Stephen De Vight
Operator's Cab
The Herzog Rail Unloading Machine (RUM) is a new take on unloading continuous welded rail (CWR). In the past crews have chained the end of the rail to the existing track and moved the rail train forward to drag the rail onto the ground. This method is slow, dangerous, and gives the railroad crews little control over where the rail falls on the ground. The RUM solves all of these problems by using large hydraulic wheels to pull the rail off of the train and three control arms (per side!) to position the rail exactly where the operator wants it.
I had the opportunity to speak to a RUM operator last year when he was parked at East Winton waiting for his support crew to show up. Since this is a two sided operation he and another operator sit in the cab and can simultaneously lay rail on both sides of the tracks. This means it can lay 6-8 long sections of CWR per hour. In addition, because the RUM can propel rail off the train, the operator said he has been able to “shoot” rail under a grade crossing by forcing it through the subgrade material!
The RUM is a pretty sweet piece of machinery and I was happy to finally see one in operation. A big thanks goes out to the Herzog crews on site for this project (and for the project at Winton last June) they were incredibly friendly and more than willing to put up with a railfan for a few hours.
Operator's Cab
The Herzog Rail Unloading Machine (RUM) is a new take on unloading continuous welded rail (CWR). In the past crews have chained the end of the rail to the existing track and moved the rail train forward to drag the rail onto the ground. This method is slow, dangerous, and gives the railroad crews little control over where the rail falls on the ground. The RUM solves all of these problems by using large hydraulic wheels to pull the rail off of the train and three control arms (per side!) to position the rail exactly where the operator wants it.
I had the opportunity to speak to a RUM operator last year when he was parked at East Winton waiting for his support crew to show up. Since this is a two sided operation he and another operator sit in the cab and can simultaneously lay rail on both sides of the tracks. This means it can lay 6-8 long sections of CWR per hour. In addition, because the RUM can propel rail off the train, the operator said he has been able to “shoot” rail under a grade crossing by forcing it through the subgrade material!
The RUM is a pretty sweet piece of machinery and I was happy to finally see one in operation. A big thanks goes out to the Herzog crews on site for this project (and for the project at Winton last June) they were incredibly friendly and more than willing to put up with a railfan for a few hours.