The invention relates to a method for determining an actual position of rails of a track by means of an optical sensor device, positioned on a rail vehicle, for recording the position of the track and adjacent installations. In this, it is provided that, by means of the sensor device, a course of the track and a course of the adjacent installations, in particular a catenary installation, are recorded for a track section as preliminary actual data, and that the preliminary actual data are transformed into corrected actual data in an evaluation device in that a recorded course of at least one adjacent installation is transformed into a course with a specified geometric shape. In addition, the invention relates to a system for implementing the method.

The invention relates to a measuring device (13) for recording a track geometry of a track (5) immediately after a treatment of the track (5) by means of track maintenance machine (1), wherein the measuring device comprises wheel axles (16) for travelling on the track (5), connecting elements (15) for mounting to the track maintenance machine (1) and a data interface (41) for exchanging data with the track maintenance machine (1). Further, the measuring device (13) comprises an assembly frame (22) on which an inertial measuring unit (14) is arranged, wherein a front wheel axle (16) and a rear wheel axle (16) are mounted on the assembly frame (22) for rotation relative to one another about an axis of rotation (21) extending orthogonally to the wheel axles (16). Thus, an efficient check measurement of the lateral, longitudinal and vertical position of the track (5) is 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) 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. The dump box may further be rotated horizontally and vertically to aid with the delivery of aggregate to the track in an accurate manner.

In a method of operating a tamping unit of a track maintenance machine, the track maintenance machine having the tamping unit is first provided on a track bed. The tamping unit is displaced relative to the track bed. A driving force, acting on the tamping unit and required for the displacement, and acceleration acting on the tamping unit are determined. A ballast force acting between the tamping unit and the track bed is determined by way of the driving force and the acceleration, and is evaluated.

The invention relates to a method for load monitoring of a tamping unit of a track maintenance machine, wherein at least one sensor is arranged for recording a load on the tamping unit. In this, measuring data recorded by means of the sensor are stored over a time period (T) in an evaluation device, wherein at least one load-time progression for cyclical penetration operations of the tamping unit into a ballast bed is derived from the stored measuring data. With this, conclusions can be drawn as to the load stress situation of the tamping unit and the condition of the ballast bed.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for tray heads and wear plates for tray heads for a railroad spike dispenser. An example wear plate set includes a first wear plate configured to couple to a first sloped surface of a first wall of a tray head. The first wear plate defines a first sloped wear edge along which a head of a railroad spike is to slide when the first wear plate is coupled to the first wall and a shank of the railroad spike travels through a channel. A second wear plate is configured to removably couple to a second sloped surface of a second wall of the tray head. The second wear plate defines a second sloped wear edge along which the head is to slide when the second wear plate is coupled to the second wall and the shank of the railroad spike travels through the channel.

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 invention relates to a method for contactless recording of a track geometry of a track by means of a rail vehicle which is moved along the track on on-track undercarriages (4), wherein profile data of the track extending in transverse direction are compiled by means of a laser scanner. In this, it is provided that, by means of an evaluation device, profile data are evaluated relative to a reference base pre-defined on the rail vehicle in order to derive from this the course of a track central axis and/or a rail. The invention additionally relates to a rail vehicle which comprise an evaluation device configured for carrying out the method. Thus, no further measuring system is required to determine a track position.

The invention relates to a method of controlling a track maintenance machine, particularly a switch tamping- or universal tamping machine, which moves along a track and has working units, particularly a tamping unit and a lifting unit, which are adjustable relative to a machine frame, wherein position data of track objects, particularly sleepers, rails and optionally obstacles, are recorded by means of a sensor device in front of the working units in a working direction, and wherein operating positions of the working units are determined for a working operation at a track location. In this, prior to actuation of the working units, the determined operating positions of the working units are displayed by means of a display device, wherein, prior to carrying out the working operation, the operating positions of the working units can be changed by means of control elements. As a result of the display of the determined operating positions prior to the working operation, an operator is enabled to recognize possible misalignments before these become effective.

A continuous serpentine concrete beamway forming system and method for creating a hollow continuous serpentine concrete beamway are disclosed. The continuous serpentine concrete beamway forming system and method utilizes a flexible form material that has the ability to conform to curves, angles, and slopes of a target beamway system as intended. The flexible form material is used to form an armature that embodies a precise pathway of the target beamway system. The armature is contiguous throughout a plurality of connected beamway segments that collectively make up the target beamway system and that are precisely aligned to conform to the curves, angles, and slopes of the target beamway system. A part of the armature creates grooves on the surfaces of the connected beamway segments. The grooves are subsequently used to guide machinery that grinds the running surfaces to precise tolerances. Precise alignment is achieved as a result of the grooves being formed in a continuous fashion, thereby allowing the grinding machines to cross from one beamway segment to the next.