950479 Track construction train on Reno Subdivision of the Powder River Basin. Previously dumped welded rail is pulled into alignment by the large bulldozer at the front, traveling on the subgrade of the future rail line. The machine behind drops concrete ties, fed from further back in the train and then places the rails on these ties. And, everything behind that machine already rides on the newly laid rails. The moving assembly line is both pulled by the bulldozer in front and pushed by locomotives (with special low-speed controls) at the back end. Ballasting and alignment take place later.

 

951017 Close-up of a different track construction train, using somewhat different equipment from the train depicted in the upper image. Here, the pulling bulldozer is out of the image to the left. A threader unit pulled behind the bulldozer pulls the rails into alignment, while the next machine drops concrete ties and places the rails on them. Visible at far right are two of the shuttle buggies that bring the concrete ties forward from supply cars further back in the train.

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