Specialized Equipment, Loram, Sperry, etc

I believe Rail grinding has two companies that specialize in this service...

Loram and Speco.[sp?] and are contracted out by the RR's. I think there is too much Liability and risk for Rail grinding for the rr's to do it themselves.

Sperry does do Track metal analysis with mobile track geometry cars as well as the Big RR's themselves do it too.

Hulcher and some other co's do Clean up of RR wrecks.

 but track replacement is usually done in house by the RR maintenance department.

So that massive mechanized track laying or track service equipment is generally owned by the using RR? It looks almost ridiculously costly, and I really imagined it was contracted in to upgrade track as needed.

So that massive mechanized track laying or track service equipment is generally owned by the using RR? It looks almost ridiculously costly, 

 

From a short sighted perspective maybe but don't forget how many Miles of Mainline and Secondary lines have to be maintained. HOw much of the main line is double and/or even triple tracked to begin with. Don't forget that any curves tend to wear out on the inner side of the outer rail and either are switched/replaced on each main line. The "bean counters" have those crews constantly working just like it takes 360 days to paint the George Washington Bridge... then they have to restart all over again the next year!

I'm not questioning it's value to the RR...maintenance is an ongoing need obviously. I had imagined the track machinery was contracted and I was curious about the costs involved.