Railroad Work is a Grind

This morning I heard the Union Pacific Nevada Subdivision dispatcher issuing track permits, but didn't know what it was about until I heard a loud noise coming down the track that wasn't the same as an ordinary passing train. I ran outside and managed to get my camera to record the passage of the LORAM rail resurfacing train.

This train grinds the rails to remove small imperfections and to give a smoother, quieter ride for trains. I've seen one of these working at night, which can be quite spectacular as the sparks fly in all directions.