A railcar airbrake system for attachment to or integration into machinery, such as a wheel loader preferably includes a rail car coupler, a glad hand air hose, a compressor, an air storage tank and a sliding base frame. The sliding base frame preferably includes a plurality of top and bottom supports, a base support plate, top and bottom cross members, a coupler slide device and two vertical support posts. The railcar coupler and the glad hand air hose are retained in the coupler slide device. The plurality of supports, the cross members, plate and posts are used to create a structure, which incorporates the slide base frame. The air storage tank and the compressor are secured to the base support plate. The compressor supplies compressed air to the air storage tank. The air storage tank supplies compressed air to the glad hand air hose.

A laser alignment system for a railcar mover is disclosed herein. The laser alignment system may comprise a laser mounted to a frame of a railcar mover that assists with the alignment of a rail wheel and the rail of a track when switching from road mode to rail mode. In various embodiments, the laser may be mounted to the frame of the railcar mover via a mount and/or mounting structure that enable the laser to be moved and/or the orientation of the laser to be adjusted relative to the railcar mover. In some embodiments, the laser alignment system may include a window underneath the operator of the railcar mover so that a laser beam emitted by the laser can be seen by the operator.

A rail car mover attachment includes a remote removably mounted in a machine cab and including an emergency actuator to abruptly activate a rail car brake, a lock pin actuator to move a lock pin relative to a rail car latch in a rail car coupler, and/or a controlled stop actuator to selectively activate a rail car brake. The attachment can include an onboard compressor, such as a high volume compressor. The attachment can include a disconnect unit that self-activates rail car brakes if the attachment loses power or detaches from equipment. The attachment can include a light showing the attachment is charged and running or showing a fault. The attachment can include a laterally extending indicator arm deployable when the rail car coupler is fully attached to the rail car, and that extends beyond a rail car width so that a spotter can visually verify the coupler status. A related method of use also is provided.

A rail car mover attachment includes a remote removably mounted in a machine cab and including an emergency actuator to abruptly activate a rail car brake, a lock pin actuator to move a lock pin relative to a rail car latch in a rail car coupler, and/or a controlled stop actuator to selectively activate a rail car brake. The attachment can include an onboard compressor, such as a high volume compressor. The attachment can include a disconnect unit that self-activates rail car brakes if the attachment loses power or detaches from equipment. The attachment can include a light showing the attachment is charged and running or showing a fault. The attachment can include a laterally extending indicator arm deployable when the rail car coupler is fully attached to the rail car, and that extends beyond a rail car width so that a spotter can visually verify the coupler status. A related method of use also is provided.

A system and method are provided for spacing railcars of a train apart from each other with a predetermined gap in between. Embodiments include a railcar spacing tool having a hydraulic cylinder with brackets at opposing ends for contacting the frame of each of a pair of adjoined adjacent railcars to be spaced from each other, and a cylinder support frame attached to the cylinder and movably attached to a support vehicle such that the support frame is movable from a retracted position to an extended position where the brackets are between the frames of the pair of railcars. After moving the cylinder support frame to the extended position, the brackets are positioned in contact with the railcar frames, and the cylinder is engaged to create the predetermined gap between the railcars. The railcars' brakes are applied to preserve the gap, and the spacing tool is then removed.

A system and method are provided for spacing railcars of a train apart from each other with a predetermined gap in between. Embodiments include a railcar spacing tool having a hydraulic cylinder with brackets at opposing ends for contacting the frame of each of a pair of adjoined adjacent railcars to be spaced from each other, and a cylinder support frame attached to the cylinder and movably attached to a support vehicle such that the support frame is movable from a retracted position to an extended position where the brackets are between the frames of the pair of railcars. After moving the cylinder support frame to the extended position, the brackets are positioned in contact with the railcar frames, and the cylinder is engaged to create the predetermined gap between the railcars. The railcars' brakes are applied to preserve the gap, and the spacing tool is then removed.

A claw system for mechanical coupling a railcar mover to a railcar is disclosed herein. The claw assembly may comprise a set of arms and a set of claws each mounted on the interior side of one of the set of arms. When a railcar adjacent to a railcar mover on a set of tracks is positioned within a proximity of the railcar mover, the claw assembly may be utilized to grasp the air hose of the adjacent railcar. For example, the set of arms may be attached to the railcar mover via a motorized rail upon which the set of arms may be configured to move axially toward each other in a direction perpendicular to the tracks, thereby causing the claws to move toward each other and close around the air hose of the adjacent railcar. The claws may include openings configured to grasp the air hose.

A rail car mover attachment includes a remote removably mounted in a machine cab and including an emergency actuator to abruptly activate a rail car brake, a lock pin actuator to move a lock pin relative to a rail car latch in a rail car coupler, and/or a controlled stop actuator to selectively activate a rail car brake. The attachment can include an onboard compressor, such as a high volume compressor. The attachment can include a disconnect unit that self-activates rail car brakes if the attachment loses power or detaches from equipment. The attachment can include a light showing the attachment is charged and running or showing a fault. The attachment can include a laterally extending indicator arm deployable when the rail car coupler is fully attached to the rail car, and that extends beyond a rail car width so that a spotter can visually verify the coupler status. A related method of use also is provided.

A railroad car moving vehicle comprises a chassis, the chassis including at least two ground wheels and at least two track wheels; a platform moveably mounted on the chassis; a platform lifting apparatus configured to move the platform between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the chassis, the platform lifting apparatus including a platform lifting cylinder operatively coupled between the chassis and the platform; and at least one locking leg, the locking leg positionable between an extended position and a stowed position, the locking leg preventing lowering of the platform when in the extended position.

A magnetic traction assembly is disclosed for a railcar mover that provides additional downforce to improve traction for a railcar mover when required. The magnetic traction assembly may comprise a frame, an actuator, and a magnetic element positioned underneath a railcar mover. The magnetic element may be lowered to a deployed position, where the magnetic element is positioned near the railroad rails such that the magnetic field from the magnetic element interacts with the railroad rail creating an attraction force that provides additional downforce to the railcar mover.