Track Removal

Iron  Horse is almost entirely funded from residual proceeds on our track  removal operations. We are experts at track removal. Our personnel have  removed well over 100 miles of track along all varieties of railroad  corridors and environmental conditions. You are assured to be working  with a professional, competent, and experienced organization that will  lead to success in your project. Read on for more details on our track  removal process.
 

Spikes and tie plates have been removed from track. Water Truck  standing by for torching operations to begin on the bolts that connect  all the rails together.

The Nordco Superclaw, it quickly and efficiently pulls spikes allowing the railroad track to be moved for cutting.

We have various ways to remove spikes and bolts. We select the appropriate methods for the site and materials. Ten to twenty thousand spikes are used per mile of track! Spike removal is the most important step in the track dismantling process. Our goals are safety, productivity, and maximizing any reuse purposes for the track materials. All spikes are also removed from scrap ties so the scrap ties may be ground and used in biomass power plants. IHPS has two hydraulic spike pulling machines to assist in the spike pulling effort.

The rail is now ready to have the connecting steel bars removed. The bars are removed and all steel is picked up from the right of way leaving the ties clean and ready for removal. Rail and other steel is sorted and stacked or packaged for shipment.

 Pictured: Torching fasteners at a switch turnout. Firewatch stands-by with “water buffalo” to assure safe operations.