Method and track construction machine for tamping under the sleepers of a track

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for tamping sleepers (9) of a track (3) using a tamping unit (6), the tamping tools (12) of which are immersed in a ballast bed (11) and aligned relative to each other, whereby the properties of the ballast bed (11) are determined. Based on the determined properties of the ballast bed (11), a setting (E) for an apposition pressure (pB) for acting on apposition cylinders (16) of the tamping unit (6) is automatically specified. This makes it possible to adjust the apposition pressure (pB) to the conditions of the ballast bed (11) during each tamping operation.