Electrographic Tamper
Photo courtesy of John Combs

Harsco Track Technologies (formerly Pandrol Jackson) Electro-graphic Tamper ET-17 in Talkeetna (June 2000)

Additional commentary by Tom hatfield, "Model 3300 Tamper. What we nickname a chase tamper. It follows the Model 6700 Tamper, photo JC-et-18 for increased productivity. It can also work alone. This one in the photo does not have the capability to line or level track. I believe it can be outfitted with the necessary equipment."

The basic purpose of an electro-graphic tamper is to align the track both in elevation and curvature. Travel speed is a 15 mph on a 2% grade, 28 mph on a 1% grade and a maximum speed of 40 mph.
 
 
Number Type Size Status (as of 6/6/01)
ET-6 Switch Lift Serviceable
ET-7 Pup Tamp Serviceable
ET-8 Torsion Bea Lift/line Serviceable
ET-9 Pup Tamp Serviceable
ET-10 Switch Tamp Serviceable
ET-14 Production Lift/line In Shop
ET-15 Production Lift/line Serviceable
ET-16 Production Lift/line Serviceable
ET-17 Pup Tamp Serviceable
ET-18 Production Lift/line Serviceable

Harsco Track Technologies History

The company was originally founded by Corwill Jackson in 1922 in Ludington, Michigan as the Electric Tamper and Equipment Company and manufactured electric vibratory hand tampers. Incorporated as Jackson Vibrators in 1937, the company later acquired the O.F. Jordan Company and became Jackson Jordan. The product line also expanded to include production and switch tampers as well as tie gang equipment.
Pandrol International Ltd., a subsidiary of Charter plc., acquired Jackson Jordan in 1990, along with Speno Rail Services and Dapco, and formed the Track Maintenance Division. The division is known as Harsco Track Technologies and is comprised of the main offices and manufacturing facility in Ludington, Michigan; the grinder re-manufacturing and operations facility in Syracuse, New York; and the rail flaw detection research and manufacturing facility in Danbury, Connecticut.