Abstract: A spike driving machine is disclosed in which a hole sensing device and spike holder are driven in toward a rail under the action of a fixed stroke piston and cylinder until a stop engages the rail. The stop has been previously adjusted to line up the hole sensing device and spike holder the correct lateral distance for engagement with the tie plate holes. Excess travel of the piston and cylinder is taken up by providing a flexible connection between an X-frame carrying the hole sensing device, the spike holder and a drive head and a Y-frame which is fixed in the lateral direction. The stroke is chosen to align the spike holder under the drive head. Thus, the arrangement can be used for rails of differing thickness simply by adjusting the stop appropriately.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of an apparatus for tamping the ballast of a railroad track in which a vibration imparting tamping means is inserted into the ballast adjacent a tie to be tamped and the vibration of the tamping means is increased in frequency until it imparts a vibratory excitation to the ballast of between 55 and 75 Hz producing a resultant force directed at an angle towards the underside of the tie to be tamped, whereby to consolidate the ballast beneath and adjacent the tie during the excitation period and thereafter reducing the vibration to below 55 Hz. and withdrawing the tamping head from the ballast.

Abstract: A railroad track lifting an aligning frame particularly for operation in switches has a rail engaging sub frame extending transversely of the main frame of a tamping machine. The sub frame has two members connected for relative adjustment transversely of the main frame in a telescoping fashion. A rail contacting element is provided on each member and abuts the inside of the rail of the track. A jack is provided to adjust and maintain the relative position of the members transversely of the main frame of the machine so as to adjust the track gauge spacing between the rail contacting elements. A pair of substantially vertically extending rail guides, one for each rail of the track are provided as is a device for moving the guides transversely of the main frame in the sub frame. Rail hooks are provided for each guide means which rail hooks externally engage each rail of the track.