A ground stabilisation system is used for stabilising a subgrade region which includes a peat layer under a railway having rails supported across rail ties on a ballast layer over the subgrade region. The system uses a plurality of drain members submerged in an upright orientation within the peat layer of the subgrade region in which each drain member has a hollow interior and a plurality of openings therein which allow communication of fluid from the peat layer surrounding the drain member into the hollow interior of the drain member so as to be arranged to reduce fluid pressure in the peat layer when the peat layer undergoes dynamic loading from a passing train. Each drain member is a semi-rigid pipe having an axial stiffness greater than a dynamic stiffness of the peat layer to reduce loading on the peat layer under dynamic loading from a passing train.

A ballast sweeping installation for picking up and distributing ballast located on a track includes a sweeping brush rotatable about an axis of rotation, a ballast conveyor belt disposed ahead of the sweeping brush relative to a brush rotation direction, and a ballast guiding plate positioned between the sweeping brush and the ballast conveyor belt for passing the ballast on to the ballast conveyor belt. A length of the ballast conveyor belt delimited by two deflection ends is shorter than a length of the sweeping brush along the axis of rotation. Additionally, the ballast conveyor belt is configured to be displaceable in a transport direction relative to the sweeping brush by a drive. Thus, an optimal ballast distribution in tamping zones of the track is made possible.

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 ballast sweeping installation for picking up and distributing ballast located on a track includes a sweeping brush rotatable about an axis of rotation, a ballast conveyor belt disposed ahead of the sweeping brush relative to a brush rotation direction, and a ballast guiding plate positioned between the sweeping brush and the ballast conveyor belt for passing the ballast on to the ballast conveyor belt. A length of the ballast conveyor belt delimited by two deflection ends is shorter than a length of the sweeping brush along the axis of rotation. Additionally, the ballast conveyor belt is configured to be displaceable in a transport direction relative to the sweeping brush by a drive. Thus, an optimal ballast distribution in tamping zones of the track is made possible.

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.

The invention relates to a track maintenance machine having a tamping unit for tamping sleepers of a track lying in a ballast bed, including a tool carrier which is mounted for vertical adjustment on an assembly frame and on which tamping tools are arranged so as to be squeezable towards one another, wherein the tool carrier is coupled to a vertical adjustment drive actuated by means of a control device. In this, a control circuit is set up for controlling a lowering motion of the tool carrier, the control circuit including a controller, a setting device for the vertical adjustment drive and a measuring device for recording the lowering motion. With this, it is possible to provide an optimal course for the lowering motion.

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.

The present disclosure generally relates to an improved tamping operation where a rail tamping machine advances at different speeds during different stages of tamping and workhead assembly operation. The workhead assembly is also capable of moving longitudinally relative to the rail tamping machine frame when it is detected that the rail tamping machine is at an appropriate distance from a reference point. Related methods of tamping are also described.

An autonomous ballast consist for unloading ballast along a railway and methods for unloading ballast thereby. The consist includes a plurality of ballast cars and at least one control car. The control car includes a controller, a navigation system, and electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic generators that power the hopper cars. The controller employs the navigation system to determine the location of the consist relative to a track survey indicating locations and amounts of ballast to be unloaded. The controller instructs the hopper cars to open/close ballast doors to dump appropriate amounts of ballast in desired locations. The controller also monitors the status of the hopper cars and the accuracy of the navigation system to automatically adjust the operational state of the consist relative thereto. The unloading operation is carried out automatically, without need for operator intervention, and without risk of damage to railroad facilities.

An autonomous ballast consist for unloading ballast along a railway and methods for unloading ballast thereby. The consist includes a plurality of ballast cars and at least one control car. The control car includes a controller, a navigation system, and electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic generators that power the hopper cars. The controller employs the navigation system to determine the location of the consist relative to a track survey indicating locations and amounts of ballast to be unloaded. The controller instructs the hopper cars to open/close ballast doors to dump appropriate amounts of ballast in desired locations. The controller also monitors the status of the hopper cars and the accuracy of the navigation system to automatically adjust the operational state of the consist relative thereto. The unloading operation is carried out automatically, without need for operator intervention, and without risk of damage to railroad facilities.