Method of reclaiming used railroad spikes

A method of reclaiming used railraod spikes pulled from cross-ties and discarded along a railroad right of way by utilizing two operators and a driven reclaiming car moveable over the railroad tracks and having a load support platform at its rear end, the car having mounted thereon a spike straightening press, a driven tumbler cleaner, a power hoist, and power means for operating the press, tumbler cleaner, and hoist and for driving the reclaiming car along the railroad tracks, the method comprising the steps of

• providing a plurality of portable spike receptacles on the reclaiming car platform in position to be accessible to a first operator walking along the right of way behind the car,
• driving the reclaiming car along the railroad tracks under control of the first operator,
• the first operator, manually picking up used spikes along the right of way and simultaneously sorting the used spikes to separate straight and bent spikes,
• the first operator, depositing the straight spikes in one spike receptacle on the reclaiming car platform and the bent spikes in another receptacle on the reclaiming car,
• the second operator riding on the car, moving the receptacles of spikes and empty receptacles with the hoist between the platform, press and tumble cleaner.
• the second operator, operating the hoist to move a receptacle of spikes to be cleaned against a support adjacent an inlet chute into the tumble cleaner and then pivoting the receptacle about the support to discharge the spikes into the chute and then into the tumbler cleaner, and then actuating the tumbler cleaner to clean the spikes therein,
• while the tumbler cleaner is operating, the second operator manually placing bent spikes from the associated receptacle in the straightening press and operating the press to straighten the bent spikes therein, and
• after the conclusion of the tumble cleaning operation, the second operator, actuating the tumble cleaner to a tilted position causing the cleaned spikes to be discharged into a receptacle, and
• wherein the steps of straightening and cleaning spikes are performed at least in part while the reclaiming car is driven along the right of way and while the used spikes are being picked up and sorted.