For all the trainspotters i havnt a clue what this is and it's strange!?

Question

I made a video of this at 4:50am when i was awoken by this real loud noise and lights, looked like a UFO! what the h**l is it and why did it come at night, this is the second time i've seen it in the night, last time was about a year ago!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWML3qO-6BM

Answer 1

That is a rail grinder.

In the US, grinding is usually done during daylight hours, with the night reserved for machine maintenance.  Water cars are either carried or follow behind with a work train to take care of tie (sleeper) fires.  The creosote soaked ties lite relatively easy due to hot slag.

They can be programmed in .001" increments.  The primary reason for grinding is that very small pits develop on the ball (top) of the rail, which in turn collect small amounts of water and when left untreated hasten the decline of the service life of the rail due to oxidation.

The two major rail grinding companies that railroads contract with are Spino and Loram (you can google for more detailed info).  Need to do some grinding?  Fine.  All it takes is around $25,000 per day...

Kind of a cool video, though...

Answer 2

I'm no expert, but it looked like an engineering works train; something that works on the rails whilst travelling along.

Could be wrong, often am.

Answer 3

it is also a movie quiet funny

Answer 4

definately 100% a rail grinder. how do i know i tell you how i know because i read all the other answers. ha! this answer just got me past the 400 points. champion. if i am lucky i might get another 10points ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Answer 5

Its impossible to see , it is to dark , sounds like a train , maybe a line maintenance , engine

Answer 6

Looks like a loram railgrinder...neat machine except when it's working right outside the signalbox windows.

Used for re-profiling the rail heads after they have become worn out of shape.

You'll notice after the railheads have been ground that trains using the line for the next few months make a different sound as they pass.

Did you see "The yellow peril"?

The Networkrail measurment train usually comes a couple of weeks before and after the railgrinders.

Signallers call it the yellow peril because after it's run down the line and checked for rail flaws theres lots of trackwork to be done(and dont you just know the track workers turn up in the middle of the night when you've just put your feet up!).

Answer 7

I can't make out anything! Maybe it's one of those line crack detector trains. In fact I agree wih the fact it's grinding the tack face for traction

Answer 8

this train 2 my knowledge is a rail maintanance train which is either welding new track 2gether or grinding/perfecting existing track as trains need a good surface 4 traction!

Answer 9

It's a LORAM C21, 7 Car Plain Line Rail Grinding Machine, Just like Adelle says.

They travel the lenght and bredth of the UK and are opperated by SERCO RAIL OPPERATIONS on behalf of NETWORK RAIL.

These machines re-profile the rail head and take/grind out all of the burrs, burns and hollows in the rail head that are caused by the passage of trains (general wear and tear basicly)

When in opperation they travel at 8mph and grind around 40 miles of track per shift.

They have to work at night because they travel so slowly that if they were used in the daytime they would cause major disruption to other train services.

Answer 10

I think it's a rail grinder. They are used at regular intervals to keep the top surface of the rail at the correct profile.

They operate in the early hours of the morning when there aren't any other trains running.