Company Profile

Since 1978, Mitchell Equipment Corporation has been a leading designer and manufacturer of rail gear and specialty attachment systems engineered specifically for railroad trucks and rail-capable construction equipment. Operating under the trade name “Mitchell Rail Gear”, our name directly reflects our core focus and decades-long specialization in rail-based vehicle systems.

The term rail gear carries two distinct meanings within the railroad industry. In traditional railway applications, it refers to the passive running components of a rail vehicle—such as wheels, axles, suspension systems, and bogies—commonly known as running gear. In the context of highway-capable maintenance and construction vehicles, rail gear refers to “Hi-Rail Gear”: retractable rail wheel systems that enable conventional road vehicles and equipment to travel and operate directly on railroad tracks.

Hi-rail gear systems are hydraulic or mechanical assemblies that raise and lower steel rail wheels, allowing vehicles to transition seamlessly between highway and rail. Unlike conventional running gear, hi-rail systems enable dual-mode operation and self-propelled movement on track, making them essential for inspection, maintenance-of-way, and railcar switching operations.

Mitchell Rail Gear offers a comprehensive portfolio of retractable rail gear systems designed to integrate with a wide range of vehicles, from light-duty trucks to heavy construction equipment. In addition, we provide an extensive line of specialty rail gear attachments that can be combined with our rail gear systems to create fully customized rail-capable solutions. By pairing the appropriate vehicle platform with our rail gear and attachments, we engineer purpose-built systems tailored to specific operational requirements.

Our rail gear systems are trusted every day in demanding railroad environments to move railcars, replace railroad ties, and handle materials using vehicles specially configured for rail service.

Beyond equipment, Mitchell Equipment delivers complete lifecycle support, including engineering and application consulting, factory installation, operator and maintenance training, and long-term technical support—ensuring reliable performance, safety, and productivity throughout the life of the system.