme situations may even cause derailments. A rail grinder is a complex machine whose function is to smooth and grind the rail tops and edges to their original profile.

The Loram equipment seen here is double-ended to avoid the need for turning. The custom-built cars include the grinding machines themselves, and fuel storage tanks. When operating, the machinery passes slowly over the rails, heating and grinding away the imperfections to restore the rail to good condition.

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A video of a Loram train in operation may be viewed here.



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