View Post

Don’t Let Harsh Winter Conditions Derail Your Trains

In Ice Free Switch®, Ice Slicer®, Rail, Rail & Mass Transit, Rail Lubrication, Railroads, Zero Gravity Third Rail® by Bob Vitale

Even with today’s advances in technology, severe winter weather continues to exert huge pressure on derailment prevention. Winter months see operations costs explode as railways fight snow and ice buildup, cold temperatures, significant delays, breakdown of equipment and increased manhours.  But by far the worst, and most expensive, cost of winter weather are accidents, with the accompanying losses in injuries, …

View Post

What is Winter Costing Your Railroad?

In Anti-Icing Deicing, Rail, Rail & Mass Transit, Railroads, Zero Gravity Third Rail® by Bob Vitale

Larger railroads have a fairly sound idea of the financial impact that severe winter weather can have on their railway maintenance costs. And so they prepare well in advance. But for many short lines, the costs to properly prepare are intimidating. And so they wait, until they can’t wait any longer.  But is putting off the expense the best approach …

View Post

NASA’s Approach to Third Rail Deicing

In Anti-Icing Deicing, Railroads, Zero Gravity Third Rail® by Bob Vitale

Your current approach to third rail deicing doesn’t work as well as NASA’s. Here’s why.  In 2019, Chicago’s Metra commuter rail system gained notoriety for appearing to set their railway tracks on fire. Of course, the tracks weren’t literally set on fire. But the video footage caused quite a stir. That January, temperatures hit a shocking 50 below, with windchill. To …