Electric Ballasting Machine

a track machine that spreads ballast under railroad ties, elevates and shifts—that is, straightens—rails and ties, and performs other operations during the reconstruction, maintenance, or construction of railroad tracks.

The mechanism that elevates rails and ties contains two electromagnets for holding the rails and electric worm drives for elevating and shifting the rails. Electric ballasting machines are equipped with a ballast regulator, leveling frames for leveling the ballast under the ties, and brooms for sweeping away excess ballast.

According to design, a distinction is made between articulated-frame and cantilever electric ballasting machines. In the articulated-frame machines, the equipment is mounted on two trusses connected by a hinge. In the cantilever machines, which are used in the construction of railroad tracks, the mechanism that elevates the rails and ties is mounted at the front, on the cantilever part of the frame.