Track Monsters

The correct names are courtesy of M.O. Brown and W.L.Dunham, and other readers.
The incorrect ones are mine.

Sorry about the lousy focus. It was twilight. Shot on film with Pentax lens and digitally scanned. All photos from Charlottesville, Va., May 1996.

Fairmont/Tamper Tie Knock Out Machine (Gawomper 9409)

It seems to push ties in under track, which requires much gawomping.

Nope, it pulls ties out. The full story has come in from M.O. Brown: this is a Fairmont/Tamper Tie Knock Out Machine. Its weird hose arrangement is simply a way of keeping those hoses out of trouble.

Lots more photos.

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 Track machine with canopy and hoses

Spike Pulling Machine (Gramper 9412)

The gramper has a big pneumatic clamp for holding onto a rail, I think.

Nope, it's a spike puller (M.O. Brown.) I should have guessed from the 'SP.' A close up photo.

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 Track machine with clamping device

Rail Lifter (Shwooper 9101)

A mystery to me.

Update: J.Dinsdale says it may be a generator car, or a hydraulic power pack.

New Update: It's a rail Lifter for inserting tie plates.

Another photo and the comments.

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 Track machine minitower and blue box

Spiker

Much easier than the old spike maul. The spikes come in small drums, called kegs. More photos, with J.Dinsdale and M.O.Brown's info.

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 Close up: Spiking device

Plate Sweeper

In front are kegs of spikes.

From M.O. Brown: It's called a plate sweeper. The rotating drum contains dozens of 'massaging fingers' (rubber hoses). These clean the ballast off of the ties so the placing of tie plates [and] spiking can be done. Most of the equipment in the 'back' of a tie gang will have kegs of spikes on them. These can be a scarce commodity when you are a few miles down the track.

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 Track machine with wide trailer thing

No Wheels 505

Looks sort of lonely, eh?

From M.O. Brown: Like most old railroad equipment (and railroads for that matter), this one was "rode hard 'n put away wet."

From joyride -(at symbol)- glasscity.net: Damn Thieves ! I knew I should've used those wheel locks .

From W.L.Dunham: I'm not sure, but looks like a Scarfier to me. Once the old tie is removed, the scarfier breaks up the hardpan so that the new tie can be inserted easier.

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 Track machine with no wheels

Cart 9403

Less than exciting, but what would we do without carts?

From M.O. Brown: This is where all the neat gadgets (AKA Track Tools) are kept. In years past, this assortment of tools would be left on the machines or on small carts (called 'push-cars'). But, unfortunately, theft and vandalism require that these be kept under lock & key.

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 Two cart vehicles

Spiking Machine (Judder 9402)

From M.O. Brown: Just another spiking machine in disguise.

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 Track machine with many hoses

Spike Pulling Machine 9401

From W.L.Dunham: It's the field side of another spike puller like the one pictured above. The disk on the bottom is attached to a hydraulic cylinder, and is called a turntable. The disk is lowered to the ties, then the machine is lifted on balance. The operator then pushes the machine around to face the opposite direction, then lowered back to the rails. All directional machines have this turntable system, from TKO's to spikers to ballast regulators. You may notice a round steel disk about the size and shape of a manhole cover hanging on the sides of some of these machines. That is the turntable plate used on the larger machines.

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 Track machine with tamper

Tie Crane

I wonder why the tie needs its own vehicle.

From M.O. Brown: Go pick up one of those black bananas (AKA ties) and (Oh my ache'n back) there would be no doubt in your mind.

From Tim_Forsyth -(at symbol)- ccm.jf.intel.com: I once observed a similar tie crane working on the UP along the Columbia River in Oregon last summer. He would come rolling up with the trailer stacked high with ties. He would then place them along side of the tracks (for the other crews to later install) with the crane as quickly and easily as you or I would pick up silverware and place them on a table. The speed and grace with which he moved that crane was amazing, all the while slowly moving down the track.

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 Tie crane

Line of track monsters Line of track monsters. The blurry Amtrak is the Cardinal, Chicago to Washington, D.C., via the New River Gorge in West Virginia. Since the New River corridor is not followed by any automobile road, the Cardinal is a prime ride for sightseeing, and now features Superliners (those tall cars). Other DC-Chitown trains go through Pittsburgh instead.

Track monsters and the Cardinal

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