Railroad Design References

Here, you can review common railroad design references and definitions.

References A-H

Ballast - Crushed stone or gravel that is placed beneath and around the ties to provide stability, drainage, and load distribution.
Centerline - The imaginary line running through the middle of a railroad track.
Clearance - The minimum distance maintained between any part of a train and a fixed structure or obstacle, such as a bridge or platform edge.
Curve - A section of track that is curved instead of straight. Curves are designated by their radius, which is the distance from the center of the circle to the centerline of the track.
Frog - A component of a turnout that allows the wheels of a train to cross from one rail to another at a junction.
Gauge - The distance between the inner sides of two parallel rails. The standard gauge for most railroads is 4 feet, 8.5 inches.
Grade - The slope or incline of a railroad track. It is usually expressed as a percentage or a ratio.
Grade Crossing - The point at which a railroad track intersects with a road or path. It typically includes warning devices, such as gates or flashing lights, to indicate the presence of an approaching train.

References I-Z

Rails - The continuous bars of steel that make up the track and provide a smooth surface for the wheels of the train.
Signals - Visual or audible devices used to convey information to train operators, indicating when to proceed, stop, or slow down.
Superelevation - Also known as cant or banking, it refers to the raising of the outer rail on a curved track to counteract the centrifugal force experienced by the train.
Switch - A device used to guide trains from one track to another, allowing them to change direction or move from one track to another.
Ties - Also known as sleepers, these are rectangular supports placed at regular intervals along the trackbed to hold the rails in position.
Trackbed - The foundation or base upon which the rails and ties are laid.
Turnout - The area of track where a switch is installed, allowing trains to move from one track to another.