Ballast doors for easy ballast shutoff at switches, crossovers and bridges. In addition, the remote-control AggreGate allows the user to deposit ballast while remaining a safe distance from the activity. Montana Hydraulics is currently working on three new products: a new design for covered ballast hoppers for more effective work in colder climates; a new ballast car gate system designed for rugged conditions; and a new hydraulic lift system for side-dump car mechanisms. The machine prototypes are in various stages of development, with a focus on high-cycle use in everyday service. This year, Montana Hydraulics has incorporated a fiber-optic laser cutting machine that allows the company to cut component pieces with more precision and accuracy. This machine is designed to eliminate the need for machining holes. Montana Hydraulics is also currently in the middle of a multi-year service contract with a western Class I, and the company expects its activity rate to remain steady
throughout 2019. Company personnel manage the maintenance and operating systems for more than 2,200 material cars. Plasser American Corp. specializes in high-speed, one-pass ballast regulators intended to work with highproduction, continuous-action tampers. One-pass ballast regulators paired with high-speed tampers allow for achieving the maximum work completed within a track work window. The Plasser PBR2005 Ballast Regulator is a heavy-duty ballast profiling and dressing machine that the company says can plow, profile and broom in one pass. The design of the shoulder plows allows the machine to reach out and pull in ballast, which was previously beyond the reach of conventional ballast regulators. A powerful drive system, adjustable X-type ballast plow and unique shoulder plows allow the PBR2005 to quickly and efficiently move large amounts of ballast. The machine can easily transfer ballast from both toe lines to both shoulders in a single pass.
The PBR2005 is also available with an optional double broom, making it useful for work behind two-tie tampers or tamper and pup tamper combinations. The BDS 100/200 Ballast Distribution System is intended to accompany Plasser’s high-speed 09-3X tampers. The machines are equipped with plows to profile the ballast, hopper and conveyors to distribute ballast as needed, and double brooms to sweep up and store excess ballast and for final track dressing. MFS Hopper/Conveyor cars may be added for additional ballast storage. All work is performed in a single pass. For transit systems with high-degree curves and restricted clearance envelopes, Plasser offers the PBR550, which, in addition to ballast plows and brooms, is equipped with a ballast hopper for storing and unloading ballast. Progress Rail’s Maintenance-ofWay Equipment-Infrastructure Division says some of its key equipment models have received important technology updates within the past year, as railroads
RAIL BALLAST AREMA Compliant
Serving the Ports within the Great Lakes Illinois: Chicago Ohio: Ashtabula • Cleveland • Toledo Ontario: Windsor • Sarnia • Port Colborne • Hamilton • Toronto • Owen Sound Michigan: Detroit • Saginaw • Cheboygan • Ludington • Muskegon • Benton Harbor
FRANK HURKMANS REGIONAL SALES MANAGER – CANADA (519) 709-4377 // fhurkmans@tomlinsongroup.com
Meets all North American railway applications and AREMA specifications
BILL SANDERS REGIONAL SALES MANAGER – US (219) 775-5783 // bsanders@tomlinsongroup.com
www.tomlinsongroup.com | Ontario Trap Rock is a division of the Tomlinson Group of Companies | ©2017 Ontario Trap Rock. All Rights Reserved.
40 Railway Age // November 2018
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