ROBEL supplies Rail Loader 40.44 to SBB
18.8.08
Since April of this year, ROBEL Bahnbaumaschinen GmbH is supplying a total of 22 commissioned rail loaders to the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB).
The last unit will leave the works in Freilassing in September 2008. The SBB have order 20 two-wagon rail loaders and two six-wagon rail loaders with a total of 80 electrical and 24 mechanical cranes. These units enable the SBB to reach all areas of Switzerland as quickly as possible.
According to the feedback by the customer the rail loaders supplied so far have been put into operation very successfully. Hannes Schildbeck, the responsible ROBEL sales manager, reports: "The Feedback of the operators during the training with the already supplied units has been consistently positive."
The aim of the rail loading unit is the quick and safe loading and transporting of rails and switch components. The clamps of the rail loader are fixed to electric crabs which may be operated by radio remote control. The electrical supply and lighting of the cranes is handled by 20 generators with an output of 40 kVA each. The two-wagon rail loading units can transport rails of 12 metres length while the six-wagon units can handle rails up to a length of 120 metres. Each rail loader has a lifting power of 1.6 tonnes.
Taking the particular requirements of track construction in Switzerland into account, several distinctive solutions were developed for these rail loaders. Each unit has rotatable columns that can be fixed at the side of the wagons. Depending on the usage they can be placed in prepared countersinks on both sides of the wagon. The outriggers can be turned manually through 180°. Secured by a bolt, positions at 45°, 90° and 135° may also be used safely. Only a few steps are needed to switch from transport to work position. In addition, the outriggers of the cranes are telescopic and can be extended up to 550 mm. A cogwheel drive mechanism guarantees optimum power transmission even in adverse weather conditions.
Rail loaders are adapted to each customer's requirements. For example, the unit is also available with columns in the centre of a wagon or with platforms mounted on flat wagons.
