Railway

Railway

Relating to the infrastructure developed for the transport of trains.

Contributors in Railway

Railway

Inclination of the track enabling curves to be negotiated at greater speed. However, the cant is restricted to a specific elevation to prevent any train stopping on it from overturning. Curves cannot ...

weighbridge

Transportation; Railway

A weighing device designed to check the weight of wagons when empty and fully loaded. The speed for weighbridges is generally restricted (due to the precision machinery).

small shunting locomotive

Transportation; Railway

Diesel or electric traction unit with a power rating between 300 and 499 HP.

catenary

Transportation; Railway

Overhead power line for electric locomotives. Contrary to what some might think, the catenary is not straight, but in a zigzag shape so as to distribute the contact over the contact strip support and ...

wheel arrangement

Transportation; Railway

The most common system used to describe a steam locomotive's wheel arrangement is the Whyte system, which consists of three digits: the first represents the number of leading carrying wheels, the ...

snowplough

Transportation; Railway

Reinforced wagon fitted with a wedge-shaped device to cut through snowdrifts. It is usually coupled in front of a locomotive to clear the track.

caution signal

Transportation; Railway

Signal warning the driver to be able to stop the train at the next signal if it is still showing danger when reached (i.e. a red aspect or a stop semaphore signal). A caution sign can be recognised ...