Railway Engineering
Railway Engineering
Key Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. First passenger train in India | 16 April 1853, Mumbai–Thane (34 km) |
| 2. First electric train in India | 3 Feb 1925, Bombay VT–Kurla (1500 V DC) |
| 3. Indian Railways network length (2025) | ~1,27,000 route km |
| 4. Broad-Gauge width | 1676 mm (5 ft 6 in) |
| 5. Maximum permitted BG speed (2025) | 160 km/h (Gatimaan Express) |
| 6. Standard rail length (BG 60 kg) | 13 m (260 mm × 260 mm × 13 m) |
| 7. Minimum curve radius (BG) | 175 m (plain track), 120 m in station yard |
| 8. Maximum gradient (BG goods) | 1 in 150 (ruling gradient) |
| 9. Rail-cum-road bridge longest | Bogibeel Bridge (4.94 km, Assam) |
| 10. Longest railway tunnel | Pir Panjal (11.2 km, J&K) |
| 11. Track modulus (BG) | ~90 MN/m/m |
| 12. Sleeper density (BG) | 1540 sleepers / km (M+7 formula) |
| 13. Ballast cushion depth (BG) | 250 mm (min) below sleeper |
| 14. Rail-wear limit (BG 60 kg) | 5 % of original head width |
| 15. AWS meaning | Automatic Warning System (cab signalling) |
| 16. PRLA meaning | Passenger Reservation System with Last-Arrival |
| 17. RDSO full form | Research Designs & Standards Organisation |
| 18. Wheel diameter (new BG coach) | 915 mm (36") |
| 19. P-way number for 60 kg 90 UTS rail | IRS 52 kg → 60 kg 90 UTS (IRS-T-12) |
| 20. EMU full form | Electric Multiple Unit |
Important Points
- 52 kg & 60 kg rails are now standard on Indian Railways; 90 UTS indicates 90 kg/mm² ultimate tensile strength.
- Fish-plated joints are being replaced by welding to give Long Welded Rail (LWR) & Continuous Welded Rail (CWR).
- Pre-stressed concrete (PRC) sleepers have replaced 90 % wooden sleepers on BG.
- Pandrol clip (e-clip) is the most widely used elastic fastening on BG.
- Track-circuiting works on 110 V DC feed and proves “section clear” for signalling.
- Ballast should be 50 mm size machine-crushed stone; over-burden < 1 %.
- For high-speed (≥160 km/h), track geometry tolerances are checked by Oscillograph Car (O.F. car).
- Ruling gradient is the steepest gradient in a section that determines the load a single locomotive can haul.
- Slack adjusters in vacuum/air-brake systems maintain constant piston stroke as brake blocks wear.
- Guard’s emergency brake valve creates a drop in brake-vacuum/air-pressure to apply instantaneous brake.
- WDM-3D (3300 hp) is the last variant of ALCO locomotives; now being phased out by 4500 hp WAG-9H.
- Kavach (IR’s ATP) gives automatic braking if driver fails to acknowledge caution/aspect drop.
Practice MCQs
- What is the width of Broad-Gauge in India?
- a) 1435 mm b) 1676 mm c) 1524 mm d) 1600 mm
Question:01 What is the broad-gauge track width adopted on Indian Railways?
- a) 1435 mm b) 1676 mm c) 1524 mm d) 1600 mm
A) 1435 mm
B) 1524 mm
C) 1676 mm
D) 1000 mm
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Indian Railways uses 1676 mm (5 ft 6 in) as the standard for broad gauge, providing greater stability and higher axle-load capacity.
- The first electric train in India ran between
- a) Mumbai–Pune b) Howrah–Burdwan c) Bombay VT–Kurla d) Chennai–Tiruvallur
Question:02 [India’s first electric train ran on which section and date?]
- a) Mumbai–Pune b) Howrah–Burdwan c) Bombay VT–Kurla d) Chennai–Tiruvallur
A) Bombay VT–Kurla, 3 Feb 1925
B) Howrah–Burdwan, 15 Aug 1928
C) Madras Beach–Tambaram, 11 May 1931
D) Delhi–Panipat, 10 Oct 1926
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The maiden electric train service in India was operated between Bombay VT and Kurla on 3 February 1925.
- Minimum radius for BG station yard curve is
- a) 175 m b) 120 m c) 100 m d) 140 m
Question:03 [What is the minimum length of a standard railway platform required for a 12-coach express train?]
- a) 175 m b) 120 m c) 100 m d) 140 m
A) 100 m
B) 110 m
C) 120 m
D) 130 m
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Indian Railways specifies 120 m as the minimum platform length to accommodate a 12-coach express rake safely, allowing adequate clearance at both ends.
- Standard length of a 60 kg BG rail is
- a) 12 m b) 11 m c) 13 m d) 18 m
Question:04 [What is the minimum horizontal distance required between a railway track and any structure or obstruction on a straight alignment as per Indian Railways standards?]
- a) 12 m b) 11 m c) 13 m d) 18 m
A) 10 m
B) 11 m
C) 12 m
D) 13 m
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Indian Railways stipulates a minimum horizontal clearance of 13 m from the track centre-line to any structure or obstruction on a straight alignment to ensure safe passage of rolling stock and future track expansion.
- Which organisation fixes standards for Indian Railways rolling stock?
- a) CORE b) RDSO c) CONCOR d) IRCTC
Question:05 [Which Indian Railways organisation is responsible for research, design, and standardisation of railway equipment?]
- a) CORE b) RDSO c) CONCOR d) IRCTC
A) Railway Board
B) RDSO
C) CORE
D) RITES
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: RDSO (Research Designs and Standards Organisation) is the R&D wing of Indian Railways, headquartered in Lucknow, and handles all technical research, design, and standard-setting for railway assets.
- The steepest gradient normally permitted for BG goods train is
- a) 1 in 100 b) 1 in 200 c) 1 in 150 d) 1 in 300
Question:06 [What is the standard gradient adopted for Indian Railways main lines in plain terrain?]
- a) 1 in 100 b) 1 in 200 c) 1 in 150 d) 1 in 300
A) 1 in 50
B) 1 in 100
C) 1 in 150
D) 1 in 200
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Indian Railways specifies a ruling gradient of 1 in 150 for main lines in plain terrain to balance haulage demands and safety.
- How many sleepers are provided per km in BG as per M+7 formula?
- a) 1310 b) 1660 c) 1540 d) 1480
Question:07 [What is the value of the expression 22 × 70?]
- a) 1310 b) 1660 c) 1540 d) 1480
A) 1480
B) 1500
C) 1540
D) 1580
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: 22 × 70 = 1540.
- Pir Panjal tunnel is located in which state?
- a) Himachal Pradesh b) Uttarakhand c) Jammu & Kashmir d) Arunachal Pradesh
Question:08 [Which Indian state/UT is home to the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge?]
- a) Himachal Pradesh b) Uttarakhand c) Jammu & Kashmir d) Arunachal Pradesh
A) Himachal Pradesh
B) Ladakh
C) Jammu & Kashmir
D) Uttarakhand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The 1,315-m-long Chenab Rail Bridge, towering 359 m above the river, is located in the Reasi district of Jammu & Kashmir, making it the world’s highest railway bridge.
- The minimum depth of ballast cushion below sleeper for BG is
- a) 150 mm b) 200 mm c) 250 mm d) 300 mm
Question:09 [What is the minimum depth of ballast cushion below the bottom of sleeper for a Broad-Gauge track as per Indian Railways specifications?]
- a) 150 mm b) 200 mm c) 250 mm d) 300 mm
A) 200 mm
B) 250 mm
C) 300 mm
D) 350 mm
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Indian Railways stipulates a minimum ballast cushion depth of 250 mm below the bottom of sleeper on Broad-Gauge routes to ensure adequate load distribution, drainage and lateral stability of the track.
- What does EMU stand for?
- a) Electric Multiple Unit b) Express Metro Unit c) Energy Management Unit d) Engine Maintenance Unit
Question:10 [Which of the following is the full form of “EMU” used in Indian Railways?]
- a) Electric Multiple Unit b) Express Metro Unit c) Energy Management Unit d) Engine Maintenance Unit
A) Electric Motor Unit
B) Electric Multiple Unit
C) Electro-Mechanical Unit
D) Electro-Motive Utility
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: EMU stands for Electric Multiple Unit, a type of self-propelled train commonly used for suburban services.
BETA
