A railway vehicle recovers metallic objects like railroad spikes from a railway bed having a pair of rails. The vehicle includes wheels for riding on each rail and a carriage carrying a crawler for supporting the vehicle on the railway bed when one of the rails is removed. A pneumatic lift raises and lowers the carriage and crawler. A conveyor belt assembly for transporting the metallic objects to a hopper is supported entirely by an overhead support structure. A lateral translator moves the conveyor belt assembly from side to side. Various features are provided which allow a conveyor belt to be removed from one side of the conveyor belt assembly while maintaining continuity of the conveyor belt loop. A distinctive conveyor lift is provided for raising and lowering the conveyor belt assembly. A remote control is provided for controlling various operations of the vehicle.