Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for removing defective railroad ties from the right-of-way in one piece and without disturbing the elevation, cross-level and line, of a track system. The method is carried out by first removing the tie plates from an individual tie to be replaced; forming a trench underneath the tie by the use of laterally directed scarifiers while retaining the tie in its normal position and restraining the tie against movement longitudinally of the track system so as to displace ballast material from underneath the tie to the next adjacent crib; applying a downward force to the top of the tie to be removed; and withdrawing the tie from one or the other end. The apparatus for performing the method includes a plurality of laterally spaced-apart scarifier means adapted to be rotated about a common axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of a tie to be removed; a restraining means to retain the tie in its normal position while the scarifiers are rotated down and through the ballast underneath the tie to thereby 'pump' the ballast material from a chamber, the top of which is defined by the lower surface of the tie; a means for providing a downwardly directed force on the top of the tie to displace it downwardly underneath the rails of the track system; and a means for withdrawing the tie from either end.

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First Claim