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Tamping Pick

The core component of a railway ballast tamper. It transfers energy to the ballast layer through the impact force and vibration waves generated by high-frequency vibration, so that the ballast particles under the sleepers are rearranged and quickly compacted, effectively improving the lateral resistance and stability of the track.

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Tamping Pick

The pick body is made of high-quality alloy steel forgings, and the pick palm and tip are inlaid with wear-resistant alloy pieces, which significantly improves wear resistance, reduces the frequency of replacement at the construction site, and can significantly save labour and use costs.

Various types can meet the operational adaptation needs of different types of tamping locomotives.

Key Features

Ultra-Durable Construction

The pick body is forged from high-strength alloy steel, while the pick palm (contact surface with ballast) and tip are inlaid with tungsten carbide wear-resistant alloy. This combination extends the pick’s service life by 3x compared to standard carbon steel picks, reducing on-site replacements from once every 2 weeks to once every 2 months.

Broad Model Compatibility

We offer 5 specialized models (CU30.6820-BE-FRI, CU30.2723-BE, CU30.8820-FR-I, CU30.8820-FR-V, CU30.10840-FR-VII) with varying lengths (505mm–591mm) and pick palm widths (77mm–138mm). This ensures compatibility with all major tamping locomotive brands (e.g., Plasser & Theurer, Harsco) and types (road-rail tampers, production tampers).

Efficient Ballast Compaction

The pick’s tapered tip and optimized palm shape allow easy insertion into ballast layers (even compacted ones) and ensure uniform vibration transmission. This results in a 15% higher ballast density compared to poorly designed picks, directly improving track stability.

Cost-Saving Design

By reducing replacement frequency, the pick lowers labor costs (no need for frequent tamper downtime) and material costs (fewer picks purchased annually). A single pick can handle up to 500 hours of tamping operations—equivalent to maintaining 10km of track.

The Tamping Pick is the heart of railway ballast tampers—a critical component that translates mechanical energy into effective ballast compaction. It works by transmitting high-frequency vibration waves and impact force to the ballast layer under sleepers, rearranging ballast particles into a tightly interlocked configuration. This process significantly boosts track lateral resistance and stability, preventing track displacement and reducing long-term settlement. Unlike generic tamping picks, ours stands out for its exceptional durability (high-quality alloy steel forging + wear-resistant alloy inlays) and broad compatibility (multiple models for different tamper types). With a standard quantity of 1 unit, it is a cost-effective solution for railway operators, as it cuts down on replacement frequency and labor costs associated with frequent part swaps.