Here's a "fantasy" front end from Lionel:
Pictured is the 1997 first reissue of the original PW PRR Tie-Jector Lionel offered from 1957-1960. The tie ejection mechanism is activated and deactivated by trackside "trippers" that are attached at the beginning and end of the track segment where ties are to be "delivered." In the PW original, the single PullMor motor had to operate both the drive and tie ejector mechanisms, so it had a pretty serious problem with overheating, often causing the un-ventilated shell to melt. Lionel attempted to address this problem with a ventilation slot behind the "motorman" in the later years they made the PW unit. Apparently, not many of these "ventilated" PW units were produced so it is rather rare today.
The 1997 example pictured features separate Mabuchi can motors for the drive and ejector mechanisms, so there are no overheating problems.
Like the PW original, it only travels in the forward direction, requires trackside "trippers" and has a fixed rear coupler for pulling one MOW support car. Unlike the original, it was produced in several roadnames over subsequent years.
A second reissue, a "Command Control" version, was offered beginning in 2014. It features a headlight, forward-reverse and tie ejection control in conventional and TMCC modes (instead of "trippers"), and an electrocoupler for the one MOW car. The mechanicals are essentially the same as the 1997 first reissue version. Like the first reissue, it has been produced in several roadnames over subsequent years.
