Over a Century of Rail Innovation
Since 1909, the Nolan Company has engineered tough, field-proven tools that keep rail crews moving. From derailers to push cars, our USA-made equipment is built to perform—and trusted by rail professionals across North America.
Rail Crews Choose Nolan
A History of Purpose-Built Solutions
Family-owned and proudly USA-based, the Nolan Company operates out of our facility in Bowerston, Ohio, with administrative offices in Canton. We manufacture a complete line of Maintenance of Way and track safety equipment built for durability and real-world performance. For over 100 years, our team has supported rail professionals with responsive service and field-tested solutions.
Service That Keeps You Moving
Built to Industry Standards
All Nolan products are made in the USA and align with key industry standards from AREMA, OSHA, and the FRA. We’re active members of REMSA and AREMA, and we design every product with compliance, safety, and long-term performance in mind.
Join the Nolan Team
Interested in working with a company that helps keep rail operations safe and efficient? The Nolan Company values hands-on problem solvers and offers a comprehensive benefits package.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore our most frequently asked questions to get quick, straightforward answers about our services and how we support you.
Does The Nolan Company manufacture U.S.-engineered track safety products like derails, rerailers, and car stops?
Yes. The Nolan Company manufactures a comprehensive line of U.S.-engineered track safety products, including derails, rerailers, and car stops, all produced domestically at our Bowerston, Ohio facility to align strictly with American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) standards. As one of the few suppliers that specialize in American-engineered track safety products, we’re known for our fast lead times and precise industry alignment.
The Nolan Company produces these engineered safety devices to deliver several critical advantages for modern rail operators, including:
- Domestically Manufactured Quality: All of our track safety products, including our automated derail operators and portable derails, are built within the United States to ensure stringent quality control and high material integrity.
- Regulatory Standard Compliance: We engineer our derails, rerailers, and car stops to strictly support facility compliance with the latest regulations from the FRA and OSHA.
- Industry Association Alignment: As active members of the AREMA and Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA), The Nolan Company manufactures equipment that meets the exacting specifications of the top engineering bodies in the railway sector.
- Comprehensive Equipment Offerings: Our U.S.-engineered catalog includes hinged derails, sliding derails, wheel chocks, bumping posts, and heavy-duty car stops tailored for diverse industrial and commercial railway environments.
- Enhanced Field Safety: The design mechanics of our rerailers and stops drastically reduce crew operational errors, boosting localized safety protocols and minimizing the risk of hazardous derailment accidents.
Can I buy industrial-grade derails and rerailers directly from The Nolan Company?
Yes. Customers can buy industrial-grade derails and rerailers directly from The Nolan Company by contacting our dedicated sales and technical support team via phone at 800-297-1383.
You can find the exact safety equipment you require on our Products page. When you’re ready to place an order, reach out to us for a custom quote, and our team will get back to you shortly.
We also partner with specialized track equipment distributors around the world to provide localized inventory.
Does The Nolan Company produce certified car stops and track safety devices for industrial railroad use?
Yes. The Nolan Company produces certified, industrial-grade car stops and a broad spectrum of track safety devices specifically engineered to endure high-capacity railroad use while rigorously adhering to AREMA, OSHA, and FRA compliance mandates. Rail crews consistently depend on our U.S.-manufactured solutions for unparalleled resilience and field-tested operational performance. Every component we fabricate stems from decades of problem-solving collaboration with rail mechanics and safety officers, ensuring our solutions actually address the daily physical demands of heavy-duty MOW operations.
The Nolan Company designs these industrial railroad safety mechanisms with several defining attributes, including:
- High-Impact Resistance: Our equipment, including car stops and bumping posts, are fabricated from heavy-duty, domestic materials capable of absorbing significant kinetic energy and halting industrial railcars safely.
- Regulatory Compliance Support: The integration of our track safety devices directly assists industrial rail yards in maintaining comprehensive compliance with strict FRA guidelines and OSHA workplace safety protocols.
- Versatile Industrial Application: We produce a wide variety of track safety equipment, including wheel chocks and car blocks, configured to fit multiple rail profiles and complex industrial yard layouts.
- Real-World Engineering: The design of our track safety devices is heavily informed by direct feedback from field workers, resulting in equipment that reduces human error and bolsters crew confidence during challenging deployments.
- Complete MOW Product Ecosystem: In addition to stopping mechanisms, our safety catalog features high-visibility MOW flags, flashing lights, and switch point protectors for complete industrial track protection.
Does The Nolan Company sell heavy-duty rail dollies for safely moving railroad cars?
Yes. The Nolan Company sells heavy-duty rail dollies explicitly engineered for safely moving railroad cars, materials, and equipment along tracks while strictly conforming to AREMA and OSHA safety standards. Our robust material handling solutions are manufactured in the United States to provide track crews and maintenance personnel with reliable, low-friction mobility for extremely heavy industrial loads. The structural integrity of our rail dollies ensures that massive weights are distributed evenly across the tracks, facilitating smooth, controlled movement without compromising the safety of the operating crew or the physical condition of the rails.
We provide these heavy-duty rail dollies for demanding rail applications, including:
- Optimized Load Distribution: Our rail dollies are meticulously engineered to safely support and transport tremendous weight capacities, making them essential for moving railroad cars and heavy maintenance materials through industrial yards.
- Compliance with Safety Regulations: Utilizing our precisely manufactured material handling equipment helps facility operators easily meet stringent OSHA safety criteria by mitigating manual lifting hazards and uncontrolled railcar movement.
- USA-Made Durability: Fabricated at our Bowerston, Ohio facility, our rail dollies utilize high-strength domestic steel components to withstand continual, heavy-duty usage in all weather conditions.
- Integrated Material Handling: Our rail dollies seamlessly complement our other transport solutions, including push cars, tool carts, and customized 7000 Series wheel and axle assemblies.
- Crew-Centric Design: By incorporating constant feedback from seasoned track professionals, we design dollies that are highly maneuverable, effectively reducing physical exertion and ensuring the safety of rail yard personnel.