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Case Studies

Hulcher Services Inc. is one of the nation's leading diversified services companies providing a variety of services to the railroad industry, general industry and government sectors of the marketplace.

Hulcher Services operates five distinct product lines: Railroad Services, Environmental Services, Engineering Services and Transfer-Load Adjustment Services and Disaster Response Services.

Hulcher Services Inc. has provided the following case studies to showcase different services we provide. We will be adding to this library frequently, so please check back often.

Engineering Case Studies:
  • Case Study - Hulcher Clears Fire Damage For Bridge Repair, Performs Driftwood Removal From Bridge Piers - A fire on driftwood resulted in a bridge repair project for the railroad. During this work it became apparent that the driftwood was causing more concerns than just a fire threat. The railroad needed a contractor that could support their crew's bridge repair work and to pull out the driftwood from around the bridge piers.
     
  • Case Study - Air Excavation / Vacuum Truck - Chronic mud problems created potentially dangerous softness and flex in the rail for one railroad company, especially on those stretches of track that ran along a river. The situation became more dire after flooding added to the mud in these areas. Unfortunately, the steep banks on either side of the track did not permit the use of an off-track undercutter.
     
  • Case Study - Railroad Crossing - A chronic problem for one Midwestern community was the old and worn-out railroad crossing in the center of town. The ride over the tracks was always a bumpy one and extremely hard on the vehicles that crossed it on a daily basis. The railroad was adding a siding nearby and decided they would renovate the railroad crossing at the same time. Following a bidding process, Hulcher Services Inc. was chosen to lead the railroad crossing construction project, which included removing existing track, grading, installing new track panel and laying asphalt.
     
  • Case Study - Grade Stabilization - The railroad had a serious problem with soil saturation in various spots along a 150-mile stretch of their track across one Midwestern state. Without sufficient drainage, rain water saturated the soil under and around the rails, destabilizing the track to potentially dangerous levels. As a result the railroad was forced to reduce their trains’ speeds in this area to as little as 10 mph. In addition, the poor drainage problem began to impact neighboring farm lands, increasing the urgency for an immediate and permanent solution.
     
  • Case Study - #20 Switch Change - The railroad needed to change a #20 switch as part of their routine track maintenance program. The switch was on a double main, so the project had to be completed within very tight track windows.
     
  • Case Study - #15 Switch Change - A #15 switch at the rail yard had been damaged. Since this switch was located at a rail yard it was close to several other tracks that were busy with traffic. The railroad needed an experienced crew to get the switch changed out quickly and safely. Fortunately, they had a maintenance-of-way contract with Hulcher Services and brought in a Hulcher crew to get the work done.
     
  • Case Study - Pile Driver With Rail - The railroad was concerned about a 100-foot stretch of track along a highway where the embankment was crumbling into the road. They quickly determined that grade stabilization was needed, and proposed a unique solution: they would use pieces of recycled rail to stabilize the soil rather than invest in new H-beams or sheet pile. The railroad looked to Hulcher Services to assist with this unconventional approach to lift and drive recycled rail.
     
  • Case Study - Hulcher Pile Driver, Excavator Support Rail Gang on Bridge Stabilization - The retaining wall and soil around a bridge was in need of repair. The soil had eroded away and the retaining wall had collapsed, making the bridge less able to support rail traffic. The railroad had a crew onsite, ready to rebuild the retaining wall and drop in fill dirt, but they needed an experienced railroad contractor to drive the steel beams needed to provide the necessary support and durability.
     
  • Case Study - Pile Driver, Excavator and Hi-Rail Rotary Dump Truck Stabilize Bank at Bridge Headwall - A significant erosion issue was causing the railroad to lose track profile adjacent to the headwall at one corner of a bridge. They needed an experienced railroad contractor to build up and stabilize the bank around the headwall.
     
  • Case Study - Excavator and Vibratory Hammer Pile Driver Drive H-Beams for Sound Barrier Wall at Hump Yard - The noise from a hump yard's master retarder interefered with the work environment at a nearby locomotive repair shop. The railroad decided to build a sound barrier made of stacked concrete, supported by H-beams; they needed a pile driver contractor who was qualified to work at the busy hump yard to set up the steel framework for the sound barrier.
     
  • Case Study - Large Undercutter Project - The railroad needed experienced, trained undercutter operators who could provide the high-quality work needed for a critical segment of their rail network and complete the work during a tight shut-down period.
     
  • Case Study - Hulcher Installs Gage Ties for Railroad Tie Gangs - The railroad was refurbishing two branches off a main line to support new industry customers. To complete the project on time, the railroad needed a properly equipped backhoe and an operator who understood railroad work to install gage ties ahead of their tie gangs.
     
  • Case Study - Hulcher Excavator, Wheel Loader and Backhoe Perform Bridge Maintenance - The railroad needed to perform major refurbishing on a 300-foot bridge on an active stretch of right-of-way. They needed a contractor with the equipment and expertise to remove the old rail, ballast and support ties and replace them with new materials within the tight time constraints of their traffic schedule.
     
Transfer / Load Adjustment Case Studies: Environmental Case Studies: Railroad / Mechanical Case Studies: Disaster Response Case Studies:
  • Case Study: Hulcher Services Provides Disaster Response for Railroad's Tornado Damage - Following a series of devastating tornados, one railroad found that nine miles of its track were buried in debris. A local neighborhood and large forest were torn apart by the storms, resulting in wreckage on the tracks as high as 20 feet. This debris made it impossible for rail crews to reach a badly damaged trestle bridge on this stretch. The railroad needed an experienced disaster response contractor to clear the track while coordinating with local emergency officials and the area’s residents.
     
  • Case Study: Hulcher Provides Disaster Response to Simultaneous Major Flood Events - Record snowfalls and spring rains resulted in major flooding throughout North Dakota. Much of the state was declared a disaster area. At the same time, a separate flood event devastated several midwest states. Railroads, local governments and industry needed a contractor with extensive, national resources, including trained crews and a fleet of heavy equipment, to respond to both flood events.
     
Maintenance Services Case Studies:
  • Case Study - Demolition - The railroad’s sand tower and adjacent oil filling station were no longer being used and had become an “eye sore” for the local residents. Rather than incurring the expense to maintain the building and tower, the railroad decided the best option was to demolish them. After a competitive bidding process, Hulcher Services was chosen for this project.
     
  • Case Study - Forklift Ramp and Parking Lot Asphalt - The diesel shop’s loading dock allowed forklifts to bring in palletized shipments of heavy cargo such as traction motors from semi trailers to the storage sheds. Unfortunately, the shop’s dock ramp had a rough, uneven surface that added to wear and tear on forklifts and increased the risk for mishaps during transport. Additionally, the surrounding parking lots had several cracks and potholes that needed attention.
     
  • Case Study - Assortment of Hulcher Equipment Moves 170 Tons Industrial Dredge - An aggregate company was ending its lease of a sand pit and needed to relocate its large industrial dredge to another pit approximately one mile away. They needed a company with the hardware capable of safely moving this 340,000 lb., 90’ x 20’ piece of equipment over land.
     
  • Project Snapshot - Hulcher Dozer Clears Right of Way Vegetation - Grass and tall brush were encroaching on a mile-long stretch of track. The railroad needed a contractor that was certified to work on their right-of-way to perform vegetation control. Hulcher responded with a Caterpillar® D5N dozer.
     
  • Project Snapshot - Grapple Truck and Backhoe Break Down Track Panels - The railroad had more than 30 damaged track panels that needed to be demolished. Hulcher deployed a grapple truck and backhoe to break down the track panels and separate out the materials for recycling or reuse.
     
  • Project Snapshot - Hulcher Crew Performs Asphalt Work at Rail Yard - A 40-foot stretch of road between the tracks and the trim tower was badly pitted with potholes, and needed repair. The railroad needed a qualified railroad contractor to perform the asphalt work close to the tracks.
     
  • Project Snapshot - Hulcher Clears Vegetation Canopy Over Right-Of-Way - A canopy of tree limbs 35 feet over the right-of-way was interfering with double-stack rail cars and ground brush had grown close to the tracks.