Abstract: A rail fastener orienter is provided for orienting rail fasteners to a desired orientation, the fasteners having a head, an opposite tip and a shank connecting the head to the tip, and being sequentially provided to the orienter in one of a head right, head left, head up and head down orientation. The orienter includes a frame having an upper end and an opposite lower end, and defining a track with an inlet adjacent the upper end, and an outlet adjacent the lower end, the track dimensioned for slidingly and rotatingly accommodating the shank. At least one stage holder is provided for accommodating the fastener in the track as the head is at least partially engaged by at least one bumper for repositioning to a desired one of the orientations, such that the fastener reaches the outlet in the desired orientation after axial rotation.

Abstract: An automatic rail spike feeder system for use with a rail maintenance vehicle having a bulk storage bin for containing a supply of spikes, and at least one spike driving mechanism, includes a mechanism constructed and arranged for receiving a supply of spikes from the storage bin and for automatically delivering individual spikes to the at least one spike driving mechanism in a desired orientation without operator contact with the spikes.

Abstract: A rail fastener orienter is provided for orienting rail fasteners to a desired orientation, the fasteners having a head, an opposite tip and a shank connecting the head to the tip, and being sequentially provided to the orienter in one of a head right, head left, head up and head down orientation. The orienter includes a frame having an upper end and an opposite lower end, and defining a track with an inlet adjacent the upper end, and an outlet adjacent the lower end, the track dimensioned for slidingly and rotatingly accommodating the shank. At least one stage holder is provided for accommodating the fastener in the track as the head is at least partially engaged by at least one bumper for repositioning to a desired one of the orientations, such that the fastener reaches the outlet in the desired orientation after axial rotation.