A railroad plough (also known as a Schienenwolf ('rail wolf') or Schwellenpflug ('sleepers plough')) is a rail vehicle which supports an immensely strong, hook-shaped 'plough'. It is used for destruction of rail track in warfare, as part of a scorched earth policy, so that it becomes unusable for the enemy.
In use, the plough is lowered to rip up the middle of the track as it is hauled along by a locomotive. This action breaks the sleepers and pulls the rails out of alignment; bridges and signalling equipment also suffer serious damage.
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Railroad ploughs were in use by the Czechoslovakian army in 1938.[1]
A captured German World War II example was kept at the Longmoor Military Railway. This may have since been transferred to the care of the UK's National Army Museum.
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Railroad_ploughs Railroad ploughs] at Wikimedia Commons