Ballast tamping machine, and method of maintaining a track section

摘要

A machine for tamping ballast underneath a railroad track includes a machine frame extending in a longitudinal direction and supported on the track by undercarriages for mobility in an operating direction. A tamping unit and a track lifting and lining unit cooperate with one another and are mounted on the machine frame. A suction apparatus is provided for aspirating ballast and includes a suction line connected to a ballast suction nozzle which is associated with the tamping unit. Drives are provided for adjusting the ballast suction nozzle vertically and transversely to the longitudinal direction. A ballast plow is mounted on the machine frame, and a discharge chute is provided for ejecting ballast onto the track. In this manner, short sections of track exhibiting inferior ballast conditions can be ballasted and tamped.