Mitchell's “Hydra-Guide” Hydrostatic Drive Rail Gear system is mounted to the excavator car body frame. Hydraulically, the excavator is raised so the machine tracks clear the rail. The machine can be driven on rail by using the standard excavator drive controls.

While working on rail the machine can operate in three modes.

1)      Travel Mode: In “Travel Mode” the excavator is driven on rail with the rail wheels at speeds up to 25 MPH. In travel mode the front rail gear is ridged and the rear hi-rail has the Autoguide™ hydraulic suspension.

2)      Work Mode: In “Work Mode” the excavator is drive on rail and achieves the highest tractive effort for pulling rail cars or applications that require a lot of tractive effort. In “Work Mode” the front rail gear is ridged and the rear hi-rail has the Autoguide™ hydraulic suspension.

3)     Guide Mode: In “Guide Mode” the tracks of the excavator propel the excavator on the tires and the hi-rail wheels free wheel allowing them to function as guide wheels to guide the excavator on rail. In “Guide Mode” the hi-rail has front and rear Autoguide™ hydraulic suspension to compensate for uneven track conditions. When on rail excavators loose approximately 50% of it stability as a result of sitting on rail. In “Guide Mode” the excavator tracks sit on the ties, therefore the excavator is able to achieve 100% normal stability for excavator lifts over the side.

With the high ground clearance and high approach and departure angles of the machine with rail gear the machine can be taken off rail in used in a construction environment without any limitations.

Standard Features

In cab controls

Air operated hi-rail safety pin locks

External cobra rail brakes

Hydraulic Locks valves on hi-rail cylinders

Options

Railcar Couplers

Train Air Brakes

Traction Control