Wongm's Rail Gallery

Ballast compactor

November 16, 2007 14:22 PM
Viewed 810 times
(682 times this week, 683 times this month)

Ballast ploughs

March 27, 2009 08:13 AM
Viewed 590 times
(375 times this week, 375 times this month)

Placed on the end of ballast train, they level off the dropped gravel

Ballast regulator

May 16, 2011 16:56 PM
Viewed 1473 times
(637 times this week, 637 times this month)

A smaller track machine used to level out and shape ballast after a tamper has packed it down

Ballast tampers

June 26, 2011 12:28 PM
Viewed 1462 times
(1254 times this week, 1264 times this month)

Use tines to pick ballast under and around the sleepers - 'lift and 'line' the track, correcting faults by packing 'tamping' under the sleepers

Hi-rail excavators

October 03, 2009 17:15 PM
Viewed 1698 times
(1494 times this week, 1494 times this month)

Various excavators fitted with rail wheels for operation on railway lines, often with specialised equipment on the ends of their booms

Hi-rails

July 05, 2010 11:27 AM
Viewed 1157 times
(514 times this week, 519 times this month)

4x4s and other motor vehicles used for track inspection and maintenance

MVM Rail track layer

July 03, 2011 16:35 PM
Viewed 343 times
(288 times this week, 288 times this month)

Used to lay new track on a prepared base, the machine lays down concrete sleepers as it moves along

Overhead line maintenance

July 03, 2011 16:34 PM
Viewed 420 times
(236 times this week, 236 times this month)

Rail flaw detector

May 22, 2007 12:47 PM
Viewed 330 times
(70 times this week, 70 times this month)

Operated by Speno Australia, this hi-rail Unimog truck uses ultrasound to examine rails to find any flaws in them. The operator sits in the back, looking out over the sensor unit towed behind. It is usually escorted by a hi-rail escort in front and behind

Rail grinder RR24M30

February 26, 2011 13:04 PM
Viewed 1337 times
(561 times this week, 561 times this month)

Operated by Speno, it is a gauge convertible 24 wheel grinder. I found at North Geelong Yard on the broad gauge, it has been working over the Melbourne suburban network in late 2009 and again in mid 2010. It has also run on narrow gauge. I have numbered the bits from the power / generator unit end

Rail grinders

May 02, 2010 14:19 PM
Viewed 750 times
(362 times this week, 362 times this month)

Rail grinders are used to restore the profile and remove irregularities from worn rails. There are 3 visiting Victoria from time to time - all operated by John Holland / Loram. RG9 is the newest and is on the standard gauge, RG8 is a truck towing grinding units, and RG7 is the oldest.

Rail threader wagon CFCF 1

April 20, 2010 07:50 AM
Viewed 832 times
(296 times this week, 296 times this month)

Coded CFCF 1 with John Holland stickers on the side, this wagon is used on the end of rail trains in order to discharge long lengths of new rail from the flat wagons onto the ground. It was built from a CFSX / VZSX sleeper discharge transporter wagon, which itself was built on a VLCX underframe.

Rail welding

November 11, 2007 12:03 PM
Viewed 349 times
(129 times this week, 129 times this month)

Thermite welding is used to join rails together in the field. Everything comes in a kit, with packing up around the joint, then the crucible or pot put above the joint, and lit up. Molten metal flows out the bottom, which is left to cool. The packing is removed, and then the joint is ground smooth.

Sleeper discharge

May 27, 2010 14:56 PM
Viewed 421 times
(271 times this week, 272 times this month)

Wagons used to transport sleepers to where they are required. Some wagons use a small tractor to discharge the sleepers onto the ground.

Tie cranes

March 20, 2008 00:17 AM
Viewed 505 times
(355 times this week, 355 times this month)

Excuse the Americanism, these are small rail mounted cranes used to lift and place replacement sleepers into existing lines. They often have a small trolley that goes along for the ride to carry the actual sleepers

V/Line doodads from South Dynon

June 06, 2009 13:37 PM
Viewed 434 times
(4 times this week, 4 times this month)

Two doodads marked for scrap at South Dynon:

In V/Line orange is an internal transfer vehicle, purchased in 1989/1990 to shift containers around at the South Dynon Container Terminal. Unlike normal trailers it doesn't have twistlocks, the containers are just dropped into place. It has the number '6-61-001' on the side, which puts it with various other Victorian track machines that have numbers in the format.

In yellow are two Malcolm More lifting units that were part of the original container cranes at South Dynon. Each unit was secured to the lifting shaft on the gantry by chains, the lifting unit went up, down, sideways and could turn at least 180 degrees. The crane ran on the crane rails the total length on the operating area being around 700 metres. Either 20', 30' or 40' containers could be top lifted. Also four calliper lifting arms can be swung out and down to line up with the lifting pockets on 'bottom' lift units. Originally 6 'yellow cranes' were built for NSW in the 1970's for the Enfield container terminal, which was later cancelled, hence a pair were bought by the PTC.

VR crane 31

March 18, 2009 17:41 PM
Viewed 852 times
(506 times this week, 526 times this month)

Stored at Spotswood for years pending eventual preservation, due to the cost of moving it elsewhere, the crane was scrapped in March 2009