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2007-05-23 04:20:57 · 20 answers · asked by Yoggi B 1 in Cars & Transportation Rail

20 answers

It acts as a base for the track, aids a resilient ride and allows drainage - and it's called "ballast" ! ! !

2007-05-24 22:16:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2 0

It is called "ballast "and is made from crushed and shaped portland stone. It`s put there as a bed for the sleepers and the rails. When a train passes over the ballast acts as a slight cushion allowing the rails to flex slightly, it also allows for drainage from rain water. In railway stations the ballast looks brown in colour this is because the brake pads of the train are made of cast iron and is softer than the steel wheel, tiny fragments of the cast iron rub off and go rusty and over time discolour the ballast.
The whole track is called the "permenant way" or P way for short, the sleepers are made of concrete and made by either Dow Mac or Costain, The track when hot will buckle and can somtimes slide sideways out of algnment but generaly the track has short breaks in it of up to 5mm evey so often and are called expansion joints. The track is made of the very best quality steel and is shaped into either "flat bottom" or the older "bull nosed" variety.

2007-05-23 04:27:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 12 1

Track ballast, consisting of gravel, cinders or other aggregate, forms the trackbed upon which railroad ties (US) or railway sleepers (UK) are laid. It is used to facilitate drainage of water, and to create an even running surface. This also serves to hold the track in place as the trains roll by.

In the early days of railroads in the United States, much material for ballast came from rock found in the local area. In the Midwest, for example, much use was made of quartzite, while states in the southeast, such as Florida, made use of limestone. One specific type of quartzite used in the Midwest earned the name "Pink Lady" due to its color; in other areas, the ballast can be a mix of light and dark colors called "Salt and Pepper".

2007-05-23 04:37:00 · answer #3 · answered by des c 4 · 3 0

Track ballast is what that is. It does a number of things.
It helps with draining water that may be there from rain. Because if rain stayed there, it would make mud, making track unstable. It also makes the track have tiny flexablity, so when the 80 tons of each axle goes over the track, theres some flex..
Theres no spark on a track. lol

2007-05-23 06:10:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1 1

The stone serves various purposes. It aspects a ability of drainage - status water reasons damages to the timber ties (sleepers in Europe). The stones sharp edges grab the timber ties and help shop the song in suited alignment. The stone facilitates to distribute the vertical and lateral somewhat some the prepare to the subgrade (earth decrease than).

2016-12-11 18:13:25 · answer #5 · answered by schebel 4 · 0 0

Why do people keep asking the same question? Its called Ballast and helps primarily with spreading the load of the trains when travelling along the section of track.

2007-05-23 04:32:07 · answer #6 · answered by Kevan M 6 · 2 0

Transmitt and distribute the load of the track and equipment to the subgrade.
Restrain the track laterally, longitudinally, and vertically under dynamic loads impose by railroad rolling equipment and thermal stress exerted by the rail (tempeture change).
Provide adequate drainage fot the track.
Maintain proper track crosslevel, surface, and alinement.

2007-05-23 14:38:55 · answer #7 · answered by bbj1776 5 · 2 0

It's called ballast. It serves a couple purposes.

1. It helps drain water away from the track so as to prevent erosion.

2. It stabilizes the roadbed and helps keep the track level over time by spreading out the weight of the train passing over, so it doesn't become bumpy or wavy.

2007-05-23 04:27:19 · answer #8 · answered by righteousjohnson 7 · 8 1

its called ballest and is there to keep the sleepers (ties) in place. It is compacted down around the sleepers. It also aids drainage.

2007-05-24 20:09:14 · answer #9 · answered by Joe N 1 · 0 0

its called ballast rock. and its there to raise the rail to a level surface drains well and locks together tight under pressure,

2007-05-23 04:29:30 · answer #10 · answered by namz97 1 · 2 0

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