Automatic Track Laying Equipment

From: Wendell Huffman

The earliest spike driving machine I find in a quick search at Google patents is that of John W. Close. Patent filed July 1881, issued February 1890, with number 421908. It was steam powered. I am unaware of machines actually produced or used. But, someone was actually thinking about it.

—Wendell

[from the R&LHS Newsgroup.]