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Harsco Track Technologies (HTT) recently received an order from Australia's Queensland Rail for one Stoneblower track surfacing machine.

Developed by HTT and the United Kingdom's Network Rail, Stoneblowers are designed to pneumatically inject ballast under ties to help accurately position and smooth track without disturbing the existing ballast foundation.

Scheduled for delivery in late 2005, the Stoneblower will be produced at HTT's Michigan and Australian plants.

"Stoneblower is being increasingly recognized as a preferred method to provide more track time for trains and less time for track maintenance," said HTT President Robert Newman in a prepared statement.

Network Rail has surfaced more than 8,000 track miles with its fleet of 20 Stoneblowers and found track durability increased about four times compared with traditionally tamped track, HTT said.