It's not every day you get to see this up close. The undercutter lifts the track to scoop out and clean dirt and sediment that gathers in the ballast.

This photo illustrates what goes on to the track structure during undercutting work as Union Pacific No. 902053 works on main 2 at McGrew, Nebraska, on the South Morrill Subdivision on July 26, 20... (more)

A Union Pacific undercutter works in a curve after the passage of a TRT (Track Replacement Train) east of Radium, Colorado on August 5, 2009. UP No. 902051 is a Plasser & Theurer RM80 undercutter ... (more)

As can be imagined, cleaning ballast can be a dirty, grimy job as seen here as UP No. 902053 undercutter works at McGrew, Nebraska, on July 26, 2009. Workers constantly watch the machine for probl... (more)

UP No. 902053 is a Plasser & Theurer RM 2003 undercutter that specializes in cleaning ballast. Over time, ballast can break down, and other impurities like sand and dirt can further create drainag... (more)

A Union Pacific undercutter works on main 2 at McGrew, Nebraska, over the South Morrill Subdivision on July 26, 2009. UP No. 902053 is a Plasser & Theurer RM 2003 undercutter that specializes in c... (more)

A Union Pacific undercutter works on main 2 at McGrew, Nebraska, on the busy South Morrill Subdivision on July 26, 2009. UP No. 902053 is a Plasser & Theurer RM 2003 undercutter that specializes i... (more)