Loram Rail Grinder to model

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Hi, fellow modelers! This hobby is truly awesome and provides rewarding hours of running trains and working models. What I want to know is this, is it possible to have a built replica of the operating Loram Rail Grinder (machine for shaping railroad tracks) on your layout?? This is an interesting piece of equipment, with several track cars that carry out this function? It would be fun to watch it be simulated on the layout.

2

I’d guess that anything is possible, but it’s not a project that I’d even attempt.

Here are some photos…

3

There are different versions of them depending on the era. They are normally HEAVILY weathered from all the grinding stone and steel dust/filings. They typically operate over a stretch for 3-6 hours over a 25-100 mile stretch of track in a “window”. No other trains operate on that piece track in that period, except the grinder. In the summer months there will be a section gang or track inspector patrol behind them to put out any fires started by the grinder. In every town they pass through, anticipate at least one call to the police/fire department/railroad with a report of a “train on fire”.

4

Pandrol Jackson Rail Grinder - Southbound Elkorn Rd. - Vincennes, Indiana - Fall of 1990 (Image No. 3) by Historic Railroad Images of the Vincennes Area, on Flickr

Regards, Ed

5

That lends itself to 3D print if one can get scale drawings.

shane

6

I distinctly remember… or think I do… someone’s project to make a rail-grinding train complete with flickering lights for the grinding and pumped smoke effect. I think this was before the ‘sound’ era, but reproducing the noises would be easy to do (via the Rapido method if necessary).

Seems to me that the manufacturers of model track equipment, some examples of which are large and complex, might be interested in making at least a compressed version of a rail grinding train…