In this powerful economic system, it could be stunning to listen to that stress washing railcars and locomotives is a profitable market. In the previous, rail firms did the work internally, however at this time most firms outsource the work to an influence washing firm. According to Paul Horsley, knowledgeable energy washing guide and President of Scotts Pressure Wash in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, it is a market that stress wash firms ought to critically contemplate tapping into:
“The rail industry in North America is much bigger than most people think and, just like other modes of transportation, railway companies need power washing services,” says Horsley. “Statistics from the Association of American Railroads show that there are more than 1.59 million freight cars and 24,143 locomotives in service throughout Canada, Mexico and the United States. You can bet a good number of those railcars travel through your state in any given day!”
From eradicating graffiti from tankers, to dry sweeping boxcars or degreasing locomotives, the trade presents a wellspring of alternatives for any energy washing firm keen to place in somewhat additional effort to construct a consumer base and safe contracts.
Although including the rail trade to your service record may sound intimidating, most of what from stress washing vans will be utilized to railcars. With somewhat additional analysis, and a few recommendation from a stress wash guide, engaged on the railroad is a wholly attainable and worthwhile aim.
Here’s what it’s essential know earlier than making ready a bid:
The kind of railcar it’s essential clear. Ask your consumer if there are trade or company-specific laws you must know. For instance, when washing locomotives, stress washing the disk brakes could trigger corrosion, leading to brake failure. This is a big security hazard, and the American Association of Railroads has written pointers dictating that waterproof tarps should cowl the brakes earlier than beginning any energy washing.
Location. Where the work might be achieved? Who owns the land? Is there an accessible supply of water? What are the environmental constraints and the place will wastewater be disposed? Wastewater restoration requires cautious planning: trucking in water, getting access to a carry to work on prime of railcars, making certain that every one stress wash models are in working order and outfitted with the applicable chemical compounds and, most significantly, supplying correct security gear to guard staff from chemical overspray and falling hazards.
Timeline. Horsley says to count on tight deadlines in railway trade contracts since they should get their railcars again in service as quickly as attainable. It’s common to be requested to scrub a whole unit prepare, consisting of 125 railcars, in three days. Horsley additionally explains the significance of visiting the website forward of time:
“Although I did my due diligence and visited the rural site in advance, I never considered how different that site would be after a period of heavy rainfall. We only had a short window of opportunity to complete the work and, because of the rain, we incurred major difficulties getting equipment in and out of the site. To say it was a challenge to complete the job on time and on budget would be an understatement! I’ve since learned that it’s a good idea to build an extra day into the bid, to allow for unforeseen circumstances.”
After you have talked to a stress wash guide and have a system in place, you are prepared to begin cleansing railcars. The commonest chemical compounds utilized in railcar cleansing are sulfuric acid, ammonium bifluoride and hydrofluoric acid. Cleaning makes use of a six-step course of:
1) Clean the roof: apply chemical wash and rinse
2) Clean the sides and undercarriage
3) At the similar time, start wastewater restoration
4) Remove graffiti, which could require guide scrubbing
5) Apply degreaser, if essential
6) Rinse complete unit, from the prime down, together with wheels and undercarriage
7) Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
Rail-related cleansing alternatives embody:
– Boxcars (Pressure wash exteriors. Dry sweep/steam interiors.)
– Tankers (Exterior stress washing and graffiti elimination)
– Grain Hoppers (Manual elimination of particles amassed on ends decks and stress washing)
– Locomotives (Exterior stress washing with particular consideration to engine compartment)
“Once you get a system in place, the work goes relatively quickly,” says Horsley, who can also be a longtime member of the Pressure Washers of North America (PWNA). For extra details about prepare cleansing, begin by contacting your native energy washing guide, or enroll for a two-day workshop at the PWNA, by visiting http://www.pwna.org.
