Scrapping old railway wagons: documents, dismantling and metal sorting
Retired railway wagons take up space in depots and sidings, attract vandals, and can leak fluids or corrode. Many owners eventually decide that scrapping is cheaper than storing. The process is regulated, so it helps to know the order of steps before work begins.
Rules to remember
- The wagon can be handed over for scrapping or sold only after it has been officially written off and de-registered. Without a write-off act, scrapping cannot start.
- The write-off act comes with documents describing the technical condition, the value and the precious-metal content of the equipment.
- Dismantling, cutting and processing of railway equipment may be carried out only by a company that holds the appropriate licence.
How dismantling goes
First the wagon is emptied and washed so that workers are safe. Then the parts that can be reused are removed: axle-box units, brake system devices and wheel sets. The body is taken apart from the top down, and the underframe is cut with special equipment. The pieces are made small enough for transport, and the scrap is sorted, since non-ferrous metals and stainless steel are worth noticeably more than ordinary ferrous scrap.
What drives the cost
Wagon type and condition, reusable parts and non-ferrous metals, labour intensity, the location of the wagon, and whether special machinery can reach it.
Roadreg (Dorozhny Registr), a company in Moscow, describes its scrapping service, including cutting, loading and transport of scrap, on the page below (in Russian). Moscow, Russia. Phone: +7 (495) 369-56-79.
Service page (Russian):