World's biggest, fastest undercutter arrives in Ritzville

RITZVILLE - An undercutter arrived in town Wednesday evening shortly before 8 p.m. and will be here until next Friday, according to Burlington Northern Santa Fe's Dwayne Streeter.

"It's the world's biggest, fastest undercutter," Streeter said. "The RM802 UC01."

The undercutter cleans the rock underneath the track.

"It cleans mud holes, sort of like fixing potholes in the road," Streeter said. "It replaces the ballast."

"An undercutter essentially lifts the tracks, removes and cleans the ballast, and replaces it for a smoother ride, better drainage, and so forth," local train enthusiast Brian B...