A system and method for automating railroad maintenance for a tie gang using electronic tie marking (ETM) configured to optimize railroad asset maintenance. The system enables the automating of an adaptive maintenance process for the asset that is being maintainanced. The system can identify a railroad asset scheduled for maintenance using various forms of inspection including real-time kinematic (RTK)-corrected GPS data, radar signal processing data, and real-time imaging. The system also provides for the acquisition and upload of asset pictures for verification and analysis of a railroad asset. The system can identify a next location to perform maintenance and can calculate an optimum path based on sensor input incorporating machine-specific and environmental characteristics. The system further can provide a customizable user interface to identify, track, and process information related to maintenance of the railroad asset.

A system and method for automating railroad maintenance for a tie gang using electronic tie marking (ETM) configured to optimize railroad asset maintenance. The system enables the automating of an adaptive maintenance process for the asset that is being maintainanced. The system can identify a railroad asset scheduled for maintenance using various forms of inspection including real-time kinematic (RTK)-corrected GPS data, radar signal processing data, and real-time imaging. The system also provides for the acquisition and upload of asset pictures for verification and analysis of a railroad asset. The system can identify a next location to perform maintenance and can calculate an optimum path based on sensor input incorporating machine-specific and environmental characteristics. The system further can provide a customizable user interface to identify, track, and process information related to maintenance of the railroad asset.

Tie-arrangement system includes a conveyor assembly configured to receive ties for placement in a track for rail vehicles. The conveyor assembly is configured to receive the ties in a common plane relative to each other. The tie-arrangement system includes an accumulator assembly configured to receive the ties in the common plane from the conveyor assembly. The accumulator assembly is configured to arrange the ties in a same orientation in groups and to move the groups of the ties out of the accumulator assembly. The tie-arrangement system includes a delivery assembly configured to receive the groups of the ties arranged by the accumulator assembly into the same orientation. The delivery assembly is configured to place the groups of the ties onto a surface off the tie-arrangement system for placement of the ties in the track for the rail vehicles.

Tie-arrangement system includes a conveyor assembly configured to receive ties for placement in a track for rail vehicles. The conveyor assembly is configured to receive the ties in a common plane relative to each other. The tie-arrangement system includes an accumulator assembly configured to receive the ties in the common plane from the conveyor assembly. The accumulator assembly is configured to arrange the ties in a same orientation in groups and to move the groups of the ties out of the accumulator assembly. The tie-arrangement system includes a delivery assembly configured to receive the groups of the ties arranged by the accumulator assembly into the same orientation. The delivery assembly is configured to place the groups of the ties onto a surface off the tie-arrangement system for placement of the ties in the track for the rail vehicles.

A rail plate handling device is provided for removing and reinstalling rail tie plates located on rail ties on a railroad track, includes a frame configured for movement relative to the track, at least one tie plate gripping assembly mounted to the frame, the assembly configured for grasping a selected tie plate at the front and rear edges between an adjacent one of the at least one raised rail raised from the operational position supported by the selected tie plate and the associated tie in the operational position upon which the plate was resting, each gripping assembly including a pair of opposing gripping jaws which are configured for controlled reciprocation in a direction parallel to the rails along a guide bar, the guide bar being slidable with the gripping jaws and the selected plate, relative to the frame.

A rail plate handling device is provided for removing and reinstalling rail tie plates located on rail ties on a railroad track, includes a frame configured for movement relative to the track, at least one tie plate gripping assembly mounted to the frame, the assembly configured for grasping a selected tie plate at the front and rear edges between an adjacent one of the at least one raised rail raised from the operational position supported by the selected tie plate and the associated tie in the operational position upon which the plate was resting, each gripping assembly including a pair of opposing gripping jaws which are configured for controlled reciprocation in a direction parallel to the rails along a guide bar, the guide bar being slidable with the gripping jaws and the selected plate, relative to the frame.

A machine for the renewal of sleepers of a track having rails and for the cleaning of exposed ballast after removal of old sleepers, includes a machine frame which is movable on a rail bogie on the track, a screening plant and a clearing device having a collection device for collecting ballast. A sleeper transport device includes a sleeper gripper, rotatable about a vertical axis, between two end-positioned rail bogies, connected to the machine frame, and being displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the machine. The sleeper transport device is displaceable from a front end position (with respect to a working direction) provided for picking up new sleepers by the collection device for collecting ballast, to a rear end position configured to deposit the new sleepers.

A machine for the renewal of sleepers of a track having rails and for the cleaning of exposed ballast after removal of old sleepers, includes a machine frame which is movable on a rail bogie on the track, a screening plant and a clearing device having a collection device for collecting ballast. A sleeper transport device includes a sleeper gripper, rotatable about a vertical axis, between two end-positioned rail bogies, connected to the machine frame, and being displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the machine. The sleeper transport device is displaceable from a front end position (with respect to a working direction) provided for picking up new sleepers by the collection device for collecting ballast, to a rear end position configured to deposit the new sleepers.

A rail ballast management and tie guide ski is provided for use with a rail tie exchanger machine moving along a railroad track. The assembly includes a workhead frame configured for attachment to the tie exchanger, the workhead frame having a vertically oriented sleeve defining a cavity, a tie ski having a generally planar tie engaging surface, an opposite upper surface, a connection point at each of two free ends, and a mounting lug is dimensioned for slidably engaging the cavity, and is pivotally connected to the tie ski. Also connected to said tie guide ski assembly is a pair of fluid power cylinder assemblies, one said cylinder assembly connected to a respective connection point at a first end, and to the sleeve at an opposite second end, such that selective pressurization of said fluid power cylinder assemblies causes reciprocal movement of said tie ski relative to said sleeve.

A rail ballast management and tie guide ski is provided for use with a rail tie exchanger machine moving along a railroad track. The assembly includes a workhead frame configured for attachment to the tie exchanger, the workhead frame having a vertically oriented sleeve defining a cavity, a tie ski having a generally planar tie engaging surface, an opposite upper surface, a connection point at each of two free ends, and a mounting lug is dimensioned for slidably engaging the cavity, and is pivotally connected to the tie ski. Also connected to said tie guide ski assembly is a pair of fluid power cylinder assemblies, one said cylinder assembly connected to a respective connection point at a first end, and to the sleeve at an opposite second end, such that selective pressurization of said fluid power cylinder assemblies causes reciprocal movement of said tie ski relative to said sleeve.