BALLAST TAMPING

The first types of mechanical tampers sought to imitate the action of the beater packing. These tampers resemble a road drill with a blunt T-head steel which delivers about 90 blows a min. to the ballast at the bottom of the sleeper. The type of mechanical tamper which has been most widely used is that having a "vibrate and squeeze" action. The use of vibration (about 2,000 blows a min.) causes the ballast to flow into a closer arrangement of particles, and by combining this with a squeeze it is possible to obtain the result more quickly and to control the formation of the ballast mold. The standard Matisa machine was produced to meet the special requirement for packing hollow steel sleepers. The Matisa machine applies its squeeze mechanically by means of left- and right-hand threaded shafts.

• Corporate Authors:

  Temple Press Limited

  161-166 Fleet Street
  Longon EC4,   England 
• Publication Date: 1959-11-6

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 388-389
• Serial:
  • RAILWAY GAZETTE
  • Volume: 111

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Ballast (Railroads); Compaction; Maintenance of way; Railroad ties; Soil compaction; Steel; Technology
• Uncontrolled Terms: Ballast
• Geographic Terms: Germany; United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Steel cross ties; Track maintenance equipment
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00039308
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 4 1994 12:00AM