Has anyone had any experiences is using a piece of equipment to wack weeds like coastal sage? Either a highrail or something off a flatcar? Did you make a tool yourself, rent one, use a service, etc? Did you find someone who would work with you as a museum (discount)? Do they make a chain weed wacker to work around rocks?

Of concern is the many cuts and fills our railroad has.

Over the years, we have been using a professional weed sprayer, but, more help is now needed.

Thanks for sharing your experience and expertise. If you want a private email - use Jim@psrm.org

What you need is something on this idea (see first 3 pictures) http://www.geocities.com/trackworker.geo/IIweedcont1.HTM. I don't think anyone is making these anymore, and those that have one are unlikely to sell it. You may end up having to make your own.

The only other way I have seen it done was with the use of a brushhog mounted on the end of a speed swing or highrail excavator.

Rich C.

I have successfully used a tractor mounted flail mower on a side boom to mow shoulders, cuts and fills by placing the tractor on a flatcar. You have to run it up your line twice in order to mow both sides of the line. The flail mower will cut grass, weeds and light brush up to about an inch or so in diameter, and if it hits a rock or a tie plate, will just make a lot of noise rather than launching the obstacle.

There are also purpose built hi-rail mowers, such as this:

http://www.irm.org/gallery/Brush-mowing-11-08-08/aac

Jeff

More links:
http://www.irm.org/gallery/album51
http://www.irm.org/gallery/Brush-mowing-11-08-08

To expand on Wayne's suggestion, they do make hyrail gear for tractors which eliminates the expense of running the train. In truth almost any option that does not involve running a locomotive and train crew is less expensive than one running the train. The exception may be in instances where you can borrow a machine from somebody instead of leasing or buying one. Many county and state governments have tractors or even motor graders with mowing heads on them you may be able to get temporary use of.

Depending on how long your railroad is you may even be able to use off track machines driving down the ROW. A tractor driving on the ties will not do much damage that a ballast regulator can not fix quickly. There are also off road machines designed to go anywhere a power line may go.

Almost anything that can be equipped with a brush cutting head and an articulated boom probably can be adapted to cut your ROW if you use a little imagination. On the A&R we use a Speedswing with a brush cutter head. Gradeal's also make pretty good brush cutters. The advantage of the big duel head rail brush cutters is that with 2 operators you can cut a pass on each side with every trip over the track. A single head machine means more passes and more time to cut the brush. Like your weed spraying, there are contractors who do brush cutting.

As you can see there are lots of options. Good luck finding the most economical and convenient one for your operation.

John Bohon