Apparatus for operating transport vehicles movable on a track carried by a train of railroad cars

Claim 1

A track renewal train comprising a succession of storage cars and a work car, a through track carried by the cars, a fit transport vehicle movable on the through track towards and away from the work car for moving new ties towards the work car and old ties away from the work car, a drive for moving the first transport vehicle, a second transport vehicle adjacent the first vehicle and movable on the through track between the first vehicle and the work car for transferring the new ties from the first vehicle and the old ties to the first vehicle and for transporting the ties between the work car and the first vehicle, respective abutment elements on the vehicles arranged to contact each other when the vehicles move into abutting relationship, a control circuit connecting the drive to the abutment elements and being closed by their contact with each other for operation of the drive, and a signalling arrangement including emitter and receiver means of perceptible stop- and go-signals positioned to emit and receive the signals within the range of perception of at least one of the transport vehicles for controlling the operation thereof.