For all of you who may think that they just took brush cutters/hogs off a Bobcat or another piece of equipment and mounted them to a excavator arm are partially right, they are brush cutters/hogs but they were specially built for that specific application, they are made to slide back and forth on the end of the arm along with being able to rotate 360*
Ran an on track brush cutter back in 99 when i first started on cp in upstate ny.did not work very well as one of the arms would just take off on its own.by the time the job ended in dec. It had to back to canada it was pretty much destroyed...good times!
Progress is a great thing except when it takes jobs. I came from a Norfolk and Western Railroad family, my grandpa, dad, brother-in-law, two brothers and myself; although I did not work every long for the company. I did a 1969 summer program in my junior senior high school years, three months after graduation in 1970 and again for four month in 1974 after four years of military service. In 1970 after graduation I started full time with the N&W and for the first three months a crew of seven men including the Assistant Foreman and Foreman cut right away. That was a lot of hard work cutting the right away on the mountain side climbing up and down, but it was a job that had to be done and with a good crew of men you could get a lot cut in no time. Since all my family members retired there’s only two to three men are working, a Foreman and his helper or two to cover the Pocahontas Division from Panther to Bluefield, West Virginia and they stay in a truck until needs. So like I said at the being progress is great until it takes jobs which are far and few in southern West Virginia. Just had to put my two cents in.
Interesting machine... Although any arborist standards are thrown out the window there. Luckily for the railroads, they don't have to follow the same guidelines as power companies in the clearance of their right of ways.
I recognize the area... Rte. 20 near the underpass. We used to put pennies on the N & S rails when we were kids... between Depot St. Ext. and the Fiddle.
That’s just an industrial shredder attached to a hydraulic arm 😂 would love a 7.5 inch gauge version for yard work even though I’ll probably end up losing most of my toes by the time I finish.
They look like small excavator with Flail mower heads, their definitely not Mulcher heads as I can tell by the sound, not exactly great operators but. Probably could do with some training from people who use excavators with these type of attachments.
@@LastExile1989 Being part of such operations, I know it had to be two operators. Still, hunting single, tiny, branches looked like newbies testing the equipment.. Fine video showing great equipment.
I used to work for Wabtec/Nordco, they make track maintenance equipment including brush cutters. Typically on these kinds of machines, the cutting heads are interchangeable so different types can be used. The circular types you refer to work well, but tend to throw debris great distances, including the cutting teeth, which are replaceable. So they aren’t good for all applications. I’ve heard stories of lineside Telegraph poles getting accidentally cut down, so they are very unforgivable as well. Finally, the circular types really shred things up, which leaves an ugly, splintered scene behind leading to complaints from neighbors.
An extremely interesting machine! Cool that it has arms on both sides! Great footage! Don’t think I’ve seen this ever on film before!
Thanks. It is neat!
Good video, thank you.
I would not want to argue with that machine.
Thanks for watching!
Awesome presentation. Thank you for sharing this with us 👍😊😎
Glad you liked it!
Awesome machine, cool to watch it work! Great catch!
Thanks!
Reminds me of a Fecon Bullhog!! Nothing stops those from chewing up small trees.
For all of you who may think that they just took brush cutters/hogs off a Bobcat or another piece of equipment and mounted them to a excavator arm are partially right, they are brush cutters/hogs but they were specially built for that specific application, they are made to slide back and forth on the end of the arm along with being able to rotate 360*
I like how the car rocks back and forth while they work. O_O
That’s amazing, great catch!👍🏾
Thanks! its neat to watch!
@ you’re welcome and yes it is!
NS weedwacker hard at work removing debris. I didnt know NS had this. Do other railroads have large weedwackers?
They have different kinds made different ways. CSX uses a modified excavator. This for sure is the largest.
I’ve seen the handiwork of one along along the old (now Union Pacific owned) Galena and Chicago Union.
NS also works hard at removing employees. That's their main goal.
I wish this could visit the ns Bloomington district there's a few trees that could use trimming
At one time this, or maybe it's predecessor, had chain flails. Eight shades of crazy watching that work.
Even this one spits out wood chips pretty far.
Very interesting !
Now that is totally awesome without the trains hitting the trees even though they can be in the way even during the storm or after a storm ❤
For sure. We are going to get a storm this weekend too!
@stephankoenig5481 same here where I'm too don't feel bad
Ran an on track brush cutter back in 99 when i first started on cp in upstate ny.did not work very well as one of the arms would just take off on its own.by the time the job ended in dec. It had to back to canada it was pretty much destroyed...good times!
This one has its fair share of problems too. Thats why its been in the area for 2 years!
When you’re finished take it back to the Mad Max movie set.
I want one.
Progress is a great thing except when it takes jobs. I came from a Norfolk and Western Railroad family, my grandpa, dad, brother-in-law, two brothers and myself; although I did not work every long for the company. I did a 1969 summer program in my junior senior high school years, three months after graduation in 1970 and again for four month in 1974 after four years of military service. In 1970 after graduation I started full time with the N&W and for the first three months a crew of seven men including the Assistant Foreman and Foreman cut right away. That was a lot of hard work cutting the right away on the mountain side climbing up and down, but it was a job that had to be done and with a good crew of men you could get a lot cut in no time. Since all my family members retired there’s only two to three men are working, a Foreman and his helper or two to cover the Pocahontas Division from Panther to Bluefield, West Virginia and they stay in a truck until needs. So like I said at the being progress is great until it takes jobs which are far and few in southern West Virginia. Just had to put my two cents in.
@@michaelgardner800 I hear you. The railroads were a family in themselves. Far cry from that today.
Nice, heavy machine. But, this left-right swinging while working may cause longterm problems to the suspension
It looks like someone mounted the brush hog from a Bobcat on the end of an excavator.
Interesting machine... Although any arborist standards are thrown out the window there. Luckily for the railroads, they don't have to follow the same guidelines as power companies in the clearance of their right of ways.
By the time they get to the end of that line…. Those trees should grow back, they are going to need to start all over.
Very likely! Its the first time its been here.
This thing needs to get down to Tennessee. The ROW is covered up and I am tired of cutting open photo locations by hand !!
Are those Brontosaurus work heads on that machine?
Yep! It was added some time after it was built.
I recognize the area... Rte. 20 near the underpass. We used to put pennies on the N & S rails when we were kids... between Depot St. Ext. and the Fiddle.
I'm pretty sure MOW equipment is way cooler than most trains. I'm surprised the cab didn't have brush guards over the windows
@@jerryrigsit5400 Me too! I am surprised as well.
That’s just an industrial shredder attached to a hydraulic arm 😂 would love a 7.5 inch gauge version for yard work even though I’ll probably end up losing most of my toes by the time I finish.
That sure was a fascinating find and, watch! Very nice find and share! Must certainly be two operators? (Dave).
@@StormySkyRailProductions Yep one for each side. It has been working its way from Cleveland to Buffalo for over 2 years now!
@@stephankoenig5481 thanks for sharing and verifying! (Dave).
@@StormySkyRailProductions Glad to help!
How many miles of track does NS have? Neat, but pretty slow process.
I need a ho scale model of this for my layout
They look like small excavator with Flail mower heads, their definitely not Mulcher heads as I can tell by the sound, not exactly great operators but. Probably could do with some training from people who use excavators with these type of attachments.
Looks Like It's Equipped With A Coupler
@@johnniebellamy5912 It can move like a car in a train if need be.
Great machine but the operator... Dig he jump into it 5 minuts ago, without prior training?
There are two operators.
@@LastExile1989 Being part of such operations, I know it had to be two operators. Still, hunting single, tiny, branches looked like newbies testing the equipment..
Fine video showing great equipment.
Tasmania could use one.
They should just use spinning saw blades. It would be much faster
I used to work for Wabtec/Nordco, they make track maintenance equipment including brush cutters. Typically on these kinds of machines, the cutting heads are interchangeable so different types can be used. The circular types you refer to work well, but tend to throw debris great distances, including the cutting teeth, which are replaceable. So they aren’t good for all applications. I’ve heard stories of lineside Telegraph poles getting accidentally cut down, so they are very unforgivable as well. Finally, the circular types really shred things up, which leaves an ugly, splintered scene behind leading to complaints from neighbors.
I forgot to mention that it is true that they tend to be high maintenance machines.
Yep, the forestry drum mulchers seem safer; have seen vids of ride on units suitable for suburban use..