Page 3 - September 2021 Track N Times

FEATURE STORY

Loram Blue Iron

By: Ronny Knight, Manager Material Handling

On January 1, 2021, Loram acquired GREX maintenance of way products that included DumpTrains, SlotMachines

and SPS machines that were the core products of GREX and we made them part of Loram Maintenance of Way.
These 3 products became known as the Blue Iron Department of Loram, which falls under Marc Hackett on the
Ballast and Grade side. Although it was previously known as The Blue Iron Department, it has now been rebrand-
ed as the Material Handling Department. Blue Iron brings 25 Dump Trains, 33 Slots and 14 SPS’s into the dirt side
of Loram. We have approximately 65 operators and 6 maintenance technicians to cover this department and keep
all these machines operational. There is a lot of experience within these departments with some operators being
here for more than 20 years. We have a good group of people that work hard to do the right thing and strive to
keep making the Loram name something to be proud of.

Material Handling

With the Slot Machine® and the SPS Self-Powered Slot® mobile work platforms, you can tackle a wide range of
jobs faster and more efficiently than ever before. Quickly maneuver either machine into position and begin ditch
cleaning at up to 250 tons per hour, offloading aggregate at up to 450 tons per hour, or handling any number of
other materials with similar agility.
Both consist of a series of short gondolas without the end bulkheads. An onboard excavator is free to move the
entire length of the joined cars (up to 378 feet) while seated safely and securely on the floor. Material gets loaded
the full length of the platform, so there’s no lost time switching out cars. Plus, setup and lockdown take only
minutes, allowing you to make the most of limited work windows.

The SPS includes a power unit that moves the consist. Once provided an EIC, the consist can operate without
train crews or locomotives.
The versatility of both machines is ideally suited for streamlining your most common track maintenance jobs:

• Heavy ditching • Riprap placement
• Tie pickup • Receive spoils

• Rail pickup • Rail cutting attachment for scrap rail
• Tie distribution • Efficient brush cutting attachment

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SEPTEMBER 2021
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