Ballast Regulator
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It is a ballast regulator, and it is used to shape the ballast section after the track is tamped. The regulator has a a plow on the front of the unit (opposite the photographer in this case) and wings (which are currently retracted) on either side to shape the top and side slopes of the ballast section. The unit is also equipped with a rotating broom to clean ballast off the top of the ties after the ballast section is shaped. This is what is going on right now in the photo, though the ballast looks pretty fouled with dirt in this shot. In case you are wondering the "broom" is a bit more brute force than what you see on a street sweeper - it is made up of reinforced rubber bristles that are about 1.5" in diameter.
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Good description there.
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| Posted by Dan on May 30, 2008 | |
CSX has this same machine working at Painesville right now during a major tie and rail replacement project between Erie and Cleveland.
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Judging from the ballast against the rails, this regulator is cleaning up after a ballast train. Normally,to reduce damage and possible injury, the broom is run with the skirts down. It might be that this unit is simply backing up while the broom is still operating. Appears that there remains more plowing to be done before the final brushing is carried out.The "bristles" on the broom used to be made from old air brake hoses. Notice the water tanks on the regulator - probably to reduce the dust while operating - another environmental concern not seen in the past. Ballast regulators are also used in the winter to clean snow from tracks and switches.
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