RAM Equipment On Track

After 12 months of planning, engineering & manufacturing, the Hitachi ZX170W-3 Hi-Rail Excavator had its first shake-down on rail. We worked with volunteers from the Australia Railway Historical Society to repair the SteamRanger Heritage Railway line in Mt Barker. They are responsible for the maintenance of the railway line, and heritage locomotives and carriages.

Fully loaded trailer to test braking systems, the Hi-Rail Excavator passed without issue. The crew is currently using this machine for the next few weeks along with our line-up of hi-rail attachments including tamper head, platypus, pallet forks, and a 4m Flat Deck Rail Trailer attachments.

The project involves the re-sleeper  of 3,000 sleepers across approximately 50kms of broad gauge track. Our Hi-Rail Excavator will assist in loading and transporting sleepers to limited road access project sites, removal of existing timber sleepers and replacing with steel sleepers. It will also involve tampering ballast around the new sleepers.

“It has been great to work with Kevin, Ben and the RAM Equipment team to get the excavator and trolley on track and working. What a setup! The final brake testing with Harrybilt went off without a hitch.  Now to get some productive hours on the machine installing 3,000 sleepers over the coming weeks” – Tom Hampton, Transport Engineering Professional 

Back in July, we unveiled our Hitachi ZX170W-3 Hi-Rail Excavator which was in partnership with Harrybilt Engineering who is based in Victoria. Special thanks to SteamRanger for allowing us access to rail for testing. RAM Equipment, When it Matters!