ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 18 -- United States Patent no. 12,473,696, issued on Nov. 18, was assigned to Herzog Railroad Services Inc. (St. Joseph, Mo.).
"Rail tie distribution control system" was invented by Steven R. Walton (Olathe, Kan.), Jacob D. Herzog (St. Joseph, Mo.), Tony Shirk (Clarksdale, Mo.), Daniel T. Marshall (Leavenworth, Kan.) and Damon Bailey (Rosendale, Mo.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Systems and methods for distributing rail ties are disclosed. A method of distributing rail ties at a side of a track comprises providing a plurality of rail tie distribution cars in a consist. Each of the plurality of rail tie distribution cars has a distribution car controller and a discharge ...