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.

A plate retainer apparatus is provided for use on a railroad track with a tie exchanger having a main frame, the apparatus configured for gripping and retaining rail tie plates to a rail during a rail tie exchange process. The plate retainer apparatus includes a plate retainer workhead constructed and arranged for movement independent of that of the main frame. Included on the workhead is a pair of workhead modules, each module associated with a rail of the track and configured for retaining a single tie plate associated with a target tie at a time. Each workhead module is movable relative to the main frame independently of each other.

A plate retainer apparatus is provided for use on a railroad track with a tie exchanger having a main frame, the apparatus configured for gripping and retaining rail tie plates to a rail during a rail tie exchange process. The plate retainer apparatus includes a plate retainer workhead constructed and arranged for movement independent of that of the main frame. Included on the workhead is a pair of workhead modules, each module associated with a rail of the track and configured for retaining a single tie plate associated with a target tie at a time. Each workhead module is movable relative to the main frame independently of each other.

A device and method for the replacement of railroad ties is disclosed. The tie extends laterally under two rails and is attached to the rails via tie plates. An example rail changing machine includes a tie changing boom moveable to one side of the two rails. The tie changing boom including a gripping assembly for clamping the railroad tie. The tie changing boom is moveable between a proximate position and a distal position from the one side of the two rails to grip the tie and remove the tie from under the rails. A kicker is located on the opposite side of the rails from the tie changing boom and contacts one end of the tie to move the tie toward the tie changing boom. A pair of tie plate clamps to hold the tie plates in place when the kicker moves the tie.

A device and method for the replacement of railroad ties is disclosed. The tie extends laterally under two rails and is attached to the rails via tie plates. An example rail changing machine includes a tie changing boom moveable to one side of the two rails. The tie changing boom including a gripping assembly for clamping the railroad tie. The tie changing boom is moveable between a proximate position and a distal position from the one side of the two rails to grip the tie and remove the tie from under the rails. A kicker is located on the opposite side of the rails from the tie changing boom and contacts one end of the tie to move the tie toward the tie changing boom. A pair of tie plate clamps to hold the tie plates in place when the kicker moves the tie.

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 rail plate handling device is provided for removing and reinstalling rail tie plates, wherein at least one of the rails is raised from an operational position during the removal and installation process. A frame is configured for movement relative to the track; at least one tie plate gripping assembly is mounted to the frame, the assembly is configured for grasping a selected tie plate at front and rear edges between an adjacent rail raised from the operational position supported by the selected tie plate and the associated tie, pulling the selected plate away from the adjacent raised rail and away from the associated tie, retaining the selected plate in a suspended position above the track while the tie is extracted and a new tie inserted, and then replacing the suspended tie plate back upon the rail from a gage side of the rail.

A rail plate handling device is provided for removing and reinstalling rail tie plates, wherein at least one of the rails is raised from an operational position during the removal and installation process. A frame is configured for movement relative to the track; at least one tie plate gripping assembly is mounted to the frame, the assembly is configured for grasping a selected tie plate at front and rear edges between an adjacent rail raised from the operational position supported by the selected tie plate and the associated tie, pulling the selected plate away from the adjacent raised rail and away from the associated tie, retaining the selected plate in a suspended position above the track while the tie is extracted and a new tie inserted, and then replacing the suspended tie plate back upon the rail from a gage side of the rail.