A guide tube according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a tube main body member; a rib member arranged in the longitudinal direction of the tube main body member and coupled to the inner surface of the tube main body member; and a rail support member connected to the rib member.

A plating system for attaching a pair of tie plates to a wooden railroad tie with screw spikes such that the tie plates are aligned and in gauge. A predrilling system is used to predrill holes in the appropriate position on the railroad tie according to the line end of the tie prior to loading the tie into the plating system. The plating system clamps the railroad tie in registration according to the line end of the tie, and holds the tie plates in the appropriate position while a pair of hydraulic screw-presses turn screw spikes to fasten the tie plates to the railroad tie in gauge, centered and aligned on the railroad tie.

An improved rail anchoring spike that includes a conical swell adapted to engage with a hole in a metal tie plate during fastening of the metal tie plate to a tie. The conical swell has a smaller diameter toward a pointed end of the spike and a larger diameter toward a head of the spike. The smaller diameter is slightly larger than a diameter of a body of the spike. An angle formed by the conical swell relative to a center line passing through a center of the body of the spike matches an angle of the hole in the metal tie plate relative to a center of the hole.

Systems, methods, and machine-readable media to facilitate installation and adjustment of railway components are disclosed. Aligning of a railway anchor manipulator and a railway fastener installer with respect to a railway tie may be caused. The railway anchor manipulator may be slidably coupled with a frame assembly of a railway workhead, and may include anchor tools. The railway fastener installer may be slidably coupled with the main shaft structure, may include a hammer assembly, and may be operable to install railway fasteners through holes of a railway tie plate. The railway fastener installer may be caused to install the railway fasteners. The railway anchor manipulator may be lowered to a deployed position, and railway anchors may be adjusted with the anchor tools.

A nail punching machine for driving in or pulling out rail spikes includes a driving mechanism, which is driven by an electric drive motor. The electric drive motor is supplied with electric power by an accumulator. The nail punching machine is held by an operator by at least one handle.

A rail fastening device comprises a clip (10) having a base (11) and a nose (12) for engaging a rail flange (F). The base (11) comprises circular aperture (14) in which a circular cam (13) is rotatably mounted, the cam (13) being provided with an eccentric aperture (24) for receiving a ground anchor (25), the cam aperture (24) being radially offset from the rotational centre of the cam (13) to define a cam lobe (15). The cam (13) may comprise a ramped circumferential shoulder (18) to engage a complementary shoulder (21) inside the base aperture (14) such that any rotation of the cam (13) under the applied load of the rail causes the cam (13) to move axially of the base aperture (14) thereby tightening the engagement of the anchor (25) on the cam (13) and preventing movement of the clip (10). The degree of rotation of the cam (13) may be limited so that it can only turn in the tightening direction under load.

A nail punching machine for driving in or pulling out rail spikes comprises a driving mechanism, which is driven by means of an electric drive motor. The electric drive motor is supplied with electric power by means of an accumulator. The nail punching machine is held by an operator by means of at least one handle.

Systems, methods, and machine-readable media to facilitate installation and adjustment of railway components are disclosed. Aligning of a railway anchor manipulator and a railway fastener installer with respect to a railway tie may be caused. The railway anchor manipulator may be slidably coupled with a frame assembly of a railway workhead, and may include anchor tools. The railway fastener installer may be slidably coupled with the main shaft structure, may include a hammer assembly, and may be operable to install railway fasteners through holes of a railway tie plate. The railway fastener installer may be caused to install the railway fasteners. The railway anchor manipulator may be lowered to a deployed position, and railway anchors may be adjusted with the anchor tools.

This method for manufacturing a railway track support comprising a plurality of prefabricated elements (28) comprises the following successive steps: providing, in a production zone (16) for prefabricated elements (28) located near an installation zone (14), a movable insertion machine (52) configured to arrange at least one insert (34) in a fresh concrete block, the production zone being separate from the installation zone; pouring and shaping fresh concrete in order to form individual fresh concrete blocks having predetermined dimensions; arranging at least one insert in each fresh concrete block using the movable insertion machine (52); drying the fresh concrete blocks to obtain the prefabricated elements (28).

A vehicle rail mounting device (10) Is provided for mounting a vehicle rail (12) on a support structure (14). The device Includes a bottom piece (16), an elastomeric bearing element (18) to be supported on the bottom piece, top cover elements (22) having elastomeric element retainers (54), a top piece (20), and rail connectors (82). The elastomeric element retainers are provided to retain the elastomeric element in place while the elastomeric element is adapted to retain the top piece, and hence the rail connectors, and therefore also the rail, in place. The top cover elements can be connected to the to the bottom and to the support structure to keep the whole device in place.