Railroad maintenance is challenging in any season. But winter switches things to expert mode. Since demand spikes for so many types of freight in the winter — from consumer goods to energy products — railroads can't afford to slow down, no matter what the weather brings. But ice, snow, and severe cold do plenty to halt progress. It’s why we plan for weather challenges year-round and railroad operations’ major winter preparation starts far in advance of the cold. By December, your specialized on-track machinery is ready to go. But even as winter weather is rolling in, you can still make ice and snow management more efficient, more effective, and less taxing — this year and every year — with a few simple winter railroad maintenance upgrades. BTI's tungsten carbide-protected parts for Snow Fighters, Snow Removers, and other severe weather machines hold up against the harshest abuse, delivering longer wear life and protecting your equipment investment. Ice and frozen ballast wear down standard wear parts quickly. But carbide tools are different.
Tungsten carbide wear parts for snow and ice removal deliver improvements that you can measure in four critical areas: operational efficiency, equipment longevity, cost management, and operator safety.
In every way and on any railroad maintenance machinery, BTI's carbide outperforms and outlasts the hardened steel used for most ground-engaging snow and ice removal tools. Against extreme abrasion — like you'd get from engaging frozen ballast — carbide outlasts steel by a factor of 25 to 1. Tungsten Carbide is twice as hard as steel, hitting 9 on the Mohs Hardness Scale (just below diamond). We guarantee you’ll see at least double the reliability and wear. That’s our baseline. That durability translates to fewer equipment changes and less downtime during critical maintenance windows. When every minute of daylight counts, it’s game-changing to have tools that work and last in the most challenging conditions.
Standard wear parts deteriorate quickly when they're used on ice, snow, and ballast. That accelerated wear makes these tools less effective in the short term, but it can damage the underlying equipment in the long term, too. BTI carbide parts are engineered to withstand the harshest abuse, protecting productivity and the expensive machinery they're attached to.
When you're considering the full operational picture, longer-lasting carbide tools can save an operation money. The front-end investment in BTI carbide ground-engaging tools may be higher than standard steel, but the extended service life, improved operational efficiency, and reduced maintenance load will typically deliver cost benefits that compound every year.
Tools and components protected by tungsten carbide maintain their effectiveness even as conditions deteriorate. This dependability helps railroad maintenance teams complete necessary work while maintaining appropriate safety margins.
Available for both Snow Removers and Snow Fighters, BTI Tuffcarb Arrowhead Icebreakers make quick work of ice deposits and hard packed snow without damaging underlying infrastructure. These are attached to the bottom of a plow in place of a typical skid shoe.
Specialized front plow grader blades, wing grader blades, and center plow blades for Kershaw Snow Machines keep their cutting edge longer, reducing the frequency of replacements and maintaining consistent performance all winter.
BTI engineers tungsten carbide Front Plow Blades, Center Plow Blades, Center/Rear Plow Blades, and Plow Blade Ends to armor Knox Kershaw Snow Fighters against ice and frozen ballast.
Our full catalog of ice and snow removal tools includes many more options. With BTI’s custom capabilities, there's really no limit to what we can upgrade for your operation. You could effectively cover every one of your severe weather machines in tungsten carbide-protected wear parts to help your crews work longer and cover more ground, now and later.
While you’re managing day-to-day winter railroad maintenance demands, we know you’re also balancing warmer-weather planning and inventory management, reviewing maintenance records, planning spring projects, and ensuring equipment and replacement parts are prepped and stocked for spring. While you evaluate/service the large maintenance machines you’ve pulled off track for the winter, here’s one more opportunity for improvement: Your high-wear problem areas can be upgraded now to streamline and simplify maintenance demands come spring. BTI can help you replace underperforming tools and parts with ones that shave downtime off your maintenance schedule and make your uptime more productive. Get in touch with a BTI rep. We’ll make sure you’re equipped to get the job done faster, easier, and better, whatever the season brings.
