track-leveler

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. In railroading, a double-share plowing-car for leveling and crowning the top of a newly filled track. It consists of a flat car to the sides of which are hinged broad wings or shares, that can be raised and lowered by means of chains suspended from a frame erected on top of the car and operated by compressed air. When not in use the shares are folded back against the car and raised above the track. When gravel or other road material has been dumped along the road, the shares are lowered and securely braced. The leveler is then drawn along by a locomotive, sweeping the gravel away on each side àud leaving the road slightly crowned and in a finished condition. The leveler, when in use, is weighted by filling tanks on the car with water.