Abstract: The invention relates to a clearing device (5) provided for removing ballast below a track (4), which clearing device comprises a clearing beam (10) of a clearing chain (11) that can be positioned below the track (4) in a ballast bed (6) and pivoted about a vertical axis of rotation (7). An end (12) of the clearing beam (10) that is distanced from the axis of rotation (7) can be connected by a releasable coupling (13) to a supporting device (14) fastened to the machine frame (1). In order to pivot jointly with the clearing beam (10), the supporting device is fastened to the machine frame (1) via a linkage (16) that is distanced from the coupling (13) and has a pivot axis (15).

Abstract: A tamping machine for tamping a track is equipped with a track lifting unit, positioned immediately in front of a tamping unit, and an auxiliary lifting device (19) designed for lifting a branch rail (20) of a switch branching off the main track. The auxiliary lifting device (19) is fastened to a beam (21) extending perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the machine and has a lifting tool (27) designed to be applied to a rail head (26). Two disk-shaped thrust rollers (32), spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the machine and rotatable in a common plane of rotation (33), for application to a first side face (34) of the rail head (26) are connected to the auxiliary lifting device (19). A flanged roller (36) is provided for application to a second side face (35) of the rail head (26) and for resting the auxiliary lifting device (19) on the latter. The auxiliary lifting device (19) is pivotable relative to the beam (21) about an axis (42) by means of a drive (41).

Abstract: A tamping tine (5) for a tamping machine consists of a tine shaft (8) and, positioned at the lower end thereof, a tine pad (9) having a pad bottom edge (10) spaced from the tine shaft (8). The tine pad (9) has pad side surfaces (11), spaced from one another in the direction of the pad bottom edge (10) and extending perpendicularly to the same, each of which connect a pad front side (12) to a pad rear side of the tine pad (9). Hardened metal plates (14) for increasing the abrasion resistance are fastened to the tine pad (9). The hardened metal plates (14) situated side by side along the pad bottom edge (10) form a common boundary line (15) both on the pad front side (12) as well as on the pad rear side. Armouring (17) in the shape of a build-up welding, standing out from a plane (16) of the pad front- or -rear side, is provided adjoining each boundary line (15).

Abstract: In a first method step for cleaning a ballast bed (8) of a track (9), the ballast (6) picked up from a bedding section (7) adjoining sleepers ends (30), after having been cleaned, is introduced underneath the track (9) immediately after the removal—carried out in a second method step—of the ballast (6) located underneath the sleepers.

Abstract: A tamping machine designed especially for tamping switch sections comprises two inner and two outer tamping units (13, 24). Each outer tamping unit (24) is designed to be pivotable about a pivot axis (26), extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine, relative to a guide block (25) connected for displacement to transverse guides (12) and to a transverse displacement drive (14), and is connected to a pivot drive (27). Thus, tamping tools (18) of the outer tamping unit (24) can be positioned at a maximum distance from a machine center (23) for extensive tamping of a branch rail.

Abstract: A track maintenance vehicle (1) has a covered loading space (12) resting on a machine frame (2) and a crane jib (16) pivotable by means of drives. A loading wall (20), connected to the machine frame (2) and provided for intermediate storage of goods (19) situated in the loading space (12), is adjustable into a horizontal working position (22) adjoining the loading space (12) laterally, with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: For the controlled lowering of a track, a longitudinal inclination of the track is determined at a rear tracing point of a measuring system and stored. For a length reaching back at least 10 meters, a current vertical profile is formed, and a rear compensation straight line is calculated which is superimposed upon the vertical profile and renders a target track position. The rear tracing point is guided by calculation along the rear compensation straight line, so that a compensation value for the position of the measuring chord ensues at a middle tracing point positioned between the rear tracing point and a front tracing point.

Abstract: A track position correction machine includes a multi-part machine frame and a satellite frame associated with the machine frame. A first drive displaces the satellite frame relative to the machine frame. A first packing unit and a track lifting unit are disposed on the satellite frame. A stabilization unit is associated with the machine frame. A second packing unit is disposed between the satellite frame and the stabilization unit. A second drive displaces the second packing unit relative to the machine frame.

Abstract: A track maintenance vehicle (1) has a covered loading space (12) resting on a machine frame (2) and a crane jib (16) pivotable by means of drives. A loading wall (20), connected to the machine frame (2) and provided for intermediate storage of goods (19) situated in the loading space (12), is adjustable into a horizontal working position (22) adjoining the loading space (12) laterally, with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: Measurement of a track position is carried out in successive measurement sections (15), wherein the relative track position is registered in each case with the aid of a long chord (17), formed by a laser beam (16), which serves as reference line of a measuring system (9). During this; an angle enclosed by the two long chords (17) of two successive measurement sections (15) is measured in order to thereby obtain a spatial curve reproducing the actual position of the track.

Abstract: A machine (1) for picking up and storing rail fastenings (2) of a track (3) includes two rail fastening pickup devices (9). Arranged between these and a rear on-track undercarriage (4)—with regard to a working direction (6)—is a crawler track (24). At each longitudinal side of the machine, two devices (29) for guiding rails (30) are provided which are adjustable by drives (28) relative to the machine frame (5) and arranged one following the other in the longitudinal direction of the machine.

Abstract: A tamping machine designed especially for tamping switch sections comprises two inner and two outer tamping units (13, 24). Each outer tamping unit (24) is designed to be pivotable about a pivot axis (26), extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine, relative to a guide block (25) connected for displacement to transverse guides (12) and to a transverse displacement drive (14), and is connected to a pivot drive (27). Thus, tamping tools (18) of the outer tamping unit (24) can be positioned at a maximum distance from a machine center (23) for extensive tamping of a branch rail.

Abstract: In a method of rehabilitating a ballast bed of a track by excavating contaminated ballast and conveying the excavated contaminated ballast by a first conveyor band unit to a screening unit for cleaning the excavated contaminated ballast, the ballast bed is rehabilitated selectively, in dependence on the degree of contamination of the ballast, in a first or second operating stage. The first operating stage comprises the steps of excavating an upper layer of the ballast by a first excavating device which precedes a second excavating device, in an operating direction, and conducting the excavated upper ballast layer to the first conveyor band unit while, at the same time, the remainder of the ballast is excavated by the second excavating device and is conducted to a second conveyor band unit for disposal.

Abstract: For the controlled lowering of a track, a longitudinal inclination of the track is determined at a rear tracing point of a measuring system and stored. For a length reaching back at least 10 meters, a current vertical profile is formed, and a rear compensation straight line is calculated which is superimposed upon the vertical profile and renders a target track position. The rear tracing point is guided by calculation along the rear compensation straight line, so that a compensation value for the position of the measuring chord ensues at a middle tracing point positioned between the rear tracing point and a front tracing point.

Abstract: A method for cleaning ballast of a track comprising rails extending in a longitudinal direction is executed by means of a ballast cleaning machine having a machine frame supported on on-track undercarriages. The machine includes a cleaning chain with a chain cross member extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. At the start of the cleaning process, an on-track undercarriage situated immediately ahead of the cleaning chain, with regard to a working direction of the ballast cleaning machine, is lifted off the track. The rails are severed, and the track is lifted, after which the chain cross member of the cleaning chain is positioned underneath the track. Finally, the on-track undercarriage is set down upon the track again.

Abstract: A machine for welding the rails of a track includes a rail pulling device that grips the rail ends and pulls them together so that they can be welded to one another. Two rail clamps provided for gripping the rails are fastened to the rail pulling device. The rail clamps are each vertically adjustable in their position relative to the rail pulling device by way of a respective adjustment drive in a direction extending perpendicularly to a pulling device plane formed by hydraulic drives of the rail pulling device. With this, the rails can be lifted from ties in a simple manner in order to enable the clamping members of the rail pulling device to grip the rails.

Abstract: A track renewal machine is equipped with a ballast conveyor band extending in the longitudinal direction and arranged between upper and lower tie transport units and between ballast receiving means and ballast distributing means. The ballast conveyor band has a discharge end positioned rearwardly of a device for laying new rails, in the operating direction. A device for spacing the new ties from each other is positioned rearwardly of the ballast conveyor band discharge end in the operating direction.

Abstract: A machine for welding rails of a track extending in a longitudinal direction includes a rail pulling device for gripping the rails to be welded to one another. The rail pulling device is connected to a machine frame of the welding machine by way of guides and coupling devices. The rail pulling device is designed for displacement in the longitudinal direction or transversely to the longitudinal direction by means of longitudinal displacement drives and transverse displacement drives, and is also vertically adjustable by means of drives. By means of tilting drives, the rail pulling device can additionally be pivoted about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: In a method of loading several like coupled storage cars with bulk material, a first storage car is first filled with the bulk material by reducing the conveying speed mode of a bottom conveyor band in the first storage car to a bulk material storing speed mode while a transfer conveyor band of the adjacent storage car fills the first storage car, the storing speed mode of the bottom conveyor band in the first storage car is automatically adjusted in response to a measured amount of the bulk material accumulating in a pile so that the first storage car is filled to a maximal height, and after the accumulated pile has reached a forward end position, the conveying speed mode of the bottom conveyor band in the storage car adjacent to, and rearwardly of, the first storage car in the conveying direction is automatically reduced to the storing speed mode.

Abstract: A method of cleaning encrusted ballast comprises the steps of screening the encrusted ballast to separate detritus from the ballast, washing the screened ballast with water while removing the separated detritus on a conveyor belt unit, clarifying the washing water to produce a clarified water portion and washing water sludge, and disposing of the washing water sludge by moving it to the detritus on the conveyor belt unit for common removal with the detritus.