DE3026883

A tamping machine intended for tamping on the open track and below switches and cross overs. It is equipped with independent tamping units arranged on opposite sides of each line of rail and each connected to the chassis by a mechanism comprising: a transverse slideway actuated by a first piston-cylinder unit; a slide block mounted on the slideway and on which the tamping unit is articulated; an arm fastened to the tamping unit; and a connecting rod connecting said arm to the chassis. The slide block of the outer unit is fastened on the slideway while the slide block of the inner unit is movable on said slideway and driven by a second piston-cylinder unit. Thus, the transverse trajectory of the tamping tools is sufficiently flat to avoid a correction of their depth of penetration upon the tamping of long ties.