Work train

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Work train

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← Previous revision Revision as of 14:47, 22 April 2026
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[[File:AZVI C 330 S MATISA (26147220602).jpg|thumb|300px|A maintenance of way train in Spain, in 2016.]]
[[File:AZVI C 330 S MATISA (26147220602).jpg|thumb|300px|A maintenance of way train in Spain, in 2016.]]


A '''work train''' ('''departmental train''' or '''engineering train/vehicles''' in the UK) is one or more rail cars intended for internal non-revenue use by the railroad's operator. Work trains serve functions such as [[Rail tracks#Maintenance|track maintenance]], [[maintenance of way]], revenue collection, system cleanup and waste removal, heavy duty hauling, and crew member transport.
A '''work train''' ('''departmental train''' or '''engineering train/vehicles''' in the UK) is one or more rail cars intended for internal non-revenue use by the railroad's operator. Work trains serve functions such as [[Rail tracks#Maintenance|track maintenance]], [[maintenance of way]], revenue collection, system cleanup and waste removal, heavy duty hauling, and crew member transport.


== Types of equipment ==
== Types of equipment ==
{{train topics}}
{{train topics}}
===Track inspection===
===Track inspection===
A number of railroad vehicles are used in the inspection of railroad tracks and infrastructure to identify flaws and areas in need of routine maintenance.
Several railroad vehicles are used to inspect tracks and infrastructure, identifying flaws and areas that need routine maintenance.
* [[Rail inspection|Rail inspection cars]] and [[Sperry Rail Service|Sperry]] rail cars - Inspects tracks for flaws and defects.
* [[Rail inspection|Rail inspection cars]] and [[Sperry Rail Service|Sperry]] rail cars - Inspects tracks for flaws and defects.
* Rail bridge inspection - Rail vehicles that have specialized equipment, such as [[Aerial work platform]]s to enable access the bridge.
* Rail bridge inspection - Rail vehicles that have specialized equipment, such as [[Aerial work platform]]s to enable access to the bridge.
* [[Dynamometer car]]s - Rail car that measure locomotive performance, such as traction effort, speed, etc.
* [[Dynamometer car]]s - Rail car that measures locomotive performance, such as traction effort, speed, etc.
* [[Track geometry car]]s - Rail car that collects information on [[Track geometry|track properties]], such as [[Cant (road and rail)|banking of curves]], [[Grade_(slope)#Railways|grade]], etc.
* [[Track geometry car]]s - Rail car that collects information on [[Track geometry|track properties]], such as [[Cant (road and rail)|banking of curves]], [[Grade_(slope)#Railways|grade]], etc.
* [[Scale test car]]s - Rail car that is built to be an exact weight, used to test railroad car scales for accuracy.
* [[Scale test car]]s - Rail car that is built to be an exact weight, used to test railroad car scales for accuracy.
* [[hi-rail]] trucks/SUVs - Road vehicles that are able to also be driven onto train tracks.
* [[hi-rail]] trucks/SUVs - Road vehicles that can also be driven onto train tracks.


===Track maintenance and renewal===
===Track maintenance and renewal===
Track maintenance and renewal trains often consist of many pieces of separate equipment that are capable of servicing specific track components.
Track maintenance and renewal trains often consist of many separate pieces of equipment, each capable of servicing specific track components.
* [[Ballast regulator]]s - Distributes [[Track ballast|ballast]] to a desired shape and position.
* [[Ballast regulator]]s - Distributes [[Track ballast|ballast]] to a desired shape and position.
* [[Tamping machine|Ballast tamper]]s - [[Tamp]]s or levels and compacts ballast to make the trackbed more secure.
* [[Tamping machine|Ballast tamper]]s - [[Tamp]]s or levels and compacts ballast to make the trackbed more secure.
* [[Ballast cleaner]]s - Collects and cleans ballast to prolong its life and improve drainage by removing debris.
* [[Ballast cleaner]]s - Collects and cleans ballast to prolong its life and improve drainage by removing debris.
* [[Crane (railroad)|Cranes]] - Rail mounted cranes.
* [[Crane (railroad)|Cranes]] - Rail mounted cranes.
* Ballast hopper - A specialized hopper car that is designed to spread ballast between rails and to the sides of rails, and the ability control ballast flow.
* Ballast hopper - A specialized hopper car that is designed to spread ballast between rails and to the sides of rails, and to control ballast flow.
* [[Rail grinder]]s - Uses grinding wheels to restore rails back to a [[Rail profile|ideal shape]], extending life time of the rail.
* [[Rail grinder]]s - Uses grinding wheels to restore rails to a [[Rail profile|ideal shape]], extending the lifetime of the rail.
* [[Spreader (railroad)|Spreader]]s - Rail based plow that is used to move ballast and create ditches beside train tracks.
* [[Spreader (railroad)|Spreader]]s - Rail-based plow that is used to move ballast and create ditches beside train tracks.
* [[Gondola_(rail)#Track_ballast_gondolas|Side dump car]]s - Rail car that was built so that it can dump its load, often ballast, to the side, at any location.
* [[Gondola_(rail)#Track_ballast_gondolas|Side dump car]]s - Rail car that was built so that it can dump its load, often ballast, to the side, at any location.
* [[Spike puller]] - Pulls out [[Rail_fastening_system#Rail_spikes|spikes]] from railroad ties.
* [[Spike puller]] - Pulls out [[Rail_fastening_system#Rail_spikes|spikes]] from railroad ties.
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===Snow removal===
===Snow removal===
Trains are susceptible to issues related [[Slippery rail|low rail traction]] as well as being immobilized by significant snowfalls.
Trains are susceptible to issues related to [[Slippery rail|low rail traction]] as well as being immobilized by significant snowfalls.
* [[Wedge plow]]s - A simple V-shaped plow, pushed by one or more locomotives.
* [[Wedge plow]]s - A simple V-shaped plow, pushed by one or more locomotives.
* [[Flanger (railroad)|Flanger]] - A rail car that removes snow and ice from between rails.
* [[Flanger (railroad)|Flanger]] - A railcar that removes snow and ice from between rails.
* Spreaders - Spreaders can also be used for snow removal, offering more control over where the snow can be directed.
* Spreaders - Spreaders can also be used for snow removal, offering more control over where the snow can be directed.
* [[Snow blower]] - A machine that uses augers or impellers to throw the snow clear of tracks.
* [[Snow blower]] - A machine that uses augers or impellers to throw the snow clear of tracks.
* [[Rotary snowplow]]s - A type of snow blower, that uses a massive rotating blades to cut through and throw snow clear of tracks.
* [[Rotary snowplow]]s - A type of snow blower that uses massive rotating blades to cut through and throw snow clear of tracks.
* De-icer cars - Rail cars that use chemicals or heat to melt snow and ice on tracks.
* De-icer cars - Rail cars that use chemicals or heat to melt snow and ice on tracks.
* [[Rail adhesion car]]s - Rail cars that are used to address areas of low rail traction.
* [[Rail adhesion car]]s - Rail cars that are used to address areas of low rail traction.


===Vegetation control===
===Vegetation control===
The uncontrolled growth of weeds and other vegetation along railroad right-of-ways can cause significant issues with drainage, obstruct worker access and become a nuisance to adjacent property owners.
The uncontrolled growth of weeds and other vegetation along railroad right-of-ways can cause significant drainage issues, obstruct worker access, and become a nuisance to adjacent property owners.
* Weed spraying trains - Trains that deploy [[weed killer]] in order to control the growth of weeds on railroad tracks and ditches along tracks.
* Weed spraying trains - Trains that deploy [[weed killer]] to control the growth of weeds on railroad tracks and ditches along tracks.
* Bush cutters - Used to cut weeds and other vegetation from railroad tracks and ditches along tracks, using blades or saws.
* Bush cutters - Used to cut weeds and other vegetation from railroad tracks and ditches along tracks, using blades or saws.


===Other railroad cars===
===Other railroad cars===
[[File:East_Side_Access_Update-_March_30,_2015_(16391385093).jpg|thumb|300px|A [[Loader (equipment)|front-end loader]] on a [[Metro-North Railroad|Metro-North Railroad (MNCW)]] flatcar for the East Side Access project.]]
[[File:East_Side_Access_Update-_March_30,_2015_(16391385093).jpg|thumb|300px|A [[Loader (equipment)|front-end loader]] on a [[Metro-North Railroad|Metro-North Railroad (MNCW)]] flatcar for the East Side Access project.]]
In addition to specialized equipment above, most railroad have allocated regular rail cars and locomotives to railroad maintenance duties. This is often older equipment that has either reached the age limit that prohibits it from [[Interchange (freight rail)|interchange]] with other railroad, and is required to stay on the railroad that owns it, or equipment that has been rendered obsolete by newer, often higher capacity versions: [[Tank car|tank cars]], [[Flatcar|flatcars]], [[hopper car|hoppers]], [[Gondola (rail)|gondola]], [[boxcar|boxcars]] as well as [[locomotive|locomotives]].
In addition to specialized equipment above, most railroads have allocated regular rail cars and locomotives to railroad maintenance duties. This is often older equipment that has either reached the age limit that prohibits it from [[Interchange (freight rail)|interchange]] with other railroad, and is required to stay on the railroad that owns it, or equipment that has been rendered obsolete by newer, often higher capacity versions: [[Tank car|tank cars]], [[Flatcar|flatcars]], [[hopper car|hoppers]], [[Gondola (rail)|gondola]], [[boxcar|boxcars]] as well as [[locomotive|locomotives]].


Railroads have historical kept rail mounted cranes of various sizes, to assist with maintenance work, major construction projects as well as respond to derailments and natural disasters. These have in large part been displaced by a mixture of road biased [[mobile crane]]s and [[Pipelayer (vehicle)|sideboom bulldozers]].
Railroads have historically kept rail-mounted cranes of various sizes to assist with maintenance work and major construction projects, and to respond to derailments and natural disasters. These have in large part been displaced by a mixture of road-biased [[mobile crane]]s and [[Pipelayer (vehicle)|sideboom bulldozers]].


Beyond typical railroad cars, [[hi-rail]] technology has allowed railroads to put conventional heavy equipment such as [[excavator]]s, mobile cranes, [[Aerial work platform|bucket truck]]s, [[Concrete_mixer#Trucks_and_trailers|concrete mixers]], etc, right onto the tracks.
Beyond typical railroad cars, [[hi-rail]] technology has allowed railroads to put conventional heavy equipment such as [[excavator]]s, mobile cranes, [[Aerial work platform|bucket truck]]s, [[Concrete_mixer#Trucks_and_trailers|concrete mixers]], etc, right onto the tracks.


===Subways and metros===
===Subways and metros===
In addition to variety of equipment above, subways often have specialized equipment intended to address unique issues within subway systems, such as the difficulty in removing trash from underground stations.
In addition to the equipment listed above, subways often have specialized equipment designed to address unique issues within subway systems, such as the difficulty of removing trash from underground stations.
* Trash collection trains - Trains that visit stations to remove trash.
* Trash collection trains - Trains that visit stations to remove trash.
* [[Money train|Revenue collection cars]] - Trains that visit stations to collect money collected from turnstiles and ticket sales.
* [[Money train|Revenue collection cars]] - Trains that visit stations to collect money collected from turnstiles and ticket sales.
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* Flood cleanup cars (reach cars, pump cars, hose cars) - Trains deployed to remove water following tunnel flooding.
* Flood cleanup cars (reach cars, pump cars, hose cars) - Trains deployed to remove water following tunnel flooding.


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
WMATA PM35 at Eisenhower Avenue.jpg|A [[Washington Metro]] work car in [[Virginia]] providing support for a track maintenance operation
WMATA PM35 at Eisenhower Avenue.jpg|A [[Washington Metro]] work car in [[Virginia]] providing support for a track maintenance operation
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