A dumping system for accurate and precise dumping of ballast rock, sand, and gravel (aggregate) to all areas of a railroad track (a track), all areas of a roadway, and all regions of the roadway is described. The dumping system includes a dump box, a dump gate having at least two delivery gates, an operating system, and a control system. The at least two delivery gates of the dump gate each include a top portion and a bottom portion. The bottom portion of each of the at least two delivery gates is adjusted in real time by the operating system via the control system to accurately and precisely deliver the aggregate to all areas of the track or roadway. The dump box may further be rotated horizontally and vertically to aid with the delivery of aggregate to the track or roadway in an accurate manner.

A rail-lifting and ballast-spreading apparatus that may be employed to rehabilitate damaged tracks or aid rough in of new tracks, is described. The apparatus includes a track-lifting unit at a forward end thereof that includes an arm that is pivotable to extend forwardly and over a section of track in need of repair or ballast replenishment. Rail clamps are provided on a distal end of the arm that engage and travel along the rails as the apparatus moves forward. A conveyor provides a stream of ballast across the width of the tracks while the tracks are lifted and as the apparatus moves forward onto the now repaired tracks. A surge bin is provided to increase a rate of distribution of the ballast material by the conveyor over that available from the ballast-delivery consist.

A system and method for operating a ballast car hopper door includes logic and control circuitry, a hydraulic actuator, a door position sensor, and one or more sensors operable to measure system operational parameters. During normal operation of the hopper door the logic and control circuitry records the system operational parameters. In the event of failure, or absence, of the door position sensor the control circuitry compares real-time data to recorded data to maintain operation and correct positioning of the hopper door.

A system and method for operating a ballast car hopper door includes logic and control circuitry, a hydraulic actuator, a door position sensor, and one or more sensors operable to measure system operational parameters. During normal operation of the hopper door the logic and control circuitry records the system operational parameters. In the event of failure, or absence, of the door position sensor the control circuitry compares real-time data to recorded data to maintain operation and correct positioning of the hopper door.

The present disclosure generally relates to a road rail stoneblower vehicle for carrying out rail maintenance operations near fixed structures such as bridges and overpasses. The road rail stoneblower includes a hi-rail chassis having a first set of wheels configured to engage a road surface and a second set of wheels configured to engage surfaces of substantially parallel rails of a railroad track. The road rail stoneblower further includes a plurality of workheads that are capable of dispensing ballast stones into a bed of ballast underlying the railroad track to adjust the height of the rails. The road rail stoneblower further includes a leveling system detachedly coupled to the hi-rail chassis that is configured to transmit a detectable signal that defines a reference plane with which the rails are to be aligned. Related methods of operation of the road rail stoneblower vehicle and associated maintenance of ballast beds underlying railroad tracks are also described.

A device for in-situ, dynamic repair of a railroad can include two connected machines. A first one of machines can be a track lifting unit that can clamp the rails of the railroad and lift the track in its entirety out of its track bed. The first machine also can plow ballast away from and/or toward the rails, and level the track bed for the rails before they are lowered. In addition, the track lifting unit can remove selected railroad ties. The second machine can include a power unit that can provide hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical power to both machines. The power unit also can provide track stabilization by settling ballast and can free debris from the railroad while it is raised.

A track maintenance machine for compaction of ballast under sleepers of a track includes a machine frame movable by undercarriages on the track and a tamping unit which includes an electric vibration drive for vibratory actuation of tamping tools. An electric intermediate circuit has an electric energy store or storage device. An electric machine is associated with at least one undercarriage and coupled for generator operation to the intermediate circuit. The electric vibration drive is coupled to the intermediate circuit for supply. In this way, braking energy is used in an optimal manner for supplying the vibration drive. A method for operation of a track maintenance machine is also provided.

A railcar ballast delivery gate with first and second parallel side walls spaced apart by a center truss plate that extends between and is perpendicular to each of the two side walls, a center angled bar that straddles the center truss plate, first and second primary elongated tubes extending between the first and second side walls on opposing sides of the side walls, and a divider assembly. The primary elongated tubes are rotatably connected to first and second tube arms, which in turn are fixedly couple to first and second secondary elongated tubes that are configured to move relative to the primary elongated tubes while remaining parallel to them. The tube arms are rotatably connected to door linkages that are situated underneath and fixedly attached to door panels resting on trusses that extend from a center truss plate.

A system to transport and unload bulk materials includes at least one rail car and a moving wall system. The moving wall system has a first end, a second end, and a trough. The trough is configured to contain a payload of the at least one rail car. The trough includes sidewalls that contact the payload when loaded and move with the payload to move the payload towards the second end. The trough may be formed of at least one conveyor belt that forms a hopper of the at least one rail car. The trough may span a plurality of rail cars. The system may include a take-up system connecting the sidewalls. Each of the rail cars may include a frame and a plurality of pulleys connected to the frame may support the trough.

A machine for repairing a ballast bed has an undercutter that defines a direction of movement of the repairing machine, and a distributor for dividing a flow of ballast entering from the undercutter into a rear flow of exiting ballast and a separate front flow of exiting ballast. At least one rear screening machine is positioned behind the undercutter in the direction of movement and is fed by the rear flow of exiting ballast. At least one front screening machine is positioned in front of the undercutter and fed by the front flow of exiting ballast, and the distributor has a variator for varying the ratio between the separate first and the second flows of exiting ballast.