A hydraulically powered railroad tie handler can be attached to a crane on the rear of a truck which can travel either over rails or over pavement. The tie handler has seven hydraulic functions: clamping a main body to underlying rails, gripping a new or old railroad tie, stroking to move the gripped tie laterally under the rails, pivoting the stroker relative to the main body of the tie handler angle the stroker path relative to the main body, tilting of the gripper head relative to the stroker, pivoting the main body to change its angle with respect to the crane attachment plate; and lifting of the main body and clamped rails by pushing off ground between the rails. The stroker extends between two spaced plate portions of the main body.

A multi-function rail maintenance system is provided for performing a sequence of rail maintenance operations on a targeted portion of a railroad track, including at least two function specific modules, each module being movable along the track and having a designated number of function-specific workheads; each module including a coupling assembly for connecting the modules together and for maintaining a specific separation distance; at least one operator cab on at least one module; and a control system on at least one module associated with the at least one operator cab, and connected to each module for controlling and coordinating operation of the workheads, and for maintaining the specific separation distance.

A multi-function rail maintenance system is provided for performing a sequence of rail maintenance operations on a targeted portion of a railroad track, including at least two function specific modules, each module being movable along the track and having a designated number of function-specific workheads; each module including a coupling assembly for connecting the modules together and for maintaining a specific separation distance; at least one operator cab on at least one module; and a control system on at least one module associated with the at least one operator cab, and connected to each module for controlling and coordinating operation of the workheads, and for maintaining the specific separation distance.

A device for laying sleepers on a ballast-bed for railroad construction includes a body having a commuting-mechanism and a fork-lift on a first side of the body The fork-lift lifts and holds at least one set of sleepers above the ballast-bed. A pair of pivot-arms are movably coupled the body and include a gripper. The gripper moves a set of sleepers from the fork-lift from the first side of the body towards a second side of the body. A cradle-arrangement mounted on the second side of the body and the commuting-mechanism allow movement of the device. The pair of elongated fixed support-members is configured to support the set of sleepers moved by the grippers The pair of movable support-members has a reciprocating-movement with respect to the pair of elongated fixed support-members to successively release one sleeper of the set of sleepers at a time from the pair of elongated fixed support-members.

A device for laying sleepers on a ballast-bed for railroad construction includes a body having a commuting-mechanism and a fork-lift on a first side of the body The fork-lift lifts and holds at least one set of sleepers above the ballast-bed. A pair of pivot-arms are movably coupled the body and include a gripper. The gripper moves a set of sleepers from the fork-lift from the first side of the body towards a second side of the body. A cradle-arrangement mounted on the second side of the body and the commuting-mechanism allow movement of the device. The pair of elongated fixed support-members is configured to support the set of sleepers moved by the grippers The pair of movable support-members has a reciprocating-movement with respect to the pair of elongated fixed support-members to successively release one sleeper of the set of sleepers at a time from the pair of elongated fixed support-members.

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 jacking tie and method of using a jacking tie to level and/or lift a railroad track. The jacking tie is configured with an elongate body that is configured to span beneath two parallel rails of a railroad track. Preferably the jacking tie is of the configuration to replace a standard railroad tie. The jacking tie has two jacks, preferably hydraulic cylinder jacks that are positioned so as to lift each of the parallel rails of the railroads. The jacking tie body has two sections. A track support shell is supported by the hydraulic cylinder jacks. The track support shell is configured for nesting or mating engagement with the lower body shell in a compressed or resting position. The hydraulic jack cylinders are configured to lift the track support shell away from the lower body shell, thus lifting the rail positioned above the hydraulic jack cylinder. The track support shell and lower body shell are pivotally connected such that the ends of the track support shell can be independently raised. Preferably, the pivotal connection is maintained in a slot allowing the pivotal connection to rise and lower when both hydraulic lift cylinders are raised or lowered. This functionality allows for the lifting and lowering of two parallel rails of a railroad track by allowing for the lifting of the track and replacement of ballast beneath the track. Preferably the jacking tie is constructed such that it can be left under the track or alternatively can be extended and left in place while the railroad is maintained in operation or alternatively while a ballast tamper travels along the track.

A jacking tie and method of using a jacking tie to level and/or lift a railroad track. The jacking tie is configured with an elongate body that is configured to span beneath two parallel rails of a railroad track. Preferably the jacking tie is of the configuration to replace a standard railroad tie. The jacking tie has two jacks, preferably hydraulic cylinder jacks that are positioned so as to lift each of the parallel rails of the railroads. The jacking tie body has two sections. A track support shell is supported by the hydraulic cylinder jacks. The track support shell is configured for nesting or mating engagement with the lower body shell in a compressed or resting position. The hydraulic jack cylinders are configured to lift the track support shell away from the lower body shell, thus lifting the rail positioned above the hydraulic jack cylinder. The track support shell and lower body shell are pivotally connected such that the ends of the track support shell can be independently raised. Preferably, the pivotal connection is maintained in a slot allowing the pivotal connection to rise and lower when both hydraulic lift cylinders are raised or lowered. This functionality allows for the lifting and lowering of two parallel rails of a railroad track by allowing for the lifting of the track and replacement of ballast beneath the track. Preferably the jacking tie is constructed such that it can be left under the track or alternatively can be extended and left in place while the railroad is maintained in operation or alternatively while a ballast tamper travels along the track.

A jacking tie and method of using a jacking tie to level and/or lift a railroad track. The jacking tie is configured with an elongate body that is configured to span beneath two parallel rails of a railroad track. The jacking tie has two jacks, preferably hydraulic cylinder jacks that are positioned so as to lift each of the parallel rails of the railroads. The jacking tie body has two sections. A track support shell is supported by the hydraulic cylinder jacks. The track support shell is configured for nesting or mating engagement with the lower body shell in a compressed or resting position. The hydraulic jack cylinders are configured to lift the track support shell away from the lower body shell, thus lifting the rail positioned above the hydraulic jack cylinder. The track support shell and lower body shell are pivotally connected such that the ends of the track support shell can be independently raised.