railway engineering permanent way sleepers ballast track geometry points crossings stations yards - Question Bank

1. The process of removing the ballast from beneath the sleepers and replacing it with clean ballast is called:
A) Ballast tamping
B) Ballast screening
C) Ballast cleaning
D) Ballast renewal
2. What is the main advantage of using 'elastic rail clips' compared to older fastening systems?
A) Lower initial cost.
B) Easier manual installation.
C) Better load distribution and ability to absorb vibration.
D) Greater resistance to creep.
3. A 'bay platform' is typically used for:
A) Trains that terminate or originate at the station.
B) Through passenger services.
C) Fast freight trains.
D) Express passenger services.
4. Which type of station layout is characterized by a single platform serving trains traveling in both directions?
A) Through station
B) Terminal station
C) Island platform station
D) Bay platform station
5. What is the term for the phenomenon where rails tend to buckle or wave laterally under compressive stress, especially in hot weather?
A) Creep
B) Fatigue
C) Buckling
D) Corrosion
6. The 'sleeper density' refers to:
A) The number of sleepers per kilometer of track.
B) The weight of a single sleeper.
C) The spacing between sleepers.
D) The load-carrying capacity of sleepers.
7. What is the 'track circuit' in railway signaling?
A) A system for measuring track geometry.
B) An electrical circuit that uses the rails to detect the presence or absence of a train.
C) A mechanism for joining rails.
D) A device for controlling train speed.
8. The 'flange' of a railway wheel is designed to:
A) Increase the contact area with the rail.
B) Guide the wheel along the rail and prevent it from derailing.
C) Distribute the load to the sleeper.
D) Reduce friction.
9. What is the critical factor for determining the maximum permissible speed on a curve?
A) The length of the curve.
B) The degree of the curve and the amount of cant provided.
C) The type of sleepers used.
D) The width of the ballast.
10. A 'level crossing' is a point where:
A) Two railway tracks intersect at the same level.
B) A railway track crosses a road at the same level.
C) A railway track crosses a river.
D) Two different gauges meet.
11. What is the purpose of 'drainage' in railway track construction?
A) To allow trains to move faster.
B) To prevent waterlogging and weakening of the formation and ballast.
C) To provide a smooth surface for the rails.
D) To increase the load-bearing capacity of the track.
12. The 'formation width' of a railway track typically refers to:
A) The width of the ballast.
B) The width of the prepared ground surface at the top of the embankment or bottom of the cutting.
C) The distance between the rails.
D) The width of the sleepers.
13. What is the primary advantage of using 'welded rails' (continuous welded rails - CWR)?
A) Easier and cheaper installation.
B) Elimination of rail joints, leading to a smoother ride and reduced maintenance.
C) Increased flexibility of the track.
D) Reduced requirement for ballast.
14. Which type of rail fastening is commonly used with concrete sleepers?
A) Dog spikes
B) Clip fastenings (e.g., Pandrol clips)
C) Cotter and key fastenings
D) Screw spikes
15. When rails are joined end-to-end, the gap created due to thermal expansion is called:
A) Creep gap
B) Expansion gap
C) Joint gap
D) Clearance gap
16. What is the term for the lateral displacement of a rail under the load of a moving train?
A) Buckling
B) Creep
C) Spalling
D) Ballast fouling
17. The 'track renewal' process involves:
A) Adding new ballast to existing track.
B) Replacing worn-out rails, sleepers, and ballast.
C) Increasing the cant on curves.
D) Improving signaling systems.
18. What is the minimum clearance required between two adjacent tracks in a standard gauge yard?
A) 2 meters
B) 3 meters
C) 4 meters
D) 5 meters
19. In a 'hump yard', the sorting of wagons is done by:
A) Manual shunting.
B) Gravity, using a hump (an artificial mound).
C) A powerful locomotive pushing wagons.
D) A conveyor belt system.
20. A 'running yard' is designed for:
A) Sorting of wagons.
B) Quick passage of through trains with minimal delay.
C) Storage of locomotives.
D) Passenger amenities.
21. What is the purpose of a 'carriage and wagon (C&W) yard'?
A) To assemble passenger trains.
B) To store and maintain passenger coaches and goods wagons.
C) To sort incoming goods wagons.
D) To facilitate train crossings.
22. A 'marshalling yard' is primarily used for:
A) Passenger boarding and alighting.
B) Sorting and assembling goods wagons into trains.
C) High-speed train passage.
D) Locomotive maintenance.
23. Which of the following is a characteristic of a 'yard' in railway engineering?
A) A single straight track for high-speed movement.
B) An area with multiple tracks for sorting, storing, and assembling trains.
C) A facility for passenger boarding only.
D) A location for track maintenance.
24. What is a 'catch point'?
A) A point that allows trains to switch tracks.
B) A point intended to prevent a runaway vehicle from moving onto the main line.
C) A point used for goods loading.
D) A point used for changing train direction.
25. The 'heel' of a switch rail in a point refers to:
A) The pointed end that guides the wheel.
B) The end that is fixed to the stock rail.
C) The adjustable end that moves.
D) The part that forms the crossing.
26. What is the function of a 'trap point' or 'derailer'?
A) To allow trains to switch tracks smoothly.
B) To derail a train accidentally moving onto a dangerous section of track.
C) To increase the speed of trains.
D) To connect two different gauges.
27. In a 'juniper crossing' (a type of crossing), the angle of crossing is typically:
A) Very acute (e.g., 1 in 8.5)
B) Moderate (e.g., 1 in 12)
C) Obtuse (e.g., 1 in 4)
D) Right angle
28. A 'through station' is a station where:
A) Trains terminate and reverse.
B) Trains pass through without stopping.
C) Trains can move in any direction on multiple platforms.
D) Goods are loaded and unloaded.
29. What is the primary purpose of a 'station' in railway operations?
A) To allow trains to cross each other safely.
B) To provide facilities for passengers to board and alight, and for loading/unloading goods.
C) To maintain track infrastructure.
D) To change the direction of trains.
30. The 'shoulders' of the ballast are the ballast material provided:
A) On top of the rails.
B) On the sides of the sleepers, beyond their ends.
C) Underneath the sleepers.
D) Along the center line of the track.
31. What is the 'formation' of a railway track?
A) The entire track structure including rails, sleepers, and ballast.
B) The prepared ground surface on which the ballast is laid.
C) The device used to join two rails.
D) The system for signaling trains.
32. The vertical distance between the top surface of the rail and the top surface of the ballast is known as:
A) Ballast depth
B) Formation depth
C) Crowning
D) Shoulder width
33. What is the minimum radius of curvature generally recommended for main lines to ensure safety and comfort?
A) 50 meters
B) 100 meters
C) 200 meters
D) 500 meters
34. A 'scissors crossing' allows a train to cross from one track to another:
A) Only in one direction.
B) In either direction, on the same level.
C) Only on a grade separation.
D) Only at stations.
35. What is the purpose of a 'check rail' or 'guard rail' in a crossing?
A) To prevent derailment by guiding the wheel flange.
B) To increase the speed on the crossing.
C) To provide a smoother ride.
D) To distribute the load more evenly.
36. A 'crossing' (also known as a frog) in a railway track is used to:
A) Guide the wheels of a train across an opposing rail.
B) Provide a smooth transition between straight and curved tracks.
C) Support the rails at joints.
D) Distribute the load to the ballast.
37. The main components of a simple turn-out (a type of point) are:
A) Tongue rails, stock rails, and crossing.
B) Lead rails, facing points, and trailing points.
C) Guard rails, check rails, and switch rails.
D) Main line, branch line, and connecting line.
38. A 'point' in railway engineering is a device used for:
A) Joining two rails end to end.
B) Allowing a train to change from one track to another.
C) Providing a level crossing.
D) Increasing the speed of trains on curves.
39. What is the 'degree of curve' for a railway track?
A) The radius of the curve in meters.
B) The angle subtended at the center by a 30-meter chord.
C) The angle subtended at the center by a 100-meter chord.
D) The difference in elevation between the inner and outer rails.
40. A 'transition curve' in track geometry is used to:
A) Connect two straight sections of track.
B) Connect a straight section to a circular curve.
C) Connect two circular curves of different radii.
D) Provide a location for a station.
41. The maximum allowable cant on Indian broad gauge lines is typically around:
A) 50 mm
B) 75 mm
C) 100 mm
D) 150 mm
42. What is the primary purpose of providing cant (superelevation) on curves?
A) To increase the speed of trains.
B) To reduce wear on the outer rail.
C) To counteract the centrifugal force acting on the train.
D) To improve track stability.
43. The 'cant' or 'superelevation' in a railway track is provided on:
A) Straight sections of the track.
B) Curved sections of the track.
C) Level crossings.
D) Points and crossings.
44. What is the typical material used for ballast in heavy-traffic railway lines?
A) Crushed stone (granite, basalt)
B) Gravel
C) Sand
D) Cinders
45. The function of ballast in a railway track is to:
A) Provide a firm and stable base for sleepers.
B) Allow for drainage of water from the track.
C) Distribute the load from sleepers to the subgrade.
D) All of the above.
46. Which of the following is NOT a standard railway gauge in India?
A) Broad gauge
B) Standard gauge
C) Metre gauge
D) Narrow gauge
47. What is the 'gauge' of a railway track?
A) The distance between the top surface of the rails.
B) The distance between the inner faces of the two rails.
C) The distance between the outer faces of the two rails.
D) The vertical clearance above the rails.
48. Which type of sleeper is most commonly used in modern railway construction due to its durability and low maintenance?
A) Wooden sleepers
B) Cast iron (pot) sleepers
C) Concrete sleepers
D) Steel sleepers
49. What is the primary function of sleepers in a railway track?
A) To distribute the load from rails to ballast.
B) To maintain the correct gauge between the rails.
C) To provide lateral stability to the track.
D) All of the above.
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