Looking like a prehistoric monster drawn by a locomotive, a Speno ballast-cleaning machine has been at work on the Southern alll during the fall as a part of our continuous track improvement program.

As it is draws slowly along the track - it covers about six mile per day - the Speno machine gathers ballast in it s advancing scoops and starts it on its way through the cleaning process. as the ballast is gathered by the scoop it passes onto a conveyor belt that delivers it onto a long conveyor leading to the cleaning screens.

All operations of the scoops, conveyor belts and other equipment are lever-controlled by two operators, one for each side of the machine. Ballast passes over the cleaning screens for the removal of dirt and undersized particles. The workman is cutting of the ballast return as the machine goes over a road crossing. In flat country, "spoil" is discharged along the right of way.

In cuts, the conveyor belt carries "spoil" into hopper cars to be dumped later when the day's work is done. As the machine goes over a piece of track the first time a "shoe" behind the scoop pushes ballast out from the tie ends preparing it for a second "pass" of the equipment. All parts can be raised or swung "inboard" to clear switches and frogs, crossing and other obstructions.