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 |
