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The Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation (PATH) was established in 1962 as a subsidiary of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The heavy rail rapid transit system serves as the primary transit link between Manhattan and neighbouring New Jersey urban communities and suburban commuter railroads. PATH presently carries 269,081 passenger trips each weekday. This volume is expected to continue to increase with the anticipated growth in regional residential, commercial, and business development.
PATH maintain 20 LB Foster Electric PIV Lubricators installed in the open sections, on the elevated track and underneath the new One World Trade Centre on the very tight radius loop.
In 2016 PATH were using a soya bean based trackside lubricant across their network. This was the latest in a long line of greases that they had been testing and using on their rails without being totally satisfied with the performance.
In the winter months this grease would stiffen inside the lubricator components and block the electric pumps which consequently broke the pumps and caused mechanical failure which became very expensive in new parts and man hours to repair. It was at this point that PATH decided to look at alternatives and tested RS Clare’s new EcoCurve Trackside lubricant.
EcoCurve Trackside is designed to deliver all the performance you need at the rail-wheel interface, and also be environmentally friendly and perform consistently across a wide temperature range, making it ideal for the New York climate.
PATH trialled EcoCurve Trackside on multiple lubricators for one year, making sure it performed well through all seasons and ensuring it provided excellent carry down around the rail curves and protecting the gauge face from wear. During this trial they realised a significant cost saving in terms of far less maintenance activity on their lubricators. In 2017 RS Clare received full approval from PATH for EcoCurve trackside and were awarded an exclusive supply contract for all of their lubricators.
EcoCurve Trackside has proven that in this tough New York climate you do not have to compromise on performance when choosing an environmentally friendly grease, and the days of using multiple grades for different seasons are truly in the past.
“Switching to RS Clare EcoCurve Trackside has made a huge difference, especially in the summer months because the old grease was almost turning to water in summer and did not stick well to the rails so we would use much more grease. Our lubricators are now more reliable and we’re realising significant cost savings, all while protecting the environment.”
Track Engineer, Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) Corporation
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