A question about railroad construction?

Question

my mom told me to ask, so if i need to provide more details let me know so i can email her. here's what she wrote me:

"Are railroad ties hammered into the ground manually or with a electronic or a pneumatic device when a new railroad is being built?"

Answer 1

The answer is no.  You simply place ties on the grade and pour the rocks over 'em.

Answer 2

This is going to seem awfully straange but railroad ties really are not "in" the ground. They are almost always above the level of the surrounding ground and have crushed gravel called "ballast" tamped around them, but they are still above ground. This serves a number of purposes but allows the railroad to be made level and smooth and water can drain away which would cause the ties to decompose much faster.

For new construction typically the ties are laid on top of the ground by machines on a roadbed that is already been graded reasonably level.

Then rails are put down, spiked in place by machines, then special trains come along and dump  the ballast over and around the track. Then machines are brought in that tamps the ballast in between and under the ties and levels the track structure.

For existing track, replacing ties is similar with a few differences.

First the "jewelry" is removed, rail anchors, and spikes, a machine comes along and grabs the tie and pulls it out to the side, and forces a new one in the same hole created when the old tie was removed.

Then it is spiked back in place and when a section of track has been renewed, the same machines used in new construction, usually called a tamper and regulator come along and make the whole thing level and good to go.

There are still times when good old fashioned hand labor is used, for instance if only a few ties need replacing, espeically in an industrial or less used piece of track.

Good question, if you have any more dont hesitate to post on here, or if you wish you may e-mail me. There are some very knowledgable people on here. Perhpas there are some methods in different areas of the country I am unaware of. Railroaders are innovators.

Answer 3

I'm Sure everything is Electronically controlled in this Modern Age...!!