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REPUBLIQUE ALGERIENNE DEMOCRATIQUE ET POPULATION MINISTERE DE L’ENSEIGNEMENT SUPERIEUR ET DE LA
RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
المدرسة الوطنية العليا لألشغال العمومية
فرنسيس جانسون
Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Travaux Publics
National School of Built and Ground Works Engineering
Francis Jeanson
1 ST YEAR DIB
TECHNICAL ENGLISH
RAILWAYS
Dr. ABILA-AMALOU Naima
INTRODUCTION
Rail transport is the ground transportation of passengers and products
along trains or railroads. A railway (or railroad) track is made up of two
parallel rail tracks, which were once made of iron but are now made of
steel. A train is usually made up of cars that run on rails (a series of
individual powered or unpowered vehicles linked together). The cars travel
with far less friction, and the locomotive that drives the train consumes far
less energy than wagons do.
Comparison between Roads and Railway
The concentrated weight on the train necessitates a particularly sturdy track.
The road can accommodate several sorts of vehicles, while the track can only
accommodate trains:
-The train wheels can only move on rails and require a "Points and
Crossing" setup.
- Because there are no obstacles on the track, faster speeds can be
reached when compared to roadways
- Traction force between steel rail and steel wheels causes train
movement. Rail friction is about one-fifth of that between rubber
and road (vehicles-road).
- Railways require greater upkeep than roadways.
- The road is acceptable for a variety of vehicles, while the track is
only suitable for trains.
Railway construction
The concentrated weight on a train requires a particularly sturdy track.
The road is acceptable for a variety of vehicles, while the track is only
suitable for trains
Rail Gauge
Rail gauge is the distance between the inner surfaces of two parallel rails
that make up a railway track, as shown in the picture. Sixty percent of the
world's railways utilize a standard or international gauge of 1.435 m . The
concentrated weight on a train requires a particularly sturdy track
Broad gauge refers to rail gauges that are wider than standard
gauge, whereas narrow gauge refers to rail gauges that are
narrower than standard gauge. Certain portions of track have
dual gauge, which means that three (or sometimes four)
parallel running rails are constructed in place of the
conventional two, allowing trains of different gauges to share
the same route. The term "break-of-gauge" refers to the
scenario that occurs when two gauges collide. In England, the
first track (1.524 m) from the outside of the wheel to the
outside is used.
RAIL TRANSPORT
Wooden rail tracks may have been utilized in German mines as early as the 12th
century. Richard Trevithick invented the steam automobile in 1803.
The friction between iron wheels and rails was substantially lower
than the friction between wheels and the ground. Steam-powered
vehicles with rails had enough traction power to draw lengthy
lines of heavy loaded wagons. Not only people, but also massive
amounts of commodities and raw materials, could now be carried
quickly and cheaply, establishing the railroad as the foundation of
the entire economic infrastructure.
German miners may have started using wooden rails as early as
the 12th century. Richard Trevithick positioned the steam car on
iron rails in 1803.
The first railway to carry passengers
in South Wales, Great Britain, 1807
The first railway to carry passengers in South Wales, Great Britain, 1807
Civil engineering design was altered by the use of iron and Portland cement in
construction. Stone, brick, and wood were the only materials accessible prior to this.
When they designed the railways that would span the entire length and breadth of
Britain and other nations, engineers like I. K. Brunel and G. Stephenson—the
"father of the first steam locomotive"—who was born in 1825 had a lot more
architectural freedom.
Railway line building doesn't start until the route has been thoroughly surveyed.
Every stage of the project needs to be carefully examined. Also, the curves needed
to have a larger radius than what is required for an automotive route. The outer rail
is raised above the inner rail in all railroad curves, which are always banked. This is
referred to as superelevation, and it is a fundamental idea in the planning of roads.
Significant technological advancements in railroad construction have occurred
during the past few decades. In addition to other types of construction, footings for
railroad lines have been built using soil mechanics and soil stabilization methods
Excercise
Summarize the text using these headings.
1. Advantages of railway transport
2. Technological advances in railroad building
3. Renewed interest in railroads
4. Some principles in railway building
5. Make a list of all the materials used for building tracks
throughout the centuries
