ON RAIL WHEN YOU NEED IT — EXCAVATOR WHEN YOU DON’T.

The detachable hi-rail system designed to keep your machine working on and off rail.

Dymax Rail Rider X2-8T hi-rail system mounted on a Komatsu 8-ton track excavator working a rail line at dusk

DYMAX RAIL RIDER X2-8T

HI-RAIL ATTACHMENT FOR 8T EXCAVATORS

Komatsu 8-ton track excavator equipped with the Dymax Rail Rider X2-8T detachable hi-rail system traveling a single-track line through a wooded right-of-way

Built for VERSATILITY

The Rail Rider X2-8T is a fully detachable hi-rail system for new or used track excavators. Patent-pending wedge-locking adapters create a stable, secure platform for working on rail.

No cutting. No welding. No permanent machine modifications.

  • Preserve your OEM warranty
  • Protect resale value
  • Keep using the excavator for dirt work when the rail job is done.

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What You Get with the HX2-8T

IT’S HI-RAIL SIMPLIFIED

Hover over the numbered hotspots to explore features.

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Dymax Rail Rider X2-8T detachable hi-rail undercarriage for 8-ton track excavators with standard features including hydraulic rail clamps, LED directional lighting, SAHR braking, and the 2-speed hydrostatic drive
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No Machine Modifications: Detachable heavy-duty frame designed for fast installation and simplified fit-up.

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2-Speed Hydrostatic Drive Systems and rail clamps operate through standard travel pedals and require no unnecessary manifold swaps.

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16-inch Rail Wheels provide heavy-duty service life and are available in insulated or non-insulated designs with replaceable brake shoes and fail-safe SAHR (spring-applied hydraulic release) braking. Manual hydraulic hand pump supplied.

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Self-Contained Power Systems with automatic directional lighting provide red and white illumination based on travel direction.

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Tow Hitch for moving trailers or carts.

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Rail Sweeps clear debris during rail operations.

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Four Hydraulic Rail Clamps operate through standard travel controls and provide exceptional over-side stability.

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Pre-Hosed Assembly for quick fit-up for Caterpillar 308, John Deere 85, Komatsu PC88, and other 8-ton excavators.

APPLICATIONS

Skip the oversize permits, the extra fuel burn, and a bigger machine that’s overkill for the job. An 8-ton excavator with X2 railgear can do the same work.

  • Bridge & Tunnel Maintenance
  • Tie Renewal Operations
  • Signal, Utility & Cable Installation
  • Vegetation & Right-of-Way Management
  • Ballast, Drainage & Subgrade Work
  • New Track & Rail Construction

SPECIFICATIONS

Available Now: Cat 308, Cat 309, Komatsu PC88, John Deere 85P & more. Contact DymaxRail for excavators not listed.

Model
Description
Weight (lbs)
DX-RRDH-X2C-CAT308-HX-8T

Rail Rider Hydrostatic-X2 Series Mount with rail clamps-For CATERPILLAR 308

WEIGHT: 6,760 lbs
DX-RRDH-X2C-CAT309-HX-9T

Rail Rider Hydrostatic-X2 Series Mount with rail clamps-For CATERPILLAR 308

WEIGHT: 6,760 lbs
DX-RRDH-X2C-JD85-HX-8T 

Rail Rider Hydrostatic-X2 Series Mount with rail clamps-For DEERE 85P

WEIGHT: 6,760 lbs
DX-RRDH-X2C-KOMATSUPC88-HX-8T 

Rail Rider Hydrostatic-X2 Series Mount with rail clamps- For KOMATSU PC88

WEIGHT: 6,760 lbs
DX-RRDH-X2INSTALLDMX-HX-8T

DymaxRail installation @ Factory
DX-RRDH-X2INSTALLREM-HX-8T

Remote installation assistance. (Priced per customer)

Design and specifications are subject to change without notice. For custom solutions, contact DymaxRail Sales: 1-800-530-5407.

STANDARD FEATURES – 8 TON
  • Standard rail gauge (1435mm/56.50 in)
  • Patent-pending removable machine adapter with full undercarriage support
  • High-strength front and rear lift groups with integrated load checks
  • Hydraulic release, spring-applied shoe brakes on all wheels for maximum holding force
  • Replaceable DymaxRail non-insulated wheels. (Upgrade available)
  • Rail sweeps and underframe bolt-on guard package
  • Single drive axle with 2-speed motor and gearbox
  • Tow hitch on both sides and 4 foot towbar
  • Labeled hoses, bulkhead connections, integrated manifolds, advanced valve technology, and Magnom filtration for simplified installation and faster, longer-lasting hydraulic performance.
  • FRA installation kit; beacon, fire extinguisher, tape, decals, and first aid kit. (Available in US/CAN markets.)
  • Four hydraulic rail clamps

Design and specifications are subject to change without notice. For custom solutions, contact DymaxRail Sales: 1-800-530-5407.

OPTIONS – 8-TON
  • Insulated Design
  • Roller Clamps
  • Narrow Gauge Configurations
  • Broad Gauge Configurations

Design and specifications are subject to change without notice. For custom solutions, contact DymaxRail Sales: 1-800-530-5407.

HYDRAULIC REQUIREMENTS
SHIPPING DIMENSIONS
38 inches height x 188.00 inches length (with rail clamps)
INSTALLATION
Center frame and railgear arrive pre-hosed and ready to install. Most setups take a few days — at your shop, the Dymax factory, or a partner dealer location. An excavator car configuration is also available.

We’ll work with you to provide the best packaging, shipping, and installation solution—helping get your machine on rail faster. 

FAQ

No new controls to learn. The X2’s hydrostatic rail drive operates through the excavator’s existing travel controls, giving the operator full control of speed, braking, and performance on rail. 
Yes. The Rail Rider X2-8T is available with hydraulic rail clamps, allowing operators to perform many tasks directly from the rail position without constantly repositioning the machine or setting the excavator down off the rail. 
The Rail Rider X2 is designed as a removable, non-welded hi-rail attachment system that avoids permanent modification to the excavator undercarriage. This helps preserve machine versatility, OEM integrity, and overall long-term usability compared to traditional, permanently-modified hi-rail conversions. 
Traditional conversions often permanently modify the excavator undercarriage. The X2 takes a different approach with a removable attachment-based system designed to reduce machine alteration while improving flexibility and preserving machine value. 

GALLERY

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Komatsu 8-ton track excavator on the Dymax Rail Rider X2-8T hi-rail system lifting a length of running rail with chains on a rural rail line bordered by cornfield
Cat 8-ton track excavator equipped with the Dymax Rail Rider X2-8T hi-rail system working in a railroad maintenance yard
Detail view of the Dymax Rail Rider 8T hi-rail front railgear seated on rail beneath a Cat track excavator, showing rail wheels, hydraulic clamps, and LED lighting modules
Komatsu 8-ton track excavator on the Dymax Rail Rider 8T hi-rail system fitted with a Rototilt R3 tiltrotator and grapple working a wooded rail right-of-way
3D rendering of the Dymax Rail Rider 8T detachable hi-rail frame separated from a Komatsu 8-ton track excavator, showing the fully removable design that requires no machine modifications
Close-up of the Dymax Rail Rider X2 hydraulic rail clamp engaged on the rail head, locking the hi-rail system in position for work
Close-up of the Dymax Rail Rider X2 12V automatic red and white directional LED lighting mounted on the hi-rail frame
Close-up of the Dymax Rail Rider X2 spring-applied hydraulic release (SAHR) braking system on the hi-rail undercarriage
lose-up of the Dymax Rail Rider X2 2-speed hydrostatic drive system showing the chain drive and hydraulic drive motor
FRA safety equipment included with the Dymax Rail Rider X2 hi-rail system, including fire extinguishers, first aid kit, amber strobe light, and retroreflective tape

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