Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading and unloading a railroad gondola car having spaced apart, parallel side walls with upper surfaces, the apparatus including a hydraulic excavator for excavating, loading, and unloading materials, the hydraulic excavator having a boom structure and a material engaging device rotatably mounted on two tracks for moving the hydraulic excavator from one location to another, each of the two track means having an inside set of rollers and an outside set of rollers for supporting the track over its entire width, adjusting structure for moving the tracks inwardly and outwardly to vary the distance between the tracks, and track support apparatus for supporting the track connected to the adjusting structure, a plurality of arms connected to the outside of each of the track support apparatus for preventing the hydraulic excavator from falling off of the gondola car when the two tracks are resting on the upper surfaces of the gondola car, the arms being adapted to extend downwardly adjace

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading and unloading a railroad gondola car having spaced apart, parallel side walls with upper surfaces, the apparatus including a hydraulic excavator having a boom structure and material engaging device mounted on two tracks, the two tracks being movable inwardly and outwardly from the base of the hydraulic excavator to vary the distance between the tracks, each of the tracks having a lip connected thereto which extends downwardly adjacent to the upper surface of the parallel side walls of a railroad gondola car to prevent the hydraulic excavator from falling off the gondola car when the two tracks are resting on the side walls of the gondola car.