Apparatus for machining rail bearing surfaces

Machining apparatus for machining a bearing surface of a rail in a rolling element bearing assembly of the type having rolled elements caged between inner and outer side plates of a bearing cage, said machining apparatus including:

• rail profile forming apparatus engageable with said bearing surface for machining said bearing surface;
• a carriage assembly and connector means on said carriage assembly for connecting said carriage assembly to said bearing cage and for supporting said rail profile forming apparatus for movement with said bearing cage along said rail freely to and from said bearing surface;
• biassing means for applying a selected surface cutting pressure to said rail profile forming apparatus;
• profiled elongate guide means attachable to said rail adjacent to said bearing surface;
• and
• a follower attached to said rail profile forming apparatus and engageable with said profiled elongate guide means whereby movement of said rail profile forming apparatus towards said rail is limited by engagement of said follower with said guide means to machine the longitudinal bearing surface profile to conform to said profiled elongate guide means.