scope:

Introduction

This Track Work Instruction covers the particular aspects of planning continuous action plain line tampers. These tampers can achieve very high rates of production. A singlebank tamper has an optimum production rate of around 500m per hour, whereas the triple-bank tamper can achieve 1500m per hour. This is because the tamper does not have to stop each time the tamping tines enter the ballast. The system operates by the machine moving steadily forward while the tamping frame and tamping banks (the satellite) works on the ballast. On completion of the compaction, the banks lift and the satellite moves forward along the machine to the next position to repeat the process. Satellite tamping bank

See also TWI 3T041 'How to Manage Tamping', which covers the general matters to be considered when planning tamping.