6 Terms
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Railroad
A railroad is a means of wheeled transportation for moving people and goods. Railroads are tracks on which trains can tow cars behind an engine.
Industry: Railways
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Railroad
Catch point
Railways; Railroad
A single trailing point blade set into an ascending track to derail waggons which have come uncoupled and are running back down the hill. This prevents runaways colliding with a following train.
Catenary system
Railways; Railroad
A system of wires suspended between poles and bridges supporting overhead contact wires normally energised with electricity.
Signal box
Railways; Railroad
A building from which the surrounding turnouts and signals are operated. May contain either a lever frame or in more modern signal boxes a panel containing switches and coloured lights.
Simple curve
Railways; Railroad
A curve in the form of an arc of a circle usually described as to its degree of curvature.
Centre throw switch stand
Railways; Railroad
A switch stand with a spindle higher than 1 foot but less than 2 feet. This type is commonly used in yards, less frequently on main track because targets are not as readily visible to engineman as ...
Simple ladder
Railways; Railroad
A way of converting one track into many by attaching turnouts together so that only one of the exit roads from each turnout feeds the next.
Centralised traffic control (CTC)
Railways; Railroad
The manipulation of automatic and/or cab signals and power operated switches from a central location where signals supersede the superiority of trains.
