Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in an apparatus and method for moving a railway switch composed of travel rail sections of a main track which are pivoted by positioning elements to rail sections of a branch-off track and locked by closing elements in a particular position with respect to a switch plate extending across the switch, the improvement comprising two positioning sleds, a profiled guide rail supporting each of said sleds, one of said guide rails being outside of and parallel to said travel rail sections of said main track, and the other of said guide rails being outside of and parallel to said rail sections of said branch-off track, and a cross-piece on each positioning sled, each of said cross-pieces having a compression roller mounted thereon and adapted to engage the inside of a rail head of an adjacent travel rail.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in the process for reconditioning worn frogs of railway switches by severing the frog together with sections of the regulating rails adjacent thereto, reconditioning the frog, and renewed welding-in of the frog block, the improvement comprising severing the worn frog from the junction regulating rails at connecting welds thereof, reconditioning the frog, and welding two new regulating rails onto the reconditioned frog, with compensation for the loss in length, due to the severing operation, simultaneously in one casting by aluminothermic welding.

Abstract: A process for the aluminothermic welding of rails in which the rail ends to be joined are surrounded by a prefabricated, dry refractory casting mold and sealed from the rails with plastic mold materials, such as, moistened sand; a reaction crucible is arranged above the casting mold and filled with an aluminothermic reaction mixture; the rail ends are preheated, for example, by burning a mixture of propane and oxygen and directing the flames downwardly into the riser-duct of the casting mold for a period of time up to about 2 minutes and at a temperature between about 300.degree. C and about 700.degree.C; the aluminothermic reaction mixture in the reaction crucible is ignited; and, upon completion of the reaction of the aluminothermic reaction mixture, the lower outlet of the reaction crucible is opened and the steel melt is poured into the mold.The amount of aluminothermically produced steel utilized is between about 0.15 and about 0.25 parts by weight based on the weight per meter of the rails to be welded.