“SWING LOADER RAILCAR MOVER” for Cat 962G Front-End Loaders is a Mitchell Rail Gear conversion system that converts the standard Cat 962G into multi- purpose Swing Loader Railcar Mover. Railroaders use the Cat 962G as a mobile railcar mover, material handler and front end loader with one machine, obtain an efficient utilization of their equipment and see a high return on their equipment investment.

The retractable Friction Drive Hy-Rail is attached to the frame of the machine in such a way that allows a front-end loader to be used as a standard loader, material handler and also as an on-rail mobile railcar mover to provide optimum performance and machine utilization. The front loader linkage that swings 180° comes with a quick coupler to accept a large variety of tools such as forks, buckets, material handing arms as well as many other tools to be able to perform various tasks on and off rail.

The rail wheels have a friction drive hub attached to them that engages with the tires. As the tire rotates the drive hub, the rail wheels are driven. The mechanical friction drive system is reliable, because is it uses the road axle drive line system for propelling and braking. When the loader is on rail, the articulated frame is hydraulically locked to keep the front and rear rail wheels in alignment. Depending on the environment, the machine can be equipped with air filled, foam filled or solid rubber cushioned tires.

The system is provided with a rear mounted weight transfer coupler. The weight transfer coupler has a shelf-type railcar knuckle. When the weight transfer coupler is engage with the coupler on the railcar, a pre-determined amount of weight can be transferred from the railcar to the Hi-Rail wheels that increase the Hi-Rail wheel traction.

The system comes with a 24 CFM train air brake system that controls the braking system of the railcar from the cab of the loader.

When considering the high cost associated of maintaining a specialty built mobile railcar mover in addition to the required normal maintenance of a customers existing front-end loader, the decision to combine multi-functions into one machine makes good economical sense. The Cat 962G front-end loader makes a good choice for a base unit because of the durability of the engine and drive line system. The highest cost of railcar mover machine failures is the engine and drive line system. The Cat 962G front-end loaders are manufactured with far more durable drive line system than any specialty railcar mover manufacturers’ machine. Simply put; Caterpillar has the resources to produce a drive line system with durability, reliability, and product support that cannot be matched by any specialty mobile railcar mover manufacturer.