World's biggest, fastest undercutter arrives in Ritzville

Even rocks need cleaned now and then

Katie Teachout, The Journal | Last updated Aug 27, 2020 9:29am0

Katie Teachout count

An RM802 UC01 undercutter arrives in Ritzville Wednesday evening.

Katie Teachout count

The undercutter will be used to replace ballast in Ritzville before moving on to Libby, Montana next week.

RITZVILLE - An undercutter arrived in town Wednesday evening shortly before 8 p.m. and will be here until next Friday, according to Burlington Northern Santa Fe's Dwayne Streeter.

"It's the world's biggest, fastest undercutter," Streeter said. "The RM802 UC01."

The undercutter cleans the rock underneath the track.

"It cleans mud holes, sort of like fixing potholes in the road," Streeter said. "It replaces the ballast."

"An undercutter essentially lifts the tracks, removes and cleans the ballast, and replaces it for a smoother ride, better drainage, and so forth," local train enthusiast Brian Bothun explained.

Streeter said they last worked in Pasco, and will head to Libby, Montana, when they are done here.

Author Bio

Katie Teachout, Editor

Katie Teachout is the editor of The Ritzville Adams County Journal. Previously, she worked as a reporter at The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle, the Oroville Gazette-Tribune, Northern Kittitas County Tribune and the Methow Valley News. She is a graduate of Western Washington University.