Abstract: An improved railroad stub switch is described in which the axial rail tension or compression forces due to temperature fluctuations are transmitted through the switch by means of radius arms connected to both the switch and fixed rails, thereby eliminating the need for expensive expansion joints at the switch. In a preferred embodiment, interlocking point shoes are also employed so as to hold the butt ends in vertical and horizontal register and transmit a signal to the trailing side rail of the impending approach of a load from the approach side rail, thereby reducing batter on the trailing side rail.

Abstract: A motorized track car with a wheeled lower portion for rolling along a railroad track, and a platform carried by the wheeled lower portion. The platform has seating accommodation for one or more persons with the propulsion means for the vehicle disposed below the platform. The propulsion means consists of an internal combustion engine drivingly connected to hydraulic pump means providing fluid pressure for hydraulic motors drivingly associated with wheels of the car. There is control valve means operable by a person seated on the platform to control flow of hydraulic fluid for the pump and motor to vary the speed of travel of the vehicle from zero to maximum in each of forward and backward directions of travel. There is brake means operatively associated with at least one wheel of the track car and operable from the platform and, preferably, by a single lever control which also operates the control valve means.