Mobile machine for receiving and distributing track ballast

A mobile machine for receiving, distributing and plowing ballast supporting a railroad track, which comprises

• (a) a machine frame having a longitudinal extension parallel to the track and supported on the track by undercarriages for mobility in an operating direction,
• (b) a ballast conveying device arranged on the machine frame to receive ballast and to convey the received ballast to a discharge end of the device,
• (c) an elongated ballast storage silo arranged on the machine frame between two of said undercarriages to receive the conveyed ballast from the discharge end of the ballast conveying device, the silo having
• (1) ballast discharge opening means arranged to distribute the received ballast to the track,
• (2) a ballast conveyor band extending in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the machine frame and forming a bottom support for the ballast received from the ballast conveying device discharge end, the ballast conveyor band having an output end discharging the ballast into the ballast discharge opening means, and
• (3) a drive for actuating the ballast conveyor band,
• (d) a ballast plow arrangement mounted on the machine frame below the ballast storage silo and behind the ballast discharge opening means in the operating direction, and
• (e) an elevated operator's cab arranged on the machine frame above the ballast discharge opening means and providing an unobstructed view over and beyond the ballast conveying device and the ballast storage silo.