Help with identifying a road-rail vehicle

[Azzawba92]

Hi there all! I appreciate this may be in the wrong section so here goes. Last night i filmed a digger type machine at Dudley port helping with the new track, by the looks of it it was something to do with the sleepers. Any ideas on names as no idea what to upload to youtube as. Many thanks & apologies again if i'm in the wrong thread.

 

[rebmcr]

Sounds like a Road-Rail Vehicle.

It could also have been a Multi-Purpose Vehicle or a Tamper -- those look more like trains than diggers though.

Do you have a still that you could post?

 

[Azzawba92]

Unfortunately not, will upload & post here, can always edit later.

https://youtu.be/j8FAf86JM9s

 

[TheEdge]

Yea, thats just a road-rail digger. They are made by the same people that make normal diggers.

They just driver to an access point on normal road wheels, lower a clever rail wheel arrangement then drive off down the rails.

 

[Azzawba92]

Ah cheers, i'm guessing it may have come from sandwell & Dudley then as there's a network rail base there with this type of machinery

 

[Azzawba92]

Hi there all, just wondering if any of you know what i saw last night, basically a digger on wheels but without the scoop.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ploughman]

Take a look here - http://www.ontrackplant.com/

As has been said Excavators on the rails are basically the same as road going types but with a set of rail wheels fitted.
Conversions usually carried out by specialist contractors rather than the original makers.
Many excavators have a great range of attachments from Buckets to Crane fittings.
A lot of machines are fitted with man baskets for working on the Overhead lines.

At least 3 Different drive systems are in use.

One were the machine jacks itself up and the tyres drive the rail wheels.
This reverses the drive direction, sometimes called High Rail

Another more common one is for the tyres to run on the rail tops with a small set of rail wheels just used for guidance. Low Rail

The 3rd method is for a Hydraulically Driven axle to be fitted that lowers onto the rail and this provides power and guidance. Often used on Dozers.

 

[theageofthetra]

Take a look here - http://www.ontrackplant.com/

As has been said Excavators on the rails are basically the same as road going types but with a set of rail wheels fitted.
Conversions usually carried out by specialist contractors rather than the original makers.
Many excavators have a great range of attachments from Buckets to Crane fittings.
A lot of machines are fitted with man baskets for working on the Overhead lines.

At least 3 Different drive systems are in use.

One were the machine jacks itself up and the tyres drive the rail wheels.
This reverses the drive direction, sometimes called High Rail

Another more common one is for the tyres to run on the rail tops with a small set of rail wheels just used for guidance. Low Rail

The 3rd method is for a Hydraulically Driven axle to be fitted that lowers onto the rail and this provides power and guidance. Often used on Dozers.

With the high rail ones are the gearboxes modified in anyway so they run the same speed in forward and reverse? Presumably they will be running in reverse most of the time as the tyres on the rail wheels reverse the direction.

 

[Ploughman]

I don't think that the gearboxes are modified to that extent.
But maybe totally wrong on that.
However never noticed a speed difference of any significance on site when working with them.

 

[30909]

I don't think that the gearboxes are modified to that extent.
But maybe totally wrong on that.
However never noticed a speed difference of any significance on site when working with them.

Most 360 degree excavators whether wheeled or tracked are hydrostatic drive and can move at the same speed forward or reverse. The difference in "direction" is to do with the position of the pivot point on the chassis, and overhang of the counter balance weight when lifting, it is also determined by the position of the dozer blade, when fitted.