Excavator Rail Conversion

[fishfactor]

I have searched the net with no luck. Trying to adapt our tracked excavator to operate on rails (as in rail road). I found kits for a wheeled excavator but none for a tracked undercarriage. Any options are OK even if it is a pretty involved operation, as long as it can still go back to factory configuration.

 

[Rustyiron]

Fish, a few things to wonder about;
Most weeled ex have hyd outriggers and that may be necessary if a machine was up on the rail gear wheels at a very much narrowed track width. I understand that your prolly only swinging a mower head around but I would guess mostly at full reach. The other thought is all of the swing down type rail gear systems use a friction type drive off of the reg drive tires. I can envision a set up such as you need the dummy end would not be to hard to set up, esp. if you have a backfill blade. But the drive end could get kinda complicated and have a very slow travel speed unless some fancy engineering was included. Good luch searching!

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Hey Fish. The reason they are converting wheeled excavators is due how you get the machine lined up on the rails to "engage" the rail wheels. A tracked excavator would do alot of damage trying to get lined up. Most machine's doing this kind of work enter the tracks at crossings. On the other hand I have seen a setup for a tracked excavator I just have to remember where, I'll let you know if I remember.

 

[bcp]

More information on Railtek's Railroad Transporter / Buggy and Work Cart

Mitchell Equipment - Rail Gear Product Details - Hydra-Guide Rail Gear - Track Excavator

http://www.rcequip.com/static.asp?path=3273

JD Rail Solutions Pty Ltd Producer of Advan-Bridge Modular High Strength Rail Level Crossings

http://www.jdrail.com.au/Images/Hi Rail Excavator.jpg

 

[fishfactor]

Thanks bcp. I don't know why I couldn't find those. That gives me some options to consider. I like the one kit that allows you to lower the excavator so the tracks sit on the railroad ties, adding the stability back, then raise it back up and go 25 mph.

 

[Heavyduty]

What about this setup? You could clear both sides at once.:thumbsup:

 

[nwterex]

Try this Link and tell them I sent you this is probably the best system on the market. Advanced Rail Concepts

 

[fishfactor]

Try this Link and tell them I sent you this is probably the best system on the market. Advanced Rail Concepts

Nice setup. Called and talked to them today. A little out of our price range.

 

[McCaskey]

Self propelled http://www.dymaxinc.com/attachments/8140/

 

[GreensForestryMulching]

Speaking from personal experience stay away from the RCE unit they are still working the bugs out on it more or less the independent high rail set up has some hydraulic issues.