The high standards required for switch laying were taken into account in the development of the switch laying machines of the WM series. Careful handling is necessary during transport and installation, especially for the modern concrete-tieed switches.

The SES switch & panel exchange system WM 40 consists of seven units: one WRW carrier vehicle, two PA switch lifting units and four WTW switch transport wagons. The WRW carrier vehicle serves to transport switch sections and track panels as well as one of the two switch lifting units to the worksite. This is designed with two 2-axle bogies (one axle per bogie is powered hydraulically), two auxiliary undercarriages and two powered crawler tracks. The bogies are in laterally displaceable design to ensure the exact track gauge when placed on the track and precise alignment for travel on track.

The switch sections or track panels picked up and laid using both switch lifting units (gantry units). The lifting stresses are distributed uniformly onto the switch so that its geometry is not altered by sagging, twisting or bending. Within the lifting units, the switch sections can be displaced by 72 inches (1.830 mm) longitudinally and 80 inches (2.030 mm) laterally. If the switch is longer than the lifting frame, extensions are placed at the front and the rear as supports to prevent any undesired bouncing or twisting of the switch. One of the two switch lifting units is fitted with self-propelled crawler tracks. Both lifting units can load themselves onto the switch transport wagons.

The four WTW switch transport wagons are equipped with a hydraulic slewing loading bridge with which the switch can be turned so that the permissible loading gauge is not exceeded during transport. Two of the four WTW's in this system are fitted with a diesel-hydraulic self-propulsion which allows the vehicle itself as well as other vehicles in the system formation to be manoeuvred in the work site area.

Both the switch lifting units and the switch transport wagons can be controlled by radio remote control, in each case by only one operator.

WM 40/PK

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