Continuous action ballast compacting machine

A continuously advancing track working machine for compacting ballast supporting a track comprised of two rails fastened to a succession of ties, each rail having a gage side and a field side, which comprises

• (a) a self-propelled machine frame supported by undercarriages on the track for mobility in an operating direction,
• (b) a track stabilization assembly vertically adjustably mounted on the machine frame between two of said undercarriages, the track stabilization assembly comprising
• (1) drive means for vertically adjusting the assembly,
• (2) oscillatory rolling tools arranged for engaging the rails for being pressed against the gage sides of the rails, and
• (3) vibrating means for oscillating the rolling tools,
• (c) lining drives linking the track stabilization assembly to the machine frame for displacing the track engaged by the rolling tools pressed against the track rails in a direction extending transversely to the track,
• (d) a lining reference system including a lining reference base having a leading and a trailing end point in the operating direction,
• (e) a measuring device arranged on the machine frame adjacent the track stabilization assembly for measuring the transverse track displacement relative to the lining reference base into a desired position,
• (f) an elastic bearing supporting the measuring device, and
• (g) an electronic filter associated with the measuring device for filtering out any oscillations interfering with the transverse displacement measurements.