Here's a side picture of a double broom (from Progress Rail) which may give a better idea of the size - is this the sort of thing you saw?
"The double broom ... is a high-production machine that can keep pace with a high-speed surfacing gang. It sweeps thoroughly, providing a clean, finished track in one pass, the company says. The machine features a walk-through platform which allows the operator easy access to either side of the machine. Broom elements are composed of solid rubber designed for high wear. Front and rear brooms are hydraulically powered and sweep a width of 9 feet, 4 inches. An optional dust collector is available. A reversible feature on the rear broom allows sweeping away from road crossings in both directions, minimizing the disruption of traffic flow."
You do NOT want ballast on top of your ties. You want the ballast to drain & move water, but not to hold it.
I would think that a Kershaw model 24 or 46 (very common) would have been regarded a little bit as larger than an SUV. I wouldn't think a double broom would be out on its own. Surfacing Gang nearby? Following a tie gang?
When the tamper is done with its work, there may be 'holes' in the ballast between the ties, and/or the ballast is generally lower, the ends of the ties are exposed, etc. And/ or, the layer of ballast from the train is still pretty thick on top of the ties.
The regulator plows/ moves the ballast around to move the excess off the ties and into the low spots. It will also spread ballast out to the sides and correctly shape the side or 'wing' of the ballast section. Most also have the capability to move small quantities of ballast from one side of the track to the middle, or over to the other side.
What you probably saw was the final step - "sweeping" or dressing the ballast with the broom (uses rubber hoses . . . ), to get most of the last pieces of stone off the ties and base of the rails.
See the last 20 secs. of this 2:01 video from Knox Kershaw, the main manufacturer of these critters (Royce Kershaw invented and developed them just after WW II in a classic American entrepreneurial success story):
Knox Kershaw Inc. KBR 925 Ballast Regulator:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DzNDrDsWwk
http://www.knoxkershaw.com/home.html
- Paul North.
Ha! This one wasn't pushing snow, but if it was at the west end of the state right now, it could be. Western SD has 3" on the ground, with the possibility of another 3-6" tonight and tomorrow. And that's down on the flats. The Black Hills tends to get a lot more at the higher elevations.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Makes the ballast look pretty (as facetious as that sounds). Probably following up a tamper, which probably followed a ballast train.
I've seen them set up to blow/plow snow, too.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
That might be it. What does it do?
Ballast Regulator?
I saw a piece of railroad equipment at work today and was wonddering what it was. The machine was shaped like an oversize riding lawn mower, about the size of an SUV. It was working it's way down some tracks of the Ellis & Eastern, a little pike that runs gravel through town. I couldn't see much about as the machine was going away from me, into an area with no view or access. The machine seemed to be churning up a fair amount of dust at the front end, but moving right along, and not throwing any sparks. What would this thing be?
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