Ballast shoulder cleaner

A track working machine for dressing the ballast of a railroad bed having spaced rail supporting cross ties thereon, said cross ties including an upper surface and end portions extending away from the outside of the track, said machine including ballast dressing apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a ballast tie plow assembly vertically adjustably mounted on each side of said frame, each said ballast plow assembly including a support member having upper and lower surfaces and a blade assembly pivotally secured to and depending from said lower surface of said support member, said blade assembly including a plate secured to said lower surface of said support member, said plate having a blade secured thereto for engaging said ballast;
• hinge means disposed between said blade assembly and said lower surface of said support plate to permit pivotal movement of said blade assembly responsive to impact of said blade with undesirable obstacles on said upper surface of said ties;
• first sweeper means comprising a first boom assembly including a plurality of elongated sweeping elements rigidly mounted on and depending from said lower surface of said support member and in spaced adjacent relation with said blade assembly for sweeping across said upper surface of said ties subsequent to movement of said blade assemblies across said upper surface of said ties;
• and
• biasing means for permitting pivotal flexing movement of said blade assembly responsive to impact of said blade with said undesirable obstructions, said biasing means including a compression spring having a first end mounted on said blade assembly and a second end mounted on said lower surface of said support plate.