A rail cum Road Vehicle (RCRV) running on rail tracks or on plain roads, includes a gas powered hybrid engine coach linked to and pulling one or several passenger coaches or goods vehicles, all of which in common are fitted with pneumatic rubber wheels, steel wheels, air suspension system with hanger brackets, air brakes and couplers.

There is described a hi-rail device for mounting on a vehicle, comprising a linkage between an axle assembly for holding wheels and a mounting assembly. The linkage, pivotally connected to an upper pivot connection thereof, is foldable and unfoldable to translate the axle assembly relative to the upper pivot connection. An active suspension between the linkage and the mounting assembly is provided and comprises a suspension body to swivel about the mounting assembly, actuated by a spring proximally urging on the suspension body to provide the swivel. The suspension body comprising the upper connection to the linkage, which can move along with the suspension body to provide active suspension. Also, a locking pin, extending through the linkage, can be locked in a slot using a hydraulic cylinder, distinct from a hydraulic cylinder for deployment, and which comprises a spring for default locking not involving hydraulic power.

A rail cum Road Vehicle (RCRV) running on rail tracks or on plain roads, includes a gas powered hybrid engine coach linked to and pulling one or several passenger coaches or goods vehicles, all of which in common are fitted with pneumatic rubber wheels, steel wheels, air suspension system with hanger brackets, air brakes and couplers.

There is described a hi-rail device comprising a cam assembly, an axle assembly and a locking pin. The cam assembly comprises a guiding slot which comprises a plurality of contiguous segments extending as a broken line, e.g., in a flattened M shape, wherein a first one and a last one of the contiguous segments extend in a downward slope with respect to a horizon. The locking pin inserted in the guiding slot and movable in translation within the guiding slot in which it is inserted. The axle assembly, in which the locking pin is inserted, has a weight applied on the locking pin which locks the locking pin in the lower end or the upper end of the guiding slot if the locking pin is in the first one or the last one of the four contiguous segments and no other force is applied thereonto.

A hi-rail device for mounting on a vehicle, comprising a locking slot comprising a first locking end and a second locking end, and a locking pin movable in translation within the locking slot and captured therein. The locking slot which is continuous between the first locking end and the second locking end, thereby being confined between the first locking end and the second locking end. A linkage is provided, and is foldable and unfoldable to displace an axle assembly for holding wheels. A spring-extended locking cylinder extends from the linkage to the locking pin, comprising a locking spring to urge the locking pin into the respective abutting surface of any one of the first locking end and the second locking end when the locking pin is in any one of them, thereby using only spring force in extension to lock the linkage into either locking position.

A rail gear system and a method for placing a truck on railroad tracks are provided in which the truck can be placed into the set of railroad tracks using a short siding. The rail gear may be mounted on a back portion of the truck and may rotate so that the a rear portion of the truck rotates about the track when the rail gear is engaged with the set of railroad tracks.

A tamper apparatus configured for being transportable upon a road is provided. A chassis is configured for supporting the tamper apparatus. A retractable turntable unit is connected to the chassis. The turntable unit has a generally quadrilateral configuration with side walls, and is rotatably attached at substantially a center of mass of the tamper apparatus. A tamping unit is connected to the chassis and configured for performing packing of a ballast under railroad ties for correcting cross and longitudinal levels of a pair of rails of a railroad track. A buggy lift assembly is removably attached to the chassis and configured for providing track alignment of the rails. At least one set of retractable rail wheels is connected to the chassis such that the chassis is towable by an automobile.

Described is a hybrid transportation system with hybrid vehicles (H-vehicles) that can travel on pavement (or off-road), then transition to railroad track travel, and then later transition back onto pavement without stopping or requiring an operator to exit the vehicle. At static rail junctions (with no moving switch parts) the H-vehicle selects its outgoing track. Turns at passive junctions are made by applying lateral force which may be applied using multiple methods including side roller diverters, dual flange rail wheels, and steering. Separate road wheels and rail wheels may be employed on an H-vehicle, or a combination wheel can be used with concentric road and rail wheel components. Combination wheels may be locked together or unlocked with relative rotational angular velocities. Transition between road and rail travel is facilitated using transition spans which connect roads to rails. Improved rail-only vehicles (R-) vehicles and junctions are also described.