Electric tugs for rail
Move trams and rolling stock with one operator.
From bogies and locomotive components to whole trams lined up over a wheel lathe, Tractive Power electric tugs move rail loads up to 300,000 kg with one person walking behind. Power steered, battery powered, and built in the UK.
300,000 kg
On rails with a single TP3000, the top of the Extra Heavy range.
Extra Heavy range
1 person
The operator walks behind and steers. The tug does the pushing.
Regardless of load
≈ £80k
Estimated saving a year at Sheffield Supertram, positioning trams over the wheel lathe.
Supertram case study
Moving a tram a few metres shouldn't take a team.
Rail depots move bogies, trams and locomotive components between roads, lathes and workshops every day.
Shunters, winches and the vehicle's own power all need extra people and set-up time, and they make precise positioning hard.
Why traditional handling doesn’t fit
Moving rolling stock under its own power or with a shunter needs a driver, a spotter and a clear road. Winches are slow to rig and hard to stop exactly where you need.
Pushing by hand is not an option at these weights.
Where Tractive Power fits
A power-steered electric tug gives one operator full control of a railed load. At Sheffield Supertram, a TP3000 with a custom coupling lines trams up over the wheel lathe to the millimetre, with the tram powered down.
The Extra Heavy range moves 100,000 kg (TP1000), 200,000 kg (TP2000) and 300,000 kg (TP3000) on rails.
Where our machines work in rail
From the depot road to the wheel lathe.
Tram positioning
Trams lined up over the wheel lathe, powered down.
Bogies & components
Bogie frames moved around the workshop on castors.
Access gantries
Access gantries and depot equipment repositioned along the track.
Depot trailers
Cable drum trailers moved around the depot by one person.
Applications
Rail: what our tugs move
TP500 · TP1000Moving HVAC units and roof modules in rail production
HVAC cassettes and roof modules moved along the build line to their lift points with fine, controlled positioning.Read moreTP2000 · TP3000Moving trams and railed bogies
Bogies, carriages and whole trams moved round the depot on rails by one operator, without powering up.Read moreRecommended for rail
Four tugs for rail loads.
Not sure which machine you need? Start from your load.
Rail couplings
The right connection for your rolling stock.
Rail loads need a secure, controlled connection. Every tug is fitted with the coupling that suits your vehicles, and we design bespoke couplings in-house, like the one on Supertram's TP3000.
Adjustable pushpad
Straight-line pushing of bogies and railed loads.
Roll cage coupling
Up to 250 nested cages, pushed as one
5th wheel channel
For wheeled loads and trolleys around the depot.
Quick latch
Standardised across your trolleys
Paper roll
Drums, reels and paper rolls
None of these fit? We design the coupling around your load. Designed in-house around your load, to your drawing.
Built for rail handling
Controlled, power-steered, single-operator moves.
Single-operator control
One person walks behind and steers at walking pace. The tug supplies the force, so nobody has to push.
Power steered
The whole Extra Heavy range is power steered, so the operator steers a heavy load without fighting the tiller.
Backed by a UK service team
Built in the UK, with a 2-year warranty and a UK service team for servicing and repairs.
Rail handling FAQs
The questions rail teams ask us.
Can an electric tug move a tram?
Yes. Sheffield Supertram uses a TP3000 with a custom coupling to position trams over its wheel lathe, with the tram powered down.
How heavy a rail load can you move?
Up to 300,000 kg on rails with the TP3000. The TP1000 moves up to 100,000 kg and the TP2000 up to 200,000 kg.
Are the Extra Heavy tugs power steered?
Yes. The TP1000, TP2000 and TP3000 are all power steered.
Can you design a coupling for our vehicles?
Yes. Rail jobs often need a bespoke coupling, and our design team makes them in-house.
How long does charging take?
A full recharge of the 165 Ah battery on the Extra Heavy range takes 8 hours, so it charges overnight.
Can you look at our site first?
Yes. We visit, walk the routes and look at your loads before recommending a machine and coupling.
Will a Tractive Power tug move your load?
Tell us what you’re moving, how heavy it gets and what it runs on. We’ll tell you which tug and coupling will do the job.
Rather talk it through? Call 01538 360372.
