A sample confinement tool includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the sample confinement tool is coupled to a driving tool. The driving tool is coupled to a heavy-duty vehicle. The sample confinement tool is operable to insert a predetermined depth below a ballast surface and collect a ballast sample within the second end of the sample confinement tool. The sample confinement tool is also operable to confine the ballast sample within the second end of the sample confinement tool by mechanically compressing the ballast sample. The sample confinement tool is further operable to release the ballast sample into a sample receptacle by mechanically decompressing the ballast sample.

A transport vehicle includes a container for receiving bulk material which is disposed on a vehicle frame and is pivoted, together with a bottom conveyor belt and a third conveyor belt, relative to the vehicle frame about a pivot axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle in order to maintain a horizontal conveying plane, relative to a transverse direction of the vehicle, for the bottom conveyor belt and the third conveyor belt, independently of a transverse inclination of the track. Thus, a problem-free bulk material transport is possible even in the event of a transverse inclination of the track. A method of loading and unloading a transport vehicle which is mobile on a track is also provided.

A loading train (1) consists of at least two loading wagons (2, 3) for transporting and storing bulk material, each having a wagon frame (5) supported on on-track undercarriages (4), a storage box (6) with a bottom conveyor belt (8) which is situated in the bottom region of the storage box and extends in the longitudinal direction (7) of the wagon, and a pivotable transfer conveyor belt (9) adjoining the bottom conveyor belt (8) and projecting beyond the wagon frame (5). A tilt protection device (11) is provided between the front-most, first loading wagon (3)with regard to a transport direction (10) of the bottom conveyor belt (8)and the following, second loading wagon (2). The tilt protection device (11) is designed for contacting the rearward wagon frame end of the first loading wagon (3) in order to block an upward movement of the wagon frame (5).

A loading train (1) consists of at least two loading wagons (2, 3) for transporting and storing bulk material, each having a wagon frame (5) supported on on-track undercarriages (4), a storage box (6) with a bottom conveyor belt (8) which is situated in the bottom region of the storage box and extends in the longitudinal direction (7) of the wagon, and a pivotable transfer conveyor belt (9) adjoining the bottom conveyor belt (8) and projecting beyond the wagon frame (5). A tilt protection device (11) is provided between the front-most, first loading wagon (3)with regard to a transport direction (10) of the bottom conveyor belt (8)and the following, second loading wagon (2). The tilt protection device (11) is designed for contacting the rearward wagon frame end of the first loading wagon (3) in order to block an upward movement of the wagon frame (5).

A bulk material loading wagon (1) for incorporation into a loading train consisting of several such wagons has a storage box (3) for storing bulk material, the storage box being open at the top and fastened to a wagon frame (2), andassociated with the storage boxa bottom conveyor belt (5) extending in the lower region of the storage box (3) and in the longitudinal direction of the wagon. The wagon frame (2) is equipped with an opening (16), arranged between two adjacent on-track undercarriages (14), for passage of a lower sectionadjoining the lower deflection end (9)of a transfer conveyor belt (8). A drive (18) is provided for displacement of the transfer conveyor belt (8) in its conveying- or longitudinal direction (4) through the opening (18) relative to the wagon frame (2).

A track maintenance machine includes a machine frame being movable on a track, a plurality of working units, and a combustion engine to be connected by a clutch to a transfer case. Hydraulic pumps for supplying a plurality of hydraulic drives of a hydraulic system are connected to the transfer case. An electric motor is provided as an alternative drive of the transfer case for permanent energy supply of the working units and drives. The electric motor is coupled to an intermediate circuit to be supplied with electric energy by a vertically adjustable pantograph to be applied to a catenary of the track. A generator or an electric energy storage device is provided for alternative energy supply of the intermediate circuit. A method for operation of an energy supply system is also provided.

A track maintenance machine includes a machine frame being movable on a track, a plurality of working units, and a combustion engine to be connected by a clutch to a transfer case. Hydraulic pumps for supplying a plurality of hydraulic drives of a hydraulic system are connected to the transfer case. An electric motor is provided as an alternative drive of the transfer case for permanent energy supply of the working units and drives. The electric motor is coupled to an intermediate circuit to be supplied with electric energy by a vertically adjustable pantograph to be applied to a catenary of the track. A generator or an electric energy storage device is provided for alternative energy supply of the intermediate circuit. A method for operation of an energy supply system is also provided.

In the course of rehabilitation of a ballast bed of a track, while creating a track construction site (10), old bulk material (6) to be removed is stored on a plurality of storage wagons (2) connected to form a loading train (7). Parallel thereto, new bulk material (9) pre-deposited on a plurality of storage wagons (2) connected to form a loading train (8) is introduced into the track construction site (10). The introduction of the new bulk material (9) into the track construction site (10) is controlled automatically in dependence on a volume of the old bulk material (6) removed from the track construction site (10).

In the course of rehabilitation of a ballast bed of a track, while creating a track construction site (10), old bulk material (6) to be removed is stored on a plurality of storage wagons (2) connected to form a loading train (7). Parallel thereto, new bulk material (9) pre-deposited on a plurality of storage wagons (2) connected to form a loading train (8) is introduced into the track construction site (10). The introduction of the new bulk material (9) into the track construction site (10) is controlled automatically in dependence on a volume of the old bulk material (6) removed from the track construction site (10).

A track maintenance machine for carrying out track maintenance operations includes a plurality of mounts disposed at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the machine in an upper end region of the machine relative to a vertical. A lower end of each mount relative to the vertical is mounted on the track maintenance machine, while an upper end of each mount located at a distance from the lower end is connected to a safety line extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine. A method for carrying out service work on track maintenance machines is also provided.