Wayside wheel lubricator

A wayside lubricator for railroad cars has a number of sensors mounted adjacent the track which detect the approach and passage rail cars. A lubricant supply and a pressurizing system are mounted adjacent the track and in fluid communication with a control valve and spray nozzle. The spray nozzle is aimed to shoot lubricant into a target zone when the control valve is opened. The spray nozzle is turned on for a defined duration of time so that the quantity of the lubricant is kept under control. Application of the lubricant to the wheels of the locomotive is avoided by detecting locomotive wheels and leaving the valve closed until they pass. This invention reduces the friction between the wheel tread and rail on curves for the trailing cars and thus reduces the friction and the force that is experienced by the wheel flanges on curves.