
Download Hulcher Hi-Rail Grapple Truck Flyer (PDF)

Download Hulcher Core Services Brochure (PDF)

Download Hulcher Emergency Response Brochure (PDF)

Download Track Maintenance / Maintenance of Way / Engineering Services Brochure (PDF)

Download Hulcher Transfer Services Brochure (PDF)

Download Hulcher Transfer / Load Adjust Services Flyer (PDF)

Download Mechanical Services Flyer (PDF)
One of the most versatile pieces of equipment in Hulcher’s inventory is the hi-rail grapple truck.
The grapple truck is used for Mechanical / Railroad Services, Track Maintenance / Maintenance of Way / Engineering Services, Transfer / Load Adjustment Services, Maintenance Services and Disaster Response.
The grapple trucks typically feature a 24' bed with heavy duty headboard and tailboard. The loader is equipped with a continuous rotating turret, extendable boom and telescoping support legs.
The grapple truck is the perfect fit for maintenance services such as picking up bulky waste, brush and debris around the rail yard and on the right-of-way. It is an excellent complement to railroad construction projects; one common application is to use the grapple truck for picking up material during pole line removal. With attachments like the clam, scoop and rake, the grapple truck can work with materials as fine as gravel and ballast and as large as rail ties and tree branches. With the magnet attachment, the Grapple truck quickly transfers scrap from rail cars or picks up metal debris from the ground.
All Hulcher grapple trucks are equipped with hi-rail gear (pictured right) that enables them to do maintenance-of-way work in remote areas. For example, the hi-rail grapple truck offers an efficient solution for picking up, hauling and placing ties in hard-to-reach places that lack working space along the right-of-way, such as bridges. The grapple truck is also ideal for clearing debris from the track in even the most difficult locations, which makes it a key component of Hulcher’s disaster response service line.
Some projects our hi-rail grapple trucks are used for include:
Anyone who has worked with railroad contractors knows that the most important part of a grapple truck is the operator. Hulcher’s operators are railroad specialists. They have received training in railroad applications, are current in safety and security certification requirements for all Class I railroads, and have spent years perfecting their craft in maintenance-of-way environments.With their extensive railroad experience, our operators can work seemlessly with your rail gangs.
The grapple trucks can be deployed independently or in conjunction with other Hulcher equipment, like the excavator, wheel loader, track loader, dump truck and hi-rail rotary dump truck.
When versatility is essential, Hulcher’s hi-rail grapple truck offers unparalleled speed and flexibility. Call Hulcher today at 800-637-5471 to learn more about our hi-rail grapple trucks or to schedule them for your next project.
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
Photos of Hi-Rail Grapple Truck Projects

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