A Detailed Look at a Track Tamper 

It isn't just leveling the track, it is also lining the track at the same time plus surfacing it as well. The front buggy(projector buggy) has projectors for surface and line which sends a beam of light to receivers at the back of the machine. That big black piece in the middle of the machine is the shadowboard which blocks the light to cut off the lift when machine is in operation. In other words, if the receivers "see the light" the machine will lift, if not, it doesn't or will stop the lift depending on what the operator has set in the computer for lifting height. There are also black liner flags(boards) on each side of the machine depending if you are doing a left or right hand curve which does the same to stop the lining function. You can see one lining actuator and black flag/board right in front of the workhead there in the close up. That is called the shadowboard buggy there. This is all done in conjunction with hydraulic components, electric actuators (potentiometers inside, for lining and lifting), an inclinometer (senses whether track is level) mounted on back receiver buggy which is right behind the cab, the computer and operator of course. Keep in mind, if this machine is on a curve, it is also putting super-elevation on one of the rails depending on whether it is a left hand curve or right hand curve. The lifting frame has rail hooks on the outside, one fixed and one hydraulic cyl. actuated bias clamp in between the rails which biases the frame against each rail when lifting and lining. On indexing, of course, the bias cylinder retracts the clamp and the hooks extend away from the rail. The hooks are supposed to be adjusted so they don't contact the web of the rail when lifting. Some people in other videos seem to think it is a laser light in those projectors---IT ISN'T. A laser is a whole other option that you can put on these Tampers or sometimes it is ordered with the machine when purchased new. It's used in conjunction with the machine in lining the track, nothing to do with lift. It used to be made by a company called Laser Alignment---i heard it was taken over, but i don't know if it is still sold under that name. Those are called tamping tools that squeeze the ballast under the ties.

Awesome close-up footage. Try and capture some more and post it on here.

nice mk3, i ran them for years,then mk4

nice job on catching the operations.

Now that is impressive!

Awesome machine & catch!

excellent video

very cool is that the Sandusky Sub? NS main?

Nice video Brandon!

awesome

good video Brandon