In this tough economy, it may be surprising to hear that railcar and locomotive pressure washing is a lucrative market. In the past, railway companies did the work in-house, but today most companies outsource the work to a pressure washing company. According to Paul Horsley, professional pressure washing consultant and president of Scotts Pressure Wash in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, it’s a market that pressure washing companies should seriously consider tapping into:

“The rail industry in North America is much larger than most people realize, and just like other modes of transportation, rail companies need pressure 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 in Canada, Mexico and the United States. You can bet a good number of those cars travel through your state on a any day! “

From tank truck graffiti removal to dry sweeping of boxcars to degreasing locomotives, the industry offers a source of opportunity for any pressure washing company willing to go the extra mile to build a customer base. and secure contracts.

Although adding the rail industry to your list of services may seem intimidating, most of what you know about pressure washing trucks can be applied to railcars. With a little extra research and a few tips from a pressure washing consultant, working on the railroad is an entirely achievable and profitable goal.

Here is what you need to know before preparing an offer:

The type of car you need to clean. Ask your customer if there are any company or industry specific regulations you should be aware of. For example, when washing locomotives, power washing disc brakes can cause corrosion and lead to brake failure. This is a major safety risk, and the American Association of Railroads has written guidelines that tarps must cover the brakes before any pressure washing begins.

To lease. Where will the work be done? Who is the owner of the land? Is there any water source available? What are the environmental constraints and where will the wastewater be disposed of? Wastewater reclamation requires careful planning: trucking in water, having access to a lift to work on top of railcars, ensuring all pressure washing units are working properly and equipped with the proper chemicals, and , most importantly, provide the proper safety equipment to protect workers. from chemical overspray and fall hazards.

Timeline. Horsley says tight deadlines are expected on rail industry contracts as they need to get their cars back in service as soon as possible. It is not uncommon to be asked to clean an entire train unit, consisting of 125 cars, in three days. Horsley also explains the importance of visiting the site early:

“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 rain. We only had a short window of opportunity to complete the work, and due to the rain, we incurred large difficulties getting equipment on and off 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 deal, to allow for unforeseen circumstances “.

After speaking with a pressure washing consultant and having a system in place, you are ready to start cleaning railcars. The most common chemicals used in railcar cleaning are sulfuric acid, ammonium bifluoride, and hydrofluoric acid. Cleaning uses a six-step process:

1) Clean the roof: apply chemical wash and rinse

2) Clean the sides and undercarriage

3) At the same time, start the recovery of sewage

4) Remove graffiti, which may require manual scrubbing.

5) Apply degreaser, if necessary

6) Flush entire unit, top to bottom, including wheels and undercarriage.

7) Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Railroad-related cleanup opportunities include:

– Vans (pressure wash exteriors. Dry/steam sweep interiors).

– Cisterns (exterior pressure washing and graffiti removal)

– Grain Hoppers (Manual removal of debris accumulated in end covers and pressure washing)

– Locomotives (exterior pressure washing with special attention to the engine compartment)

“Once a system is installed, the job is done relatively quickly,” says Horsley, who is also a longtime member of Pressure Washers of North America (PWNA). For more information on rail cleaning, contact your local pressure washing consultant or sign up for a two-day PWNA workshop by visiting http://www.pwna.org.