Mitchell Equipment Corporation

12/25/2025

Mitchell Equipment offers solutions for European trucks, featuring a front truck frame attachment system. A specialized mechanism supports the front axle as the rail gear deploys. The rail gear folds towards the front tires, achieving optimal approach angles and 10 inches of ground clearance.

12/13/2025

This vehicle is a jet-powered truck equipped with Mitchell hydraulic drive rail gear and a hot air blower. The rear rail gear features Mitchell's Hydraulic Drive, while the front rail gear boasts Mitchell's self-steer Rail Gear. When transitioning to rail mode, the tires are elevated above the rail, eliminating concerns about slippage.

12/13/2025

12/13/2025

When rail gear is retracted, the primary concern while traveling on road is rail sweeps getting hung up. Our rail wheels rotate 180 degrees to a vertical position, eliminating the risk of getting obstructed. The purpose of these sweeps is to clear debris, such as stones, from the rail surface to prevent derailment of the hi-rail gear truck. Therefore, maintaining their functionality is crucial, as any obstruction could damage the rail gear and potentially lead to derailment.

11/17/2025

Unlocking new capabilities for wheeled excavators our revolutionary Friction Drive H-Rail system transforms these machines into versatile rail track workers. Seamlessly self-propelling on railroad tracks, our solution ensures stability and reliability, even in demanding environments.

Central to our system is the retractable Friction Drive H-Rail Gear, ingeniously integrated into the excavator's frame. Engineered with precision, our rail wheels feature an advanced friction drive hub that seamlessly engages with the tires, effortlessly translating tire rotation into smooth rail wheel movement. Renowned for its unmatched reliability, our mechanical friction drive system utilizes the road axle drive line and braking system, maximizing propulsion and braking efficiency. Additionally, to enhance stability on rail tracks, the machine can be equipped with stabilizer leg extensions reaching 17 inches below ground level. While operating on railroad tracks, the steer axle is locked straight, ensuring precise control.

But our system offers more than just rail track capabilities. With the addition of a TiltRotator on the boom, the Cat excavator transforms into a multi-purpose on/off track machine. From handling buckets to operating magnets, brush cutters, grapples, tampers, tie heads, ballast regulators, and undercutters, the possibilities are endless, catering to a wide range of applications with unmatched efficiency and versatility.

Experience the next level of performance and adaptability with the Friction Drive H-Rail system, where innovation meets reliability for unparalleled productivity on and off the rails.

11/16/2025

All of the rail wheels installed on Mitchell Rail gear are made of hardened forged steel. Let's compare forged steel rail wheels to cast wheels to determine if the former is superior.

1. Superior Strength and Toughness
• Forging aligns the metal’s grain structure, increasing impact resistance and overall wheel strength.
• Cast wheels solidify from liquid metal, introducing internal defects like porosity or shrinkage.

Result: Forged wheels exhibit superior toughness and handle high dynamic loads more effectively.

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2. Higher Fatigue Resistance
• Forged wheels have fewer internal imperfections.
• They tolerate repeated stress cycles (braking, acceleration, track impacts) better than cast wheels.

Result: Forged wheels demonstrate longer life in demanding environments.

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3. Better Wear Resistance
• The forging process creates a denser, more uniform structure.
• This improves resistance to wear on the tread and fl**ge.

Result: Forged wheels require lower maintenance costs and have longer service intervals.

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4. Better Performance at High Speeds
• Forged wheels remain dimensionally stable and resist cracking at high rotational speeds.

Result: Forged wheels are preferred for freight, passenger, and high-speed rail applications.

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5. Fewer Defects

Cast wheels are more prone to:
• Porosity
• Inclusions
• Shrinkage cavities
• Uneven microstructure

Forged wheels avoid most of these issues due to the high-pressure compression of metal.

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6. Improved Safety
• Reduced risk of catastrophic wheel failure.
• Better thermal performance under heavy braking.

Result: Many rail systems require forged wheels for safety-critical applications.

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Typical Use Cases

Forged wheels:
• High-speed passenger trains
• Heavy-haul freight
• Locomotives
• Urban transit rail

Cast wheels:
• Light-duty applications
• Low-speed freight
• Cost-sensitive markets

The monumental question is, why would anyone purchase rail gear with cast rail wheels?

11/15/2025

Mitchell Rail Gear provides systems for a wide range of vehicles, from RTV’s to large construction equipment. Our product offerings include guide wheels, friction drive, and hydraulic drive. Depending on the vehicle and application, we utilize rail wheels of varying sizes. However, regardless of the vehicle, wheel bearing grease can degrade into oil due to environmental factors and heat generated by rail operation. One consistent feature across our rail gear is the ability to flush out old grease and replace it with fresh grease. This is a crucial advantage over repacking bearings, as each removal and reinstallation reduces bearing lifespan. By maintaining fresh grease in the bearings without altering their original settings, we can extend their lifespan by up to five times. What is the cost of incorporating this feature? Although it is not insignificant, the benefits to our customers are substantial.

11/14/2025

Mitchell Rail Gear specializes in installing Friction Drive Hi Rail gear on various types of construction equipment. Recently, we installed a system on a Sennebogen material handler equipped with foam-filled tires, which the customer specifically required. To fulfill this request, we partnered with our tire company to have the tires foam-filled, a process they had successfully completed for us in the past. However, on this occasion, the tire company utilized the incorrect foam filling, resulting in the tires self-destructing within a few days. Despite their refusal to rectify the issue, I took responsibility for resolving the problem, investing approximately $10,000 in new rims and tires. I enlisted the services of an alternative tire company, which correctly applied the foam filling. The new tires have been functioning flawlessly for months. Initially, my customer suspected a problem with the hi-rail system, but I assured him that the issue lay elsewhere. As a matter of principle, I chose not to make excuses, recognizing that the problem was not my customer's concern.

11/13/2025

Installing Hi-Rail Gear on European style trucks such as this Volvo is a little more challenging than domestic trucks. Our typical install of the front Rail Gear on domestic trucks involves attaching to the truck springs and front frame. With this Volvo the front suspension is all different so there is no room to attach to the front springs. The entire rail gear has to attach to the front truck frame which requires truck axle locks the prevent the truck axle from falling when the Rail Gear is deployed. We hydraulically pivot the Rail Gear axle under the truck bumper that we were able to achieve 10-Inches of ground clearance with 15 degree approach angle. This truck is one of 15 that will be converted to a fire truck to operate in the Middle East.

45 years offering more Rail Gear systems and attachment systems for more vehicles than any company i

11/07/2025

We classify Rail Gear for trucks like Ford F-550 and under that use 10 inch diameter rail wheels. For 10 inch rail wheels we offer external Cobra Air brakes. Why air brakes over hydraulic actuated brakes? After all you have hydraulics on the truck to raise and lower the rail gear. Here’s the problem if the drive rides the brake then that hydraulic powe unit can over heat really fast. With our air brakes you do not have this problem. Why brakes at all? Every rail gear truck even if all the tires ride on rail has reduced braking on rail. On the road you have as bunch as a 10 inch tire braking on the road. When your on railroad rail that is 3-inches wide your braking is 1/3 if all the truck weight would be on the rail but it’s not because the rail gear and tires share the weight so now your braking is 1/6th what it is on the road. If you want to improve stopping on railroad rail consider Mitchell Rail Gear with Cobra air brakes.

45 years offering more Rail Gear systems and attachment systems for more vehicles than any company i

11/06/2025

Coming Soon… 0505 Rail Gear Mechanical Advantage for Railway RTV Vehicles!

Introducing the new 0505 Rail Gear, now available with a fully mechanical operation designed for railway RTV vehicles. No hydraulics required—this system uses a durable crank with mechanical advantage for smooth, reliable control.

Key features include:

Manual Crank Operation – easy to operate without hydraulics
Railroad Lighting & Change of Direction Alarm – ensuring safety and compliance
Faster, Cost-Effective Installation – minimal wiring and no hydraulic connections
Plug-and-Play Wiring Harnesses – simplify setup and maintenance
Reliable Mechanical Locking System – prevents disengagement and ensures safety
Built on over 20 years of success in international markets, this system is now engineered for the North American railway industry, offering a proven, maintenance-friendly solution that saves time and reduces costs.

45 years offering more Rail Gear systems and attachment systems for more vehicles than any company i

12/04/2024

We require a skilled technician to join our assembly department, where you will be responsible for installing our manufactured products on trucks and construction equipment, utilizing your mechanical skills.