Track work train

A track work train for reconditioning a ballast bed supporting the track and resting on a layer of sand on a sub-grade, the train comprising a track building vehicle and a plurality of freight cars interconnected for common movement along the track, the track building vehicle including an elongated frame extending in the direction of the track and two undercarriages spaced apart in said direction and supporting the vehicle frame for movement on the track, a hoist means mounted on the vehicle frame between the undercarriages and capable of lifting an assembled track section off the ballast bed, the vehicle frame spanning a ballast bed reconditioning zone resulting from the lifting of the assembled track section off the ballast bed, a vertically adjustable ballast bed excavating means mounted on the vehicle frame rearwardly of the hoist means in said direction and a conveyor band associated with the excavating means for sequentially conveying sand and ballast to the reconditioning zone, the conveyor band comprising a portion for sequentially discharging and distributing the conveyed sand and ballast in said zone, guide track means on the vehicle frame for displaceably supporting the hoist means as well as the excavating means and the associated conveyor band for movement along the vehicle frame in said direction, and drive means for separately displaceing the hoist means and the excavating means along the guide track means.