Abstract: A machine for cleaning ballast along the shoulders of a railroad track, which comprises a machine frame, an endless ballast excavating and conveying chain vertically adjustably mounted at each machine frame side, a ballast screening installation arranged to receive the excavated ballast conveyed by the endless chains, and a ballast loosening and excavating device preceding each endless ballast excavating and conveying chain in the operating direction of the machine and vertically adjustably mounted on the machine frame. Each device includes a ballast loosening and excavating tool arranged to project below a respective tie end in a vertically adjusted operating position and a ballast guide plate arranged adjacent the tool for receiving the loosened and excavated ballast therefrom and guiding it transversely outwardly from the tie end whereby a ballast heap spaced from the tie end in longitudinal alignment with each chain is produced for excavation and conveyance by the chain.