Clearing the Way: Vegetation Management Vendor Spotlight

Railroaders will need to turn their attention toward clearing brush and vegetation during the upcoming spring and summer months.

Courtesy of Industry-Railway Suppliers

ATLANTA - From the February issue of Railway Track & Structures, one of the vendor spotlights focuses on vegetation management solutions.

Seemingly simple, clearing brush and other vegetation off the right-of-way is an oft-overlooked area of track maintenance. Of course, it appears to be a no-brainer. Trains need to be unimpeded by obstacles in order to make the necessary routes. With the growth of rail networks, keeping up with overgrown vegetation is not something a handful of crew members can do without the right equipment. This equipment encompasses just about anything from handheld tools to large excavators.  

While we happen to be in the middle of winter with snow covering quite a bit of the south and east United States, railroaders will begin to turn their attention to the spring and summer months when warmer temperatures will allow for trees and plants to begin growing and sprouting. Class Is, short lines, and passenger rail will need to keep up with this need for track maintenance. Two vendors, Industry-Railway Suppliers and RCE Equipment Solutions, offer such solutions. 

Industry-Railway Suppliers, founded in 1966, tells RT&S it “is the distribution representative of Supertrak machines, and a leading North America distributor of AREMA track tools, abrasives, heavy railroad equipment, work equipment wear parts and mechanical shop tools. Supertrak is a 30-year CAT-authorized OEM that specializes in upfitted machines with a small footprint and high performance. Supertrak builds custom equipment for a range of applications, including vegetation management, trenching, cable retrieval, monorail work tractors, and custom utility trucks. One standout product is the Supertrak SK170RR Hi-Rail Excavator. Built on a CAT313 hi-rail platform, this machine is powered by a 170-horsepower engine with a dedicated high-flow system and reversing fans for versatile functionality. It features four-wheel drive and brakes for better handling, and its compact size allows for transport without the need for special permits, making it ideal for land clearing and vegetation management in remote areas. The SK170RR also meets national railroad safety standards. When equipped with the hydraulic-powered Bull Hog mulcher, the SK170RR becomes an even more powerful tool. The mulcher clears trees and heavy brush along railways or prepares large areas for new track installation. Its low-maintenance design enhances tool durability, with options for knives or carbide teeth. The mulcher also offers a custom variable displacement motor and three rotor choices to suit different application needs.” 

RCE Equipment Solutions “is a provider for hi-rail and dedicated on-track construction equipment.  RCE will often upfit the full size RAILAVATOR with a rotating drum mulching mower providing 36” of cutting width.” The vendor tells RT&S that “the mulching mower makes quick work of moderate to heavy brush clearing while leaving behind finely processed material that provides ground cover.  Recently, RCE was asked by a Class I railroad to provide a mower solution on a smaller hi-rail excavator.  Due to its compact size and ease of mobility, the John Deere 50 P RAILAVATOR was chosen.  The 50 P features an RCE exclusive expandable undercarriage, providing the ability to straddle rail and offer exceptional stability while working over the side.  The Deere 50 P RAILAVATOR was fitted with a Deere ME36 mulching mower.  The ME36 functions similar to mulching heads found on full size excavators but are lightweight and are perfectly matched to the hydraulic output or the 50 P.  With 50 P’s enhanced over the side stability and ability to maneuver in tight areas, this small RAILAVATOR saves hours of hand work brush clearing near bridges, signal stands, embankments, and countless other hard to get places.  When the work is complete, the 50 P weighing in at just under 16,000lbs, can be loaded onto most any medium sized tag trailer and get brought to its next job.  The 50 P RAILAVATOR, along with many other units is available for sale and is also part of the RCE rental fleet.”