York Area Group

Regulator general view front.

Regulator general view rear

Regulator on site and being prepared for work start.
The purpose of regulating the ballast is to ensure all sleeper bays are full both before and after tamping.
This is achieved by use of adjustable blades that are used to move ballast around or remove excess ballast to the sides.
This is then followed up with a brush pass to sweep the sleeper tops clear.
This enables accurate examination of sleepers, their fastenings and rail condition.
It also improves the stability of the track by increasing the resistance to the effects of hot weather.

Regulator Left hand dash board.
The machine can be driven from either side so controls are mirrored.
However the controls for the blades only relate to either left or right.
So either 2 operators or keep swapping seats.

Right hand dash controls and normal driving position.

Regulator Full dash board.
The machine can be driven from either side so controls are mirrored.
However the controls for the blades only relate to either left or right.
So either 2 operators or keep swapping seats

The NYMR Regulator was originally built for work in Europe and is therefore to continental gauge. As such it would not normally be allowed to pass through station platforms.
However we have managed to trim off some of the protruding parts and have managed this enough to allow the machine to pass through from Pickering to Grosmont Tunnel with some limitations as to direction it faces and which line it must use.
Note the amount the side blade overhangs the platform edge at Levisham.

Note the amount the side blade overhangs the platform edge at Levisham.

This is the sort of situation that a regulator is designed to deal with.
A Stone train has deposited a load of stone in the 4ft piled to about 30cm / 1ft above rail level. It requires spreading to either side of the rails filling in any empty bays as it is moved.
The stone level must be reduced to below top rail level to allow the tamper to work without interference to the lining wire under the tamper.

The long shrouds cover the rail top and prevent any stone remaining on rail top and creating a derailment risk.
The blades in the middle are hydraulically controlled and can be moved to a variety of positions to move the stone around depending on site requirements.

During any regulator operations it is advisable to walk through the site first and identify any site restrictions or hazards marking with paint if required.
These obstacles may range from S+T cables crossing the track to buried bridge girders and station platforms.
If needed ask for someone to guide you past an obstacle.

In this particular case for spreading the stone drop. The regulator is set up to act like a dozer pushing the stone along in front of itself and then spill off to the side.

Stone being moved.
Most stone is pushed to the side, however some can be allowed to pass through a gap in the blades if needed. Forming a small potato row in the 4ft.

This may be what you imagine is required when you are sent out to "Brush the track"

Regulator brushing, this can be a very dusty operation.

This attachment on the regulator is the "Brush Box" where a rotating brush fitted with rubber pipe "Bristles" actually does the brushing. Surplus stone is directed onto a short conveyor belt for deposit on the sleeper ends.
The box is fitted with rubber shrouds around the bottom of the box which are meant to catch any flying stone but some stone does get past and can fly for some distance.
Clip cleaners are fitted to knock stone off rail fastenings. These are actually short pieces of Steel wire rope and are positioned around the rail profile.

Finished result of a brush pass.
Note all sleepers and fastenings visible.
All bays filled and a good neat shoulder to the sides.

Surplus stone being deposited from the conveyor belt to sleeper end.

In this case the brush is working over ex check rail fitted track and because of this cannot be lowered to its normal working position so some stone is left on the sleepers.
Note the amount of stones left on the rail top these need to be cleared off before work is completed and the line reopened for traffic.

When working the operator must constantly check on the situation throughout a pass and therefore will often be seen out of the seat peering over the handrails.
This is normal operating practice when in working mode.

Rearward view from the cab.

Regulator side plough being used to blade ash away from the track.
N Carter 2006

Regulator side plough being used to blade ash away from the track.
N Carter 2006

Regulator side plough being used to blade ash away from the track.
N Carter 2006

Regulator side plough being used to blade ash away from the track.
N Carter 2006