A heavy maintenance-of-way vehicle equipped with rotating abrasive wheels that grind the top surface of the rails. It removes microscopic cracks, corrugations, and rust, restoring the precise engineered profile of the rail head. Regular grinding extends the lifespan of the steel and reduces the risk of derailments caused by surface fatigue.
Heard on the job
Dispatch says the rail grinder is working the north track, so we've a slow order through the curve.