When freight traffic or MOW work leaves a mess on your track, this rail plow clears it in one pass.
The DymaxRail Ballast Plow mounts on your backhoe, excavator, or wheel loader, and rides the rail on integrated wheels — no dedicated cleanup machine needed. Drive forward, and the V-blade moves spilled material from the centerline to both shoulders in one pass. Configured for narrow, standard, or broad gauge rail networks, with replaceable bolt-on cutting edges.
How the V-design works
Most plow blades push material forward or to one side. The DymaxRail Ballast Plow uses a V-shaped blade that splits material at the centerline and routes it outward to both shoulders simultaneously — so one forward pass clears the full track width.
APPLICATIONS
- Clean up commodity spills: Sand, coal dust, gypsum, silica, and fine aggregates. Common on corridors adjacent to bulk freight operations.
- Push displaced ballast off the centerline and back to the shoulders after tie replacement or tamping work.
- Shape and dress track shoulders for proper ballast profile and drainage after undercutting or ballast renewal.
- Spot cleanup during maintenance windows.
KEY FEATURES
- Integrated rail wheels with bearings: Self-guided on rail as the operator drives forward.
- HD stabilizer arms with replaceable front pads: Keeps the blade at a consistent cutting depth across uneven ballast. Pads are field-replaceable without removing the attachment.
- V-shape blade with bottom skid shoe: Splits material at the centerline and routes it to both shoulders in one pass. Skid shoe protects the rail surface.
- Replaceable bolt-on cutting edges: Poly standard. Rubber available.
OPTIONS
- Available for various rail gauge networks: Configured to match the gauge network you operate — standard, narrow, or broad gauge. Contact DymaxRail for non-standard or specialty gauge applications.
- Custom design solutions: Specialty coupler interfaces and modified blade geometries available. Contact DymaxRail to discuss your requirements.
SPECIFICATIONS
BALLAST PLOW MODELS
| Model Description Weight |
| DX-BL-RP-102inx28in-BL-10
Blade-Rail Plow-102in wide x 28in tall-Backhoe Loader-Class 10 STANDARD FEATURES: |
| DX-BL-RP-102inx28in-WL-50
Blade-Rail Plow-102in wide x 28in tall-Wheel Loader-Class 50 STANDARD FEATURES: |
| DX-BL-RP-102inx28in-WL-60
Blade-Rail Plow-102in wide x 28in tall-Wheel Loader-Class 60 STANDARD FEATURES: WEIGHT: 2650 lbs |
| DX-BL-RP-102inx28in-HX-12T
Blade-Rail Plow-102in wide x 28in tall-Hydraulic Excavator-12 Ton STANDARD FEATURES: WEIGHT: 2650 lbs |
| DX-BL-RP-102inx28in-HX-25T
Blade-Rail Plow-102in wide x 28in tall-Hydraulic Excavator-25 Ton STANDARD FEATURES: WEIGHT: 2750 lbs |
Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.
FAQ
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BALLAST PLOW AND A BALLAST REGULATOR?
A ballast regulator is a dedicated, self-propelled production machine built for system-wide ballast distribution and profiling at speed. A ballast plow is an attachment — it mounts to equipment already on site and handles spot cleanup, spill response, and post-maintenance ballast work within a track window. For shortlines, contractors, and MOW crews doing spot work, a plow attachment is faster to deploy, lower cost, and doesn’t require a separate machine on the project.
WHAT IS A RAIL BALLAST PLOW USED FOR?
A rail ballast plow clears spilled commodity materials, such as sand, coal dust, gypsum, silica, and fine aggregates, from the track centerline and shoulders, and redistributes loose ballast after tie replacement or tamping operations. It mounts to a backhoe loader, hydraulic excavator, or wheel loader, rides the rail on integrated wheels, and moves material outward in a single forward pass. It’s the right-sized tool for spot cleanup and maintenance work that doesn’t warrant deploying a full ballast regulator.
CAN A BACKHOE LOADER BE USED FOR RAILWAY BALLAST CLEANUP?
Yes. The DymaxRail Ballast Plow attaches to backhoe loaders using standard quick coupler hooks — no machine modification required. Integrated rail wheels guide the attachment on the rail as the operator drives forward, so the machine provides the power and the plow handles track guidance. The Class 10 backhoe loader model is 102 inches wide and weighs 2,500 lbs. To get your excavator or backhoe on rail in the first place, see the DymaxRail Hi-Rail system.
HOW DO YOU CLEAN UP A COAL DUST OR SAND SPILL ON RAILWAY TRACK?
The most efficient method for commodity spills on active track is a V-blade ballast plow attachment mounted to an on-site backhoe, excavator, or wheel loader. The V-blade splits spilled material at the centerline and routes it to both shoulders simultaneously as the machine drives forward — one pass covers the full track width. For tight areas or final cleanup, a ballast broom attachment can be used in combination.
WHAT GAUGE NETWORKS IS THE DYMAXRAIL BALLAST PLOW AVAILABLE FOR?
The DymaxRail Ballast Plow is available for various rail gauge networks. Custom design solutions are available for non-standard or specialty gauge configurations. Contact DymaxRail to discuss your application requirements.
WHAT MACHINE SIZES ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THE DYMAXRAIL BALLAST PLOW?
The DymaxRail Ballast Plow is available in five configurations to match your equipment: Class 10 backhoe loader, 12-ton and 25-ton hydraulic excavators, and Class 50 and Class 60 wheel loaders. All models are 102 inches wide by 28 inches tall. Custom configurations are available — contact DymaxRail for requirements outside these classes.
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