Method for removing ballast from railroad tracks

A method of removing ballast from a railroad track having first, second, and third consecutive sections, the track in each section including rails and ballast under the rails which method comprises:

• (a) removing said rails from said second section;
• (b) placing a car on said first section,
• (1) the car carrying a digging conveyor and drive means for the conveyor,
• (2) the car including rail engaging wheels transmitting at least a portion of the weight of the placed car to the rails of said first section;
• (c) passing said conveyor through the ballast under the engaged rails of said first section and over said car in a closed loop, whereby said conveyor is partly embedded in said ballast;
• (d) moving said car on said track in a direction from said first section toward said third section until a part of said car is located above the ballast of said second section;
• (e) transferring said portion of said weight from said rail engaging wheels to a cross country vehicle supporting said part of the car and movably engaging the ballast of said second section;
• (f) further moving said car in said direction while supported on said vehicle until said wheels are located above said third section;
• (g) engaging said wheels with the rails of said third section and transferring said portion of said weight from said vehicle to the engaged wheels;
• (h) additionally moving said car in said direction;
• (i) keeping said conveyor, while extending in said closed loop, partly embedded in said ballast during said moving, said further moving, and said additionally moving of said car until said conveyor engages the ballast of said third section;
• and
• (j) driving said conveyor in said loop during said moving, said further moving, and said additionally moving, whereby ballast is removed from each of said first, second, and third sections.