Modelcar’s post has got me looking through a bunch of my MW pics, and now I have some questions.
Does anybody else know about JD tie handlers? Their was a pair of tie gangs working in Athens, GA recently, and I recently came across two of these John Deere tie handlers. The other tie gang had the traditional Kershaw cranes, but this is the first that I have seen of these. It makes perfect sense, but for how long has JD been in the rail buisness. Or is this an aftermarket job like the Herzog attachments?
(1) John Deere’s “Rail Gang” trademark has been out there since the mid 1980’s…
(2) What you have a photo of is an application of Evan’s RTW Rail Products patents, What you are looking at is a TC-80 assembled by West Side Tractor Sales (Deere Affiliate in Illinois)using a standard John Deere Model 80 small crane mounted on a custom rail frame & transmission. …one of the few successfull newcomers to the railroad M/W equipment biz…
Now if they could only build a front-end loader bigger than a 744 for railroad service. It’s a shame CAT no longer makes 988’s![:D]
…That’s a neat little crane…and if it’s self propelled and able to move the little trailers with it, that must be a very efficient piece of equipment. Boy, all kinds of rail service equipment out there now…Just compare that to the big cumbersome stuff of 50 years ago and their is no comparison.
Thanks mud, that is exactly what I wanted to know. And I really need to scan some more pics up for you modelcar. These are just the tip of the iceberg as far as rail maintence goes!
