Trackside Top-of-Rail Friction Management for Freight

Innovation and integrity are core values at L.B. Foster Rail Technologies, and we continue to combine our state-of-the-art wheel/rail interface testing facility with rigorous scientific analysis and on-track field testing to bring you the next generation of top-of-rail (TOR) products. This pursuit of excellence highlights our core objective of providing our customers with the world’s most advanced friction management products that will consistently and reliably protect the wheel/rail interface.

Recognized globally as the experts in railroad friction management, we continue to develop innovative products that:

• Reduce rail and wheel wear

• Reduce lateral forces

• Reduce derailment potential

• Reduce energy consumption

• Reduce Rolling Contact Fatigue (RCF) development

Water-based friction modifiers developed specifically for freight railroads

KELTRACK® ER Plus is a premium, all-season, TOR friction modifier with extended carry-down capabilities for use in the freight environment. With this innovative product, L.B. Foster took our world-leading KELTRACK ER friction modifier technology and developed an enhanced formulation that provides increased coverage at all operating temperatures while continuing to provide excellent protection in the wheel/rail interface. KELTRACK ER Plus has been designed to have enhanced film durability, improved corrosion resistance, and an exceptionally low freezing point. 

All KELTRACK friction modifiers are water-based and contain no oil. They provide freight railroads a controlled intermediate friction level which does not affect braking or traction.

Oil-based friction modifiers

INFINITRACK® is an exceedingly durable oil-based, all-season TOR lubricant which provides excellent protection in the wheel/rail interface. INFINITRACK has been proven to carry for over 8 miles under heavy haul conditions. Developed for territories without significant grades, INFINITRACK can help significantly reduce the cost of a Friction Management program while delivering all of the benefits.

PROTECTOR® application systems

Our next generation PROTECTOR X trackside friction management system includes a heavily-sloped product compartment with the industry’s lowest cavitation level and true first-in, first-out product utilization. This new system allows for longer intervals between tank refills, easier product transitions between seasons, and less track access time required for maintenance.

Combined with our TOR foam bars and our next generation Remote Performance Monitoring (RPM), the PROTECTOR system is the most advanced friction management system available in the world.

Built on over 40 years of in-service experience and continuous technological innovation, L.B. Foster PROTECTOR systems are known to be:

• Exceedingly reliable

• Easy to maintain

• Consistent and precise in their application rate. Our innovative control system uses proprietary compensation algorithms to seamlessly adapt to changing operating conditions and consistently outputs the correct amount of friction modifier.

Our top-of-rail friction management product portfolio

Whatever your top of rail friction management challenge, we can help. On top of the products showcased above, we offer:

• Our legacy PROTECTOR IV application systems.

• Catch-All and GTP+ track mats and environmental products to keep your application site clean and prevent ballast contamination.

ROLLCONTROL All-Season Yard Lubricant

ROLLCONTROL is an oil-based lubricant specifically formulated to manage friction for rail car wheels at classification and hump yard locations. ROLLCONTROL provides a consistent low coefficient of friction to control rolling behavior, reducing car stalls and speed-inhibiting high friction levels. ROLLCONTROL drastically reduces “shorts” - cars stopping short of their intended class track destination - which mitigates the time-consuming switching moves needed by yard crews to correct a short. ROLLCONTROL is water insoluble and will not be washed away by rain or melting snow. It is not flammable or self-igniting and is inherently biodegradable, resulting in minimal environmental impact. ROLLCONTROL is compatible with typical yard application systems.