Abstract: A rail-draft vehicle employs an ordinary tractor-like apparatus having conventional forwardly extending, boom apparatus and intermediate vehicle means interposed between the tractor-like apparatus and a conventional railroad car for coupling with and moving one or more of the latter along the rails. The boom apparatus is of the type having a pair of power operated, spaced, swingable tool supporting arms extendable to a position substantially forward of the tractor and have mounted thereon a pair of rail wheels which may be selectively lowered into engagement with the rails upon manipulation of the loader attachment, thereby eliminating the need for special rail wheel retracting mechanisms heretofore directly mounted on the tractor.

Abstract: An intermediate vehicle intercouples a tractor or the like with an ordinary railroad car for shuttling a number of railroad cars along the rails for purposes of loading, switching, and spotting of same. The intermediate vehicle is supported by rail wheels and has an ordinary railroad-type mechanical coupling on one end thereof for coupling with a railroad car, while the other end possesses a tractor-drawn-implement-type coupling for connection with an ordinary three-point hitch of the tractor. Hydraulically extendible, rail engaging wheels are fitted to the tractor for guidance thereof along the rails while the ordinary rubber driving wheels of the tractor are suitably spaced apart for traction engagement with the rails.