The cost of waiting
Derailments are expensive.
Track inspections are not.
A scheduled inspection is a known line item. A derailment can mean equipment damage, carrier restrictions, fines and a plant waiting on the track to reopen.
The work itself
Six things, done
the same way.
Inspection, maintenance and compliance for industrial track — walked on foot, measured, and written up against the section of Part 213 it falls under.
Plate III From finding to fix
-
01
Track inspection
FRA Part 213 inspection of industrial leads, sidings and spur tracks — walked on foot, measured, and written up against the section.
- Visual and physical inspection of the running surface
- Gauge and alignment measured, not estimated
- Rail head wear profiling
- Tie condition classified tie by tie
- Ballast and drainage assessment
- Photographic report, every finding located
- Defect map with remediation priority
-
02
Switch maintenance
Inspection, adjustment and repair of every switch component — the part of a plant lead that fails first and stops cars soonest.
- Switch point, stock rail and closure rail inspection
- Throw force measured
- Switch machine testing coordinated
- Point-to-stock-rail fit adjusted
- Frog and guard rail wear measured
- Lubrication and heater inspection
-
03
Rail & tie replacement
Identification and coordinated replacement of failed rail, ties and ballast — scheduled into a window rather than forced into one.
- Defective rail identified and marked
- Tie plate and spike assessment
- Tie classification to FRA standard
- Ballast fouling assessment
- Coordination with Class I track windows
- Re-inspection after replacement
-
04
Regulatory compliance
Guidance through FRA audits, violation remediation and standing compliance programs — including the paperwork the carrier asks for.
- Pre-audit assessment
- Citation review and response
- Written compliance programs
- Class I liaison on your behalf
- Waiver documentation support
- Ongoing monitoring programs
-
05
Emergency response
Mobilization for derailments, storm damage and anything that has already stopped delivery. Call rather than write — we move off the phone.
- Available around the clock
- Same-day response capability
- Derailment and storm damage assessment
- FRA notification support
- Track re-qualification for return to service
-
06
New construction review
Independent third-party inspection of new industrial track before the railroad is asked to accept it.
- Milestone inspections through the build
- Specification compliance verified
- Gauge, surface and alignment checked
- Switch installation tested
- Pre-acceptance documentation package
The cost in practice
Pay for the inspection.
Or pay for what follows.
A scheduled inspection is a known line item. A derailment is not. Once equipment, track damage, cleanup, carrier restrictions and lost production enter the picture, a small defect can become a very large interruption.
Emergency response, potential fines, damaged equipment and a plant waiting on the carrier.
A documented finding, a controlled maintenance window and a record that closes properly.
Two details worth knowing
The small parts
decide the big day.
Plate IV Switch anatomy
How the work runs
Simple, thorough,
accountable.
-
Step one
Initial assessment
A call, the track chart if you have one, and the reason you are asking. Most of it is settled in fifteen minutes.
-
Step two
Site inspection
An FRA-certified inspector walks the track on foot and measures it. Nothing is assessed from a truck window.
-
Step three
Written report
Every finding cited to its section of Part 213, located to the foot, photographed and ranked by priority. In your hands in 48 hours.
-
Step four
Remediation
We stay on it through the repair and re-inspect afterwards, so the record closes properly rather than trailing off.
Who this is for
If a carrier delivers to you,
this is your track.
Plant leads, private sidings, loop track, interchange track and short-line operations across eight southeastern states. Ownership was never the test — carrier movement is.
The moment a Class I runs a car over your rail, that rail is subject to Part 213 — and the obligation to keep it compliant sits with whoever owns the ground it is spiked to. Usually you.
Plate V Plan of a plant lead