BCE Railway 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the standard gauge track width used in the United States?
- 4 ft 8.5 in (Correct answer)
- 5 ft 0 in
- 4 ft 6 in
- 5 ft 6 in
Correct answer: 4 ft 8.5 in
The standard gauge of 4 ft 8.5 in (1435 mm) is used in the US and most of the world.
Question 2: Which type of rail joint is preferred in modern high-speed railway tracks?
- Welded rail (CWR) (Correct answer)
- Bolted fishplate joint
- Expansion joint
- Insulated joint
Correct answer: Welded rail (CWR)
Continuously Welded Rail (CWR) eliminates joints, reducing noise, vibration, and maintenance costs on high-speed lines.
Question 3: What is the primary function of a track ballast in railway construction?
- Distribute load and provide drainage (Correct answer)
- Increase train speed
- Provide electrical insulation
- Reduce rail temperature
Correct answer: Distribute load and provide drainage
Ballast distributes wheel loads from sleepers to the subgrade and provides drainage to prevent waterlogging.
Question 4: The degree of a railway curve in the American system is defined as the angle subtended by a chord of:
- 100 feet (Correct answer)
- 50 feet
- 200 feet
- 150 feet
Correct answer: 100 feet
In the American chord definition, the degree of curve is the central angle subtended by a 100-foot chord.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a cant (superelevation) in railway curves?
- Counteract centrifugal force on curved track (Correct answer)
- Increase friction between wheel and rail
- Reduce track maintenance
- Improve drainage on flat sections
Correct answer: Counteract centrifugal force on curved track
Superelevation raises the outer rail to counteract centrifugal force, allowing trains to negotiate curves at higher speeds safely.
Question 6: Which sleeper (tie) material offers the best combination of strength and electrical insulating properties?
- Prestressed concrete sleeper (Correct answer)
- Wooden sleeper
- Steel sleeper
- Cast iron sleeper
Correct answer: Prestressed concrete sleeper
Prestressed concrete sleepers provide high strength, durability, and natural electrical insulation, making them preferred in modern tracks.
Question 7: The maximum permissible gradient on Indian Railways main lines in plains is:
- 1 in 150 (Correct answer)
- 1 in 100
- 1 in 200
- 1 in 50
Correct answer: 1 in 150
The ruling gradient on Indian Railways main lines in plains is 1 in 150, limiting how steep the track can rise.
BCE Railway 2
What is the standard gauge track width used in the United States?