Abstract: An articulated rail-transport car for transporting long sections of ribbon rail is described. The car includes a plurality of segments arranged end-to-end and coupled and supported at their adjacent ends by shared trucks. Dedicated trucks are provided near each terminal end of the car and couplers configured to couple to an adjacent rail car are provided at the respective terminal ends. Rail stands are disposed along the length of the car with a spacing that is independent of the locations of the shared and dedicated trucks and that provides a greater number of rail stands than trucks. The segments may be configured to enable interchangeability and to allow any number of the segments to be included in the car. A plurality of the cars can be coupled to enable transport of ribbon rails of any length.

Abstract: A rotary ditching attachment for an articulated boom of an excavator type machine includes two rotary excavating heads supported in spaced relation on opposite sides of a central support. The heads rotate about a common axis. The rotary ditching attachment is rotatably coupled to the boom by a rotating tool mount. The rotating tool mount is connectable to the central support such that the central support and attached excavating heads are rotatable about an axis extending through the central support and perpendicular to the common axis of the excavator heads. Excavating assemblies are mounted on outwardly facing and inwardly facing surfaces of rotors forming each excavating heads. Rotating the rotary ditching attachment relative to a direction of movement of the rotary ditching tool relative to the ground increases the width of cut of the excavating heads when used to form or rehabilitate a ditch.

Abstract: A centering apparatus for bi-directionally pivotable hopper doors. The apparatus is coupled between a frame of a hopper car and a bell crank of a hopper door. The apparatus includes a housing with a piston extending from one end. An end of the piston within the housing includes a piston head. A pair of coil springs are disposed within the housing on opposite sides of the piston head and counteract one another to bias the piston head toward the center of the housing and thus bias the hopper door toward a closed state. In a second configuration the apparatus includes a double-acting actuator with a pair of independent piston assemblies. An actuation system coupled to the actuator maintains the actuator and an associated hopper door in a closed position in a normal state and returns the hopper door to the closed position upon a failure in the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing rail ties are disclosed. A method of distributing rail ties at a side of a track comprises providing a plurality of rail tie distribution cars in a consist. Each of the plurality of rail tie distribution cars has a distribution car controller and a discharge means configured to selectively distribute a rail tie on at least one side of the track. The method comprises generating a rail tie distribution plan identifying a plurality of rail tie drop off locations and selecting, from the plurality of rail tie distribution cars in the consist, one rail tie distribution car to distribute a rail tie at one of the plurality of rail tie drop off locations. The distribution car controller and the discharge means of the selected one of the plurality of rail tie distribution cars distributes the rail tie at the drop off location.

Abstract: A system for distributing rail ties along the side of a track from a rail car and consist of the rail cars is disclosed. Each rail car includes a floor conveyor conveying rail ties to a singulating conveyor assembly which advances rail ties individually to a dealer having an indexing mechanism which selectively releases individual rail ties onto a discharge chute. The discharge chute is oriented so ties dropped on the discharge chute are discharged out a selected side of the rail car. A controller on each rail tie distribution car communicates with a computing resource which implements a plan for selectively discharging ties from cars selected by the computing resource to discharge ties at selected drop off locations.

Abstract: A rail-lifting and ballast-spreading apparatus that may be employed to rehabilitate damaged tracks or aid rough in of new tracks, is described. The apparatus includes a track-lifting unit at a forward end thereof that includes an arm that is pivotable to extend forwardly and over a section of track in need of repair or ballast replenishment. Rail clamps are provided on a distal end of the arm that engage and travel along the rails as the apparatus moves forward. A conveyor provides a stream of ballast across the width of the tracks while the tracks are lifted and as the apparatus moves forward onto the now repaired tracks. A surge bin is provided to increase a rate of distribution of the ballast material by the conveyor over that available from the ballast-delivery consist.

Abstract: A centering apparatus for bi-directionally pivotable hopper doors. The apparatus is coupled between a frame of a hopper car and a bell crank of a hopper door. The apparatus includes a housing with a piston extending from one end. An end of the piston within the housing includes a piston head. A pair of coil springs are disposed within the housing on opposite sides of the piston head and counteract one another to bias the piston head toward the center of the housing and thus bias the hopper door toward a closed state. In a second configuration the apparatus includes a double-acting actuator with a pair of independent piston assemblies. An actuation system coupled to the actuator maintains the actuator and an associated hopper door in a closed position in a normal state and returns the hopper door to the closed position upon a failure in the system.

Abstract: A rail-lifting and ballast-spreading apparatus that may be employed to rehabilitate damaged tracks or aid rough in of new tracks, is described. The apparatus includes a track-lifting unit at a forward end thereof that includes an arm that is pivotable to extend forwardly and over a section of track in need of repair or ballast replenishment. Rail clamps are provided on a distal end of the arm that engage and travel along the rails as the apparatus moves forward. A conveyor provides a stream of ballast across the width of the tracks while the tracks are lifted and as the apparatus moves forward onto the now repaired tracks. A surge bin is provided to increase a rate of distribution of the ballast material by the conveyor over that available from the ballast-delivery consist.

Abstract: An articulated rail-transport car for transporting long sections of ribbon rail is described. The car includes a plurality of segments arranged end-to-end and coupled and supported at their adjacent ends by shared trucks. Dedicated trucks are provided near each terminal end of the car and couplers configured to couple to an adjacent rail car are provided at the respective terminal ends. Rail stands are disposed along the length of the car with a spacing that is independent of the locations of the shared and dedicated trucks and that provides a greater number of rail stands than trucks. The segments may be configured to enable interchangeability and to allow any number of the segments to be included in the car. A plurality of the cars can be coupled to enable transport of ribbon rails of any length.

Abstract: A backup power system for a railroad power unit includes an emergency backup generator that enables continuous operation of both traction motors and accessories on the power unit when a main generator and/or an accessory power unit (APU) become inoperable. The backup generator can provide power to accessories on the railcar when the APU becomes inoperable and when power provided by the APU is diverted to the traction motors due to the main generator becoming inoperable.

Abstract: A backup power system for a railroad power unit includes an emergency backup generator that enables continuous operation of both traction motors and accessories on the power unit when a main generator and/or an accessory power unit (APU) become inoperable. The backup generator can provide power to accessories on the railcar when the APU becomes inoperable and when power provided by the APU is diverted to the traction motors due to the main generator becoming inoperable.

Abstract: A rail unloading vehicle is self-propelled and able to travel either over-the-road on conventional roadway tires or along railway tracks on railway wheels. Threading mechanisms for unloading the rails are arranged to retract so they provide a narrow profile for transport over the road. The threading mechanisms have thread boxes with jaws that open to accommodate easy reception of rails, and close to apply rollers to the rails for unloading operations. A special rail clamp has a pair of oppositely pivoting dogs to allow rail manipulation in opposite directions without slippage. A special saw allows safe on-site cutting of rails.

Abstract: A rail unloading vehicle is self-propelled and able to travel either over-the-road on conventional roadway tires or along railway tracks on railway wheels. Threading mechanisms for unloading the rails are arranged to retract so they provide a narrow profile for transport over the road. The threading mechanisms have thread boxes with jaws that open to accommodate easy reception of rails, and close to apply rollers to the rails for unloading operations. A special rail clamp has a pair of oppositely pivoting dogs to allow rail manipulation in opposite directions without slippage. A special saw allows safe on-site cutting of rails.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for spreading ballast along railways makes use of an inertial measurement system to determine where to apply ballast from a hopper car. A variety of techniques can be used to determine the location and speed of the ballast spreading train, including manual or automated visual techniques, laser technology, radar technology, radio frequency transponders, magnetic sensor, thermal imaging and aerial photogrammetry. The invention also contemplates “on the fly” surveys and terrain profiling using lasers or radar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for spreading ballast along railways makes use of an inertial measurement system to determine where to apply ballast from a hopper car. A variety of techniques can be used to determine the location and speed of the ballast spreading train, including manual or automated visual techniques, laser technology, radar technology, radio frequency transponders, magnetic sensor, thermal imaging and aerial photogrammetry. The invention also contemplates “on the fly” surveys and terrain profiling using lasers or radar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for spreading ballast along railways makes use of an inertial measurement system to determine where to apply ballast from a hopper car. A variety of techniques can be used to determine the location and speed of the ballast spreading train, including manual or automated visual techniques, laser technology, radar technology, radio frequency transponders, magnetic sensor, thermal imaging and aerial photogrammetry. The invention also contemplates “on the fly” surveys and terrain profiling using lasers or radar.