Abstract: There is described a railroad ballast plow comprising a four element plow member of substantially X-shaped configuration mounted on subframes on a track travelling vehicle so that it can be moved vertically into and out of engagement with the ballast. The elements are disposed such that the intersection point of the X is central of the track and the elements are positioned in pairs on the sub-frames so as to provide a leading and a trailing plow element on each side of the machine. Each plow element has, at an end adjacent the intersection point of the X, a ballast passing gate hinged adjacent and along an upper edge of its respective plow member for rotation between open and closed position. Each ballast passing gate is individually operated by a remote controlled hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement located between a gate and its respective sub-frame.