Welcome!

Enter a player name to begin or load your saved progress.

Double-track railway Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

Study Hints Create Teach
Global Score: 0
Trophies: 0 🏆

‹ Back

Score: 0 / 100

Study Guide: Railway Track Configurations and Operations

Cheat Sheet:
Railway Track Configurations and Operations Study Guide

Railway Track Fundamentals

A single-track railway necessitates specific coordination systems to manage trains traveling in opposite directions on the same track.

Answer: True

Return to Game

What is the fundamental difference between a double-track and a single-track railway?

Answer: Double-track has one track for each direction; single-track has both directions sharing one track.

Return to Game

Historical Development and Early Practices

Early railways in the United Kingdom were predominantly constructed as double-track lines, largely influenced by the challenges of coordinating operations before the telegraph and existing capacity demands.

Answer: True

Return to Game

The British Board of Trade did not consider single-track railway lines to be fully complete systems in the early days of railways.

Answer: True

Return to Game

Cost was the primary driver for building most early railways in the United States as single-track lines.

Answer: True

Return to Game

Early US railways primarily utilized basic timetable working systems, which were later significantly improved by the advent of the telegraph and the train order system.

Answer: True

Return to Game

The telegraph significantly improved the management of early single-track railways by enabling the train order system.

Answer: True

Return to Game

Early UK railways adopted double-tracking mainly because single-track lines were deemed sufficient for capacity needs.

Answer: False

Return to Game

The train order system, enabled by the telegraph, enhanced safety on single-track lines by allowing centralized control.

Answer: True

Return to Game

What was the primary reason cited for most early railways in the United States being built as single-track lines?

Answer: The significantly lower cost compared to double-tracking.

Return to Game

Why were most early railways in the United Kingdom constructed as double-track lines?

Answer: Due to the difficulty of coordinating operations before the telegraph and capacity needs.

Return to Game

What historical development significantly improved the management and safety of single-track railways?

Answer: The development of the telegraph and train order system.

Return to Game

What was the initial stance of the British Board of Trade regarding single-track railways?

Answer: They did not consider them complete systems.

Return to Game

Which of the following is a plausible reason for early UK railways to adopt double-tracking?

Answer: To handle busy lines that exceeded single-track capacity.

Return to Game

Double Track Design and Operational Considerations

In countries such as Belgium, China, and France, rail traffic on double-track lines typically runs on the right, mirroring their road traffic conventions.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Metro systems exclusively follow the same track direction conventions as the heavy rail networks in their respective countries.

Answer: False

Return to Game

The handedness of rail traffic has no impact on the placement of driver's controls in locomotives.

Answer: False

Return to Game

In early steam locomotives, the driver's position was primarily determined by the need to see signals, often necessitating placement near the side of the railway.

Answer: True

Return to Game

Bi-directional running on a double-track line means each track is permanently assigned to a specific direction of travel.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Bi-directional running capabilities significantly enhance operational flexibility, allowing trains to use the opposite track for overtaking or during disruptions.

Answer: True

Return to Game

The distance between track centers on a double-track line is influenced by factors such as cost, maintenance access, and high-speed operations.

Answer: True

Return to Game

Wider track centers are generally not necessary for high-speed lines as aerodynamic effects between trains are minimal.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Track centers primarily influence the aesthetic appearance of a railway line.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Widely spaced double tracks offer a military advantage by making it harder for attackers to damage both tracks simultaneously.

Answer: True

Return to Game

Track centers are influenced by factors like signal mounting requirements and the need for maintenance access.

Answer: True

Return to Game

In some countries, rail traffic runs on the left while road traffic runs on the right.

Answer: True

Return to Game

What does 'bi-directional running' enable on a double-track line?

Answer: Both tracks to be signaled for movement in either direction.

Return to Game

In which of the following countries does rail traffic typically run on the left, contrasting with road traffic?

Answer: Sweden

Return to Game

What is the primary reason cited for wider track centers on high-speed lines?

Answer: To reduce the impact of pressure waves generated by passing trains.

Return to Game

What factor influenced the driver's position in early steam locomotives?

Answer: The boiler obscuring the view, necessitating placement near the side to see signals.

Return to Game

Which of the following is NOT a factor influencing the distance between track centers on a double-track line?

Answer: Aesthetic appearance

Return to Game

How can the handedness of rail traffic influence locomotive design?

Answer: It affects the placement of the driver's controls.

Return to Game

What is the military value sometimes attributed to widely spaced double tracks?

Answer: Difficulty for attackers to damage both tracks simultaneously.

Return to Game

Advanced Track Configurations and Modifications

The process of converting a single-track railway line into a double-track line is known as 'singling'.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Redoubling refers to the process of reducing a double-track line to a single track.

Answer: False

Return to Game

The presence of twinned bridges or tunnels is evidence that a line was originally single-track and later duplicated.

Answer: True

Return to Game

The Hoosac Tunnel's duplication involved constructing a second, parallel tunnel alongside the original.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Building earthworks and structures for future duplication on a single-track line is a strategy to reduce initial costs for lines expected to have heavy future traffic.

Answer: True

Return to Game

Singling is the process of converting a double-track railway line to a single track, often to reduce maintenance costs.

Answer: True

Return to Game

A double-track tunnel might be singled to accommodate trains with wider loading gauges or higher speeds.

Answer: True

Return to Game

Wartime doubling refers to the permanent conversion of lines to double-track to handle increased wartime traffic.

Answer: False

Return to Game

The primary purpose of triple track is to provide a dedicated track for maintenance vehicles.

Answer: False

Return to Game

In the New York City Subway, triple track is used to allow express trains to bypass local trains on outer tracks.

Answer: True

Return to Game

Dual gauge track allows two different track gauges to be used on separate, parallel lines.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Quadruple track primarily benefits freight operations by allowing faster freight trains to overtake slower ones.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Non-parallel double track means the two tracks are built at different elevations.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Directional running involves using two separate single-track lines assigned unidirectional traffic to function as a double-track line.

Answer: True

Return to Game

Mixing double and single track sections complicates signaling operations.

Answer: True

Return to Game

The process of 'singling' involves adding a second track to an existing single-track line.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Duplication or doubling is the standard method for increasing a railway line's capacity by adding a second track.

Answer: True

Return to Game

Redoubling is the process of converting a double-track line back to single-track.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Building earthworks for future duplication on a single-track line is primarily done to improve initial track stability.

Answer: False

Return to Game

The Hoosac Tunnel's duplication involved enlarging its existing bore rather than constructing a new parallel tunnel.

Answer: True

Return to Game

Singling of a double-track line is usually performed to increase operational speed.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Quadruple track configurations in rapid transit systems primarily aim to provide more sidings for train storage.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Non-parallel double track alignments are typically chosen to simplify track maintenance procedures.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Directional running requires the use of crossovers to switch trains between the two single-track lines.

Answer: True

Return to Game

The complexity of signaling systems is generally reduced when mixing double and single track sections.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Singling a double-track line is a process undertaken to increase the line's capacity.

Answer: False

Return to Game

The process of converting a single-track line to a double-track line is known as:

Answer: Duplication

Return to Game

What is a key advantage of quadruple track in commuter or rapid transit systems?

Answer: It separates local and express services, improving travel times.

Return to Game

In which scenario might a double-track tunnel be 'singled'?

Answer: To accommodate trains with wider loading gauges or higher speeds.

Return to Game

What is the primary purpose of 'carried-out provision for duplication' in railway construction?

Answer: To reduce initial construction costs for lines expected to grow.

Return to Game

The Hoosac Tunnel is a notable example of tunnel duplication achieved through:

Answer: Enlarging the existing tunnel bore.

Return to Game

What is the term for converting a double-track railway line to a single track?

Answer: Singling

Return to Game

What is the purpose of 'redoubling' a railway line?

Answer: To restore it to double-track after it was previously singled.

Return to Game

What is the main benefit of 'directional running' in railways?

Answer: It combines two single-track lines to function as a double-track line.

Return to Game

What is 'dual gauge' track?

Answer: A railway line accommodating two different track gauges simultaneously.

Return to Game

Why might a railway line be 'singled'?

Answer: To reduce maintenance costs and property taxes.

Return to Game

What is the primary purpose of triple track in systems like the New York City Subway?

Answer: To allow express trains to bypass local trains.

Return to Game

What does 'wartime doubling' refer to?

Answer: The temporary duplication of lines to handle increased wartime traffic.

Return to Game

What is 'non-parallel double track'?

Answer: Two tracks running side-by-side but not perfectly aligned.

Return to Game

Railway Terminology and Safety Practices

Crossing loops are exclusively used on double-track lines to allow trains to pass.

Answer: False

Return to Game

In British railway terminology, the 'six foot' refers to the space between the two running rails of a single track.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Standing in the 'six foot' (the space between tracks) is safe even when trains pass simultaneously on both lines.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Narrow track centers can improve visibility for drivers at level crossings, reducing the risk of 'Second Train Coming' accidents.

Answer: False

Return to Game

The 'four foot' in British railway terminology is the space between the two tracks of a double-track railway.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Passing lanes on single-track lines allow trains to pass each other without reducing speed.

Answer: True

Return to Game

The 'six foot' is the space between the two running rails of a single railway track.

Answer: False

Return to Game

Passing lanes on single-track lines are designed to allow trains to pass each other without stopping.

Answer: True

Return to Game

What is the British term for the space between the two tracks of a double-track railway?

Answer: The 'six foot'

Return to Game

Which of the following is a potential consequence of narrow track centers on a double-track line?

Answer: Increased risk of 'Second Train Coming' accidents at level crossings.

Return to Game

What safety concern is associated with the 'six foot' on a double-track line?

Answer: It is dangerous to stand in when trains pass simultaneously on both tracks.

Return to Game

What is the purpose of a 'passing lane' on a single-track line?

Answer: To enable trains traveling in opposite directions to pass without slowing down.

Return to Game

What is the significance of the 'four foot' in British railway terminology?

Answer: The space between the two running rails of a single track.

Return to Game