Ever seen a train make its own track?

[southpennrailroad]

http://www.wimp.com/traintrack/

The South Penn wold never have seen this coming.

[planovet]

That is so cool

But the railroad scene in Blazing Saddles would not have been the same

[madjack]

...now, that is a truly impressive bunch of machinery....................................................

[Mike Angeles]

Too Cool, No more creosote soaked Ties im guessing?

[starleen2]

Gee - what will they think up next - Machines to build cars??

[steve smoot]

That is wild. You know all the guys would like it...(I watch those train videos on youtube too)...what was the machine doing at 4:15 to about 4:45?

[Dave A]

If you are referring to the time of day, probably taking a coffee break.


In the video it was tamping the ballast.

[Karl]

Way cool. I never would have dreamt of such a machine.

[Shadow Catcher]

I have always wondered why the US does not use concrete ties
Interesting machinery, thanks for sharing.

[angib]

...what was the machine doing at 4:15 to about 4:45?

It's a tamping machine - lifting the track perfectly level and then vibrating the ballast to get the stones consolidated under the sleepers.

It's really interesting to see this American process at work as you have so much single-track working, so you need an automated way to maintain it, from the same 'track'. In contrast, we don't have almost any mainline track that hasn't got at least two tracks, so a rail crane on the next track can pick up a complete assembly of rails and sleepers, made off-site and shipped in on a wagon. Weld the ends of the rails and run the same tamping machine down the track and you're done.

[halfdome, Danny]

I've personally watched that process a couple of times in the Puyallup valley off Pioneer St.
Seems that section of track requires frequent maintenance.
They use wood ties though. Fun to watch. Danny