Mecalac has introduced the next-generation 216MRail for North America. A dedicated railroad excavator for railway construction and maintenance, the 216MRail is equipped with new features, such as dual drive, along with a power-to-weight ratio that offers the performance of a large railway maintenance machine.
While designed for heavy applications, such as towing rail cars and handling all equipment and materials, the 216MRail is compact, agile and flexible, especially in confined areas, such as tunnels or below catenaries. The 216MRail is designed for light-rail, metro systems and tunnel applications.
“The 216MRail is a new alternative for heavy-duty rail equipment,” said Peter Bigwood, general manager for Mecalac North America. “The machine’s power for heavy applications, combined with the boom’s flexibility and the safety of the double cab, highlight Mecalac’s commitment to providing innovative machines for efficient and safe railway work to the rail industry.”
The 216MRail is based on Mecalac’s MWR wheeled excavator series and can be operated as a wheeled excavator off the rails. As the largest machine in the MRail series, the 216MRail weighs 44,902 lbs. (20 metric tons) and is designed for heavy lifting, towing and working with large buckets, mowers, grapples and more.
Dual drive provides operators with the choice of placing the machine’s wheels directly on the rail for increased traction or completely off the rail for less wear and tear on the tires and to prevent damage to equipment along the track, such as rail sensors. Like the 106MRail and 136MRail models, the 216MRail is equipped with a hydrostatic transmission, enabling the machine to be propelled without the road wheels. The hydrostatic transmission also offers smooth movement on the track.
The upgraded 216MRail, like the original model, features a rail-dedicated boom specifically designed for the rail industry. It offers the lifting capacity of a large machine — up to 8.5 tons (8 metric tons) on rails over the front — but also offers stability and boom flexibility. Its Mecalac articulated boom design provides compactness and range of motion by allowing it to extend almost entirely straight or fold back on itself, making it agile in confined spaces.
For some large machines, working below catenaries or in tunnels can be awkward and inefficient due to limited boom angle adjustments. The operator must completely unfold the boom and work at maximum reach, losing force, compromising stability and taking longer to complete the task. Thanks to the flexibility of the boom, the 216MRail handles heavy-duty tasks even when there is limited space to maneuver.
The 216MRail is equipped with safety features such as anti-drop safety check valves, load sensing and flow sharing. A double cab allows space for a second crew member when accessing the job on rails. The cab also has windows on all sides and a low-height hood behind the cab, providing operators with 360-degree direct visibility.
Mecalac 216MRail features 7-in. color display monitors, which are configured to provide data in real-time. Driver-assistance functions, such as rail mode, are acessible with a simple switch.
Other optional features include:
- A pneumatic braking system for rail trailer and rail car brakes
- An automatic hook for towing
“Our 216MRail is game-changing for the rail industry,” said Bigwood. “It’s a compact machine that can accomplish everything necessary for heavy-duty projects, while maintaining a level of simplicity and ease of use.”
The 216MRail is the largest in Mecalac’s series of dedicated rail excavators, including the 106MRail, 136MRail and 156MRail. The manufacturer builds the MRail series to meet various railway needs from routine maintenance to constructing new tracks.
