Continuously advancing track leveling, lining and tamping machine

Abstract

A continuously advancing track leveling, lining and tamping machine comprises a heavy main frame supported on two spaced apart undercarriages for continuous movement in an operating direction and a power plant, drives and operating controls as well as an operator's cab for operating the drives and controls mounted on the main frame. Two separate carrier frames are arranged between the two undercarriages of the heavy main frame, and a drive connected to the heavy main frame longitudinally displaces the carrier frames in relation to the main frame whereby the carrier frames may be intermittently advanced during the continuous movement of the heavy main frame, this drive having a displacement path corresponding to a distance between at least two successive ties. One of the separate carrier frames supports tools for tamping ballast in intermittent tamping cycles under respective ones of the ties at points of intersection of the two rails and the respective ties, and a track lofting and lining unit is mounted on the other one of the separate carrier frames. The tamping tools and the lifting and lining unit is arranged within sight of the operator's cab, and the power plant delivers power to, and the operating controls control, the tamping, track lifting and lining. Track leveling and lining reference systems are associated with the track lifting and lining unit.