TRRS 547: Railroad Rail Replacement

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN - 23 Jul 2020 Just like any other kind of infrastructure, railroad track is ultimately an expendable resource, requiring periodic reconstruction or rehabilitation to remain in top operational form. While the large steel rails of today’s railroads are hardy and can last for decades, over time they are surface worn by passing trains, and are subjected to stress and strain which precipitates in the formation of metal fatigue and internal cracking. While rail grinding does extend the life of the rail, eventually it becomes more cost effective to swap it out for new steel. Special thanks to this crew for graciously allowing me to film their work and be good sports about it. It isn’t always easy working in front of an unknown camera lens, but I think this process is so neat and worth sharing with others. I hope that after watching this video you have also come to appreciate the process and honest work these guys do to keep trains rolling. CSX Curve Rail Gang at