When hurricanes sweep across the nation, railroads face two critical challenges: keeping freight moving safely and protecting equipment from costly storm damage.
MoRail Signal is setting the standard for storm readiness by installing backup generators at signal houses throughout Houston and West Texas. These generators keep gates and signals operating, ensure dispatchers maintain visibility, reduce the need to send workers into the field during severe weather, and keep freight moving even when the power grid fails.
đź’ˇ Vendor Spotlight: MoRail Signal
MoRail specializes in signal construction, including the installation of hydrogen fuel cell and propane generators. The team manages large-scale signal projects such as installing new conduit for signal cable, securing fencing installation, directional boring operations, and hydrovac services. Along with material and distribution clean up. They also provide thorough testing and troubleshooting of signal systems for both freight and transit applications.
The Hidden Risk: Flooded Bearings
On the equipment side, storm surge and flooding bring a different challenge, which is the risk to railcar bearings. When water rises above the wheel bearings, moisture intrusion can compromise their integrity. Once saturated, bearings can no longer be trusted to perform safely. That means an entire truck assembly may have to be replaced, which is a costly and time-consuming process.
Hard Lessons from the Field
While standing water may look harmless, even a short submersion can be catastrophic. Bearings are sealed to keep grease in and contaminants out, but once breached, corrosion and failure are inevitable. This is why awareness of critical water line levels is so important during storm inspections.
Building Resilience Together
By combining infrastructure hardening such as generator installations with equipment awareness such as truck inspections after flooding, the industry is making real progress toward resilience. At RailCore, we are proud to highlight vendors and practices that keep freight moving safely, even in the harshest conditions.
That's all for this week, folks! As always, we appreciate your time and engagement. Stay tuned for more enlightening topics in our upcoming newsletters. Until then, keep the conversation going and stay connected. Best, Jennifer Winter
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