Railroad beds require regrading in order to permit for an increased axial load. There are often cables or tubes embedded in the roadbed at the roadbed sides, making regrading difficult. In accordance with the present invention, material is moved by suction to form pits at each side of the track at intervals along the railroad bed, and a laser camera is used to obtain information relating to the profile adjacent to the pits and the positions of the embedded cables or tubes. This information is saved, and used to control a device for mechanically excavating material from the railroad bed sides without damaging the embedded cables or tubes and grading the railroad bed. A laser measuring device is provided for reading the railroad bed profile.