A thing went by.

[SpaceMouse]

Something, an MOW something just went by my store about a half hour behind a train full of ballast.

It was yellow, self-propelled and sort of the shape of a grader low to the ground pointed open grate nose, ending in a cab in the back. In the center. Where the blade would go on a grader, were 8-10 hydraulic arms or what appeared to be hydraulic arms. It was towing a small (oil) tank about the size of a party size barbecue.

What the heck was it?

[Anonymous]

Did it look like this?

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/247-7011

Bob Boudreau

[dehusman]

Tamper. It compacts the ballast under the ties to smooth and stabilize the tracks.

Dave H.

[tstage]

Chip,

I will curious to find out, too. A little tough to put all that in a Google search and expect an answer, huh?

Tom

P.S. Looks like Bob and Dave answered it while I was writing this response out...

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FundyNorthern

Did it look like this?

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/247-7011

Bob Boudreau

Maybe. I can only go by recall , but if it was of course the extensions were wrapped up underneath.

I also think that the nose was longer and instead of one large hydraulic arm there were several. In context, it makes sense that it would be a tamper. I'll try to remember to bring my camera in a get a shot when it leaves.

[underworld]

Do you own the store or work there? If you own it I'd say put up a camera that can get a good shot of the tracks. You might see it go by again.

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[SpaceMouse]

It just takes remembering. I usually hear the horn and get out in time for the lead engine. In this case, it is slow and they have a flagman stop traffic. If I remember the camera, I'l;l get the shot.

[cacole]

It was probably a machine called a Ballast Regulator -- something like a road grader with variable blades and brushes that can move and trim ballast.

[Anonymous]

Bachmann offer one in HO - it's a fine runner considering the size of the thing (very little room for motors, gearing, etc). They offer a dummy one if you just want to park it in a siding too. Hope this is of interest!

[twhite]

Geez, Chip, the colorful way you described it, I'd like to have seen the critter. It wasn't making any high-pitched wavering noises or anything, was it? I mean, like the giant ants in the movie THEM!?
Tom [:D]

[tstage]

If it was, get out the flamethrowers....

Tom

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by twhite

Geez, Chip, the colorful way you described it, I'd like to have seen the critter. It wasn't making any high-pitched wavering noises or anything, was it? I mean, like the giant ants in the movie THEM!?
Tom [:D]

The impression I got when I looked at it was that it could run along the track after the ballast crews, pick-up stary pieces of ballast and put them back between the rails.

[fiatfan]

Are you sure it wasn't white glue and water in that tank?

Tom

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fiatfan

Are you sure it wasn't white glue and water in that tank?

Tom

OMG ROTF

[ericsp]

What about this?
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/247-7014
http://www.angelfire.com/md2/emhouk/trains/csx/keystone.html
http://www.robl.w1.com/pix-rrc/
http://www.robl.w1.com/pix-rrc/I-031021.htm

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

What about this?
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/247-7014

Looks pretty close all right.

[siberianmo]

So, no doubt it was "A multi-armed, self-propelled, yellow railroad people eater ....... "
(better sung to the tune of "Purple People Eater" from 1958 .....)

See ya![tup][;)]

[jacon12]

I took a picture of what it may be...

I believe is was either spreading or tamping down the ballast. Maybe both.
Jarrell

[Anonymous]

Take a look along the right-of-way ( a caution about trespassing is in order here). You may find some heavy solid rubber pieces like a 2" tapered rod. Some may have a threaded metal end. These are the broom brushes used to sweep the ballast. They tend to break and fall by the wayside. In Jarrell's excellent pic you can see the rotary broom under cover at the right (in the pic) end of the machine and the broom bristles sticking down.