A tie plate straightener includes a plurality of rollers having varying cross-section and differing elevations. The tie plate straightener includes directional wheels between the rollers and disposed in alignment with the lower elevations of the rollers. The straightener receives tie plates at an input and rotates the tie plates when the tie plate engages the directional wheels. The tie plate is thereby oriented and/or positioned so that the tie plate is supported above the directional wheels.

A tie plate picker for extracting tie plates from ties such as railroad cross ties. Pistons driving arms are arranged to be moving in directions toward a vertical center line when they are extending out of cylinders.

A tie plate picker for extracting tie plates from ties such as railroad cross ties. Pistons driving arms are arranged to be moving in directions toward a vertical center line when they are extending out of cylinders.

A clip assembly for securing first and second tuned mass dampers to respective first and second sides of a rail. The clip assembly includes a bar element having a connector portion extending between first and second ends thereof and formed to be positioned in a predetermined location relative to the rail at least partially under a foot of the rail, and a first clamping arm connected with the connector portion at the first end of the connector portion, the first clamping arm being formed to engage the first tuned mass damper. The bar element also includes a linkage section located at the second end of the connector portion. The clip assembly includes a second clamping arm extending between upper and lower ends thereof, the lower end comprising a locking portion securable to the linkage section, and the upper end being formed for engagement with the second tuned mass damper.

A clip assembly for securing first and second tuned mass dampers to respective first and second sides of a rail. The clip assembly includes a bar element having a connector portion extending between first and second ends thereof and formed to be positioned in a predetermined location relative to the rail at least partially under a foot of the rail, and a first clamping arm connected with the connector portion at the first end of the connector portion, the first clamping arm being formed to engage the first tuned mass damper. The bar element also includes a linkage section located at the second end of the connector portion. The clip assembly includes a second clamping arm extending between upper and lower ends thereof, the lower end comprising a locking portion securable to the linkage section, and the upper end being formed for engagement with the second tuned mass damper.

A tuned mass damper for damping airborne vibrations at one or more rail frequencies from a rail generated by movement of wheels over the rail. The tuned mass damper includes one or more damper elements including a damper element material, and a body element including a body material. The damper elements are at least partially embedded in the body element. The body element has inner and lower exterior surfaces formed to fit within first and second pockets on opposite first and second sides of the rail defined by a web portion and a foot. The damper element material and the body material are selected and formed so that the tuned mass damper vibrates in response to movement of the wheels over the rail at one or more damper frequencies that at least partially interferes with the rail frequencies.

A tool comprises a handle and a tool head at an end of the handle. The tool head has a channel for receiving a fastener. There is a resilient member disposed along a length of an inner surface of a wall defining the channel. The resilient member may be retained by a recess in an edge of the wall defining the channel. The channel may be defined by a first wall and a second wall and a web extending between the first wall and the second wall. The resilient member may be disposed along an inner surface of the first wall. There may be a lip extending along the second wall. The channel may alternatively be defined by a substantially tubular wall. The resilient member may be a spring disposed along an inner surface of the substantially tubular wall.

A tool comprises a handle and a tool head at an end of the handle. The tool head has a channel for receiving a fastener. There is a resilient member disposed along a length of an inner surface of a wall defining the channel. The resilient member may be retained by a recess in an edge of the wall defining the channel. The channel may be defined by a first wall and a second wall and a web extending between the first wall and the second wall. The resilient member may be disposed along an inner surface of the first wall. There may be a lip extending along the second wall. The channel may alternatively be defined by a substantially tubular wall. The resilient member may be a spring disposed along an inner surface of the substantially tubular wall.

A machine for track maintenance is manually displaceable on a track. The machine has a work module with a handle, a working tool powered by a drive and a machine frame configured to be guided on a rail of the track. The work module is detachably connected to an energy module and the energy module has an electrical energy store and output contacts. The output contacts are detachably connected to input contacts of the work module. The work module has as the drive an electric motor supplied with electrical energy from the energy store. This solution results in a high degree of overall efficiency because the energy available in the energy store serves for the largest part for covering performance peaks.

A machine for track maintenance is manually displaceable on a track. The machine has a work module with a handle, a working tool powered by a drive and a machine frame configured to be guided on a rail of the track. The work module is detachably connected to an energy module and the energy module has an electrical energy store and output contacts. The output contacts are detachably connected to input contacts of the work module. The work module has as the drive an electric motor supplied with electrical energy from the energy store. This solution results in a high degree of overall efficiency because the energy available in the energy store serves for the largest part for covering performance peaks.