A spike puller apparatus comprises a subframe, a pair of opposed puller arms for engaging with spikes to be pulled via a replaceable puller tool mounted on the end of each puller arm, a pair of horizontal shafts and an actuator to selectively translate each puller arm with respect to one another, an actuator to articulate each respective puller arm for pulling spikes, an A-frame connected to the subframe to resist and/or apply pulling forces to a spike being pulled, and a vertical actuator connected to the A-frame to cause the vertical slide carrier to move up and down along the pair of vertical shafts to effect a spike pulling operation. The respective puller arms are independently controllable, and may be selectively staggered with respect to one another along a rail to allow selective independent and/or simultaneous pulling of rail spikes and/or anchor spikes on opposite sides of the rail.

A spike puller apparatus comprises a subframe, a pair of opposed puller arms for engaging with spikes to be pulled via a replaceable puller tool mounted on the end of each puller arm, a pair of horizontal shafts and an actuator to selectively translate each puller arm with respect to one another, an actuator to articulate each respective puller arm for pulling spikes, an A-frame connected to the subframe to resist and/or apply pulling forces to a spike being pulled, and a vertical actuator connected to the A-frame to cause the vertical slide carrier to move up and down along the pair of vertical shafts to effect a spike pulling operation. The respective puller arms are independently controllable, and may be selectively staggered with respect to one another along a rail to allow selective independent and/or simultaneous pulling of rail spikes and/or anchor spikes on opposite sides of the rail.

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 portable railroad spike remover comprises an extractor that is shaped to engage and secure a railroad spike previously installed into a rail tie. A drive shaft is connected to the extractor such that as the drive shaft is rotated, the extractor is vertically raised and lowered within a main column. The extractor may have an opening extending through at least one side to engage the railroad spike.

A portable railroad spike remover comprises an extractor that is shaped to engage and secure a railroad spike previously installed into a rail tie. A drive shaft is connected to the extractor such that as the drive shaft is rotated, the extractor is vertically raised and lowered within a main column. The extractor may have an opening extending through at least one side to engage the railroad spike.

A spike puller for pulling a railroad spike of a track includes a housing, a linear displacement unit mounted at the housing, and a claw unit for gripping the railroad spike. The claw unit is displaceable in a linear manner relative to the housing in a displacement direction by using the linear displacement unit. The linear displacement unit includes a hollow tube which is guided in the housing. A method for pulling a railroad spike of a track is also provided.

A spiker anvil is provided for use in a rail fastener driving workhead unit. Included in the present spiker anvil is a head with an outer periphery, the head outer periphery including an indentation that mates with a hammer pin of the rail fastener driving workhead unit. Also included in the spiker anvil is a body defining a body outer periphery and a tip defining a tip outer periphery, a substantially flat bottom surface, a first chamfer and a second chamfer, the bottom surface being perpendicular to the tip outer periphery, and the first and second chamfer connecting the bottom surface and the tip outer periphery. Further, the spiker anvil includes a cavity within the tip with an opening in the bottom surface and an insert placed within the cavity, such that the insert includes an end which extends beyond the bottom surface.

A spiker anvil is provided for use in a rail fastener driving workhead unit. Included in the present spiker anvil is a head with an outer periphery, the head outer periphery including an indentation that mates with a hammer pin of the rail fastener driving workhead unit. Also included in the spiker anvil is a body defining a body outer periphery and a tip defining a tip outer periphery, a substantially flat bottom surface, a first chamfer and a second chamfer, the bottom surface being perpendicular to the tip outer periphery, and the first and second chamfer connecting the bottom surface and the tip outer periphery. Further, the spiker anvil includes a cavity within the tip with an opening in the bottom surface and an insert placed within the cavity, such that the insert includes an end which extends beyond the bottom surface.

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.