Automatic
Warning
System (AWS) |
Used to give advance warning to
drivers of a signal, a temporary speed restriction or a permanent speed restriction
more than 30% slower than the current limit |
| Ballast |
Graded stone base used for drainage
and support of the railway track. |
| Bobby |
Traditional slang for a signalman
(the original signalmen were actually Railway Police Officers) |
| Bridge |
A bridge carries a road or railway
across a river, a valley or another obstacle. The simplest bridge is a beam supported
at each end by pillars. Beam bridges cannot stretch across wide gaps, so other
kinds must be used, such as arch bridges and suspension bridges. In a suspension
bridge, the road hangs from the wire cables. |
| Bullet Train |
A bullet train is a high-speed train that is
shaped rather like a bullet. Bullet trains are streamlined so that they can travel
faster. |
| Conductor
Rail |
A rail through which direct current (DC) electricity
is supplied to electric trains operating on the third rail system |
| Cutting |
Excavation for a railway track (or road) through
high ground to allow the track to be as level as possible |
| Diamond
Crossing |
Arrangement of a line where the point at which
two lines cross is in the shape of a diamond |
| Down Line |
Rail line taking trains away from London (generally) |
| Fish Plate
(fishplate) |
Steel plate to secure the ends of two rails
together (in jointed track) |
| Gauge |
Distance between the inner running faces of
two rails on the same track. standard gauge is 1,435mm(4ft 8 1/2ins) |
| Goods Line |
A line which does not have signals to the standard
required for running passenger trains |
| Level Crossing |
A crossing of a railway and road at the same
level |
| Light Loco |
A locomotive running on its own without a train
(usually to or from a depot for maintenance) |
| Locomotive |
An engine for drawing trains along a railway
track |
| Loop Line |
A siding with a connection to the running line
at each end, used to enable a locomotive to run round a train or to allow a slower
train to be overtaken by a faster train |
| Main Line |
Usually the fastest line(s) in a multiple track
or the running lines in a two track section |
| Mass transit |
Mass transit is a transport system that can
carry large numbers of passengers. It transports them over short distances in
a short time. Mass transit systems are used in cities, where the roads often become
blocked with traffic. A mass transit system may include buses, trams, an underground
railway and a surface railway. |
| Overhead
Lines |
Electric cables that carry alternating current
(AC) electricity. Used to power electric locomotives through a pantograph (see
below) |
| Pantograph |
Device on the roof of an electric locomotive
or multiple unit through which electric power is drawn from the overhead lines |
| Parkway
Station |
A railway station with a large car park and
easy road access |
| Piggyback |
The carrying of lorry trailers by train |
| Points |
Tapering moveable rail to direct a train from
one track to another |
| Power Operated
Points |
Points operated by a means other than mechanical
(e.g. electric motor, hydraulics or compressed air) Mechanical Points - points
which are operated without any form of power assistance |
| Q-Trains |
Trains with British Transport Police on-board
to combat route crime |
| Relief line
or Slow Line |
The slower line in a multiple track area. |
| Rolling
Stock |
The total amount of locomotives, passenger
and freight vehicles owned or operated by a company |
| Railway |
A railway is a transport system in which trains
run on steel rails. On most railways, the tracks consists of two rails which are
placed exactly 143.5 cm apart. This is called the standard gauge. Tracks with
rails which are closer together are known as narrow gauge. |
| Railway
Carriage |
Vehicle used to carry railway passengers and
hauled by a locomotive. A number of carriages (or freight wagons) and a locomotive
makes up a train |
| Semaphore
Signals |
Signals usually worked mechanically by wire
from a signal box, but can be electrically operated. These are mechanical arms
rather than coloured lights |
| Sleeper |
Wood, concrete or steel section which holds
the rails apart and supports the track on the ballast |
| Station |
A stopping place for trains where railway passengers
can get on and get off. The size can range from an unmanned station with a shelter
and one platform to a large station with many staff, platforms and passenger facilities. |
| Steam engine |
A steam engine produces power to drive machinery.
Steam engines were the first successful engines. They were the main power source
in industry in the 1700's and 1800's, and also on the railway until the middle
of this century. |
| Third Rail |
An additional rail beside
the two running rails. Used to carry direct current (DC) power to electrified
trains - the alternative to alternating current (AC) used in overhead line electrification |
| Train |
A train is a vehicle that travels
on the railways. It is made up of a locomotive and a number of passenger carriages
or goods wagons. The train locomotive provides the power to pull the train. |
| Tunnel |
A structure provided to allow
a railway line (or road) to pass under higher ground, and which has been excavated
without disturbing the surface of that ground |
| Underground
railway |
An underground railway travels
in tunnels below the surface. It is sometimes called a subway or metro. Underground
railways are useful in busy cities because they are not affected BT traffic jams
on the streets above. The London Underground (opened in 1863) was the first underground
railway and is still the biggest in the world. |
| Up Line |
Track with a normal direction
of running generally towards London |
| Viaduct |
A bridge structure with a series
of arches or spans carrying a railway (or road) across a valley or dip in the
ground |
