High capacity single screen plain line and points & crossing Ballast Cleaning Machine
The single screen ballast cleaner RM 90 is the completion of the production programme of modern ballast cleaning machines destined for the broad gauge market and intended to replace the well proven RM 76-type.
The production programme of Plasser & Theurer offers the RM 90-NIR as the modern successor of the RM 76 being in compliance with RGS GM/RT 2400 providing a wide range of innovations, like a self-propelled transit speed of 60 mph (approx. 100 kph), an excavation chain enabling single line working under many site conditions & locations found on NIR infrastructure at a higher performance level including the capability of cleaning Point & Crossings (P&C) layouts), a 3-deck screening unit, a most modern machine control system and finally the insertion of new ballast during the cleaning process. The machine built for UK & Irish Rail loading gauges comprises the experience that has been gained with the RM 95-RT & RM 90 NR ballast cleaners already in operation on Network Rail (NR) infrastructure in the UK and the RM90-IR in operation in Republic of Ireland and other similar machine types in use worldwide.
The machine concept of the ballast cleaner RM 90 provides a machine consisting of a vehicle in articulated design. The power trailer ATW in front carries the diesel engine and other accessories of the machine drive as well as the spoil handling conveyor belts. The second part – the excavation and screening vehicle ASW, holds the excavation chain, the lifting and slewing unit, the screening unit, the ballast distribution and new ballast insertion device as well as several material handling conveyor belts.
The traction drive and all working drives of the RM 90-NIR are executed by hydraulics which always played an important role in the development of Plasser & Theurer ballast cleaning machines. Compared to other drives, modern hydraulics offer considerable advantages such as high reliability under hard working site conditions and optimized maintenance of the system and its components.