PTS Railway Hazards and Terminology 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of 'detonators' (torpedoes) used in railway safety?
- To test structural integrity of rails by detonating small controlled charges
- To provide an audible warning to train drivers by exploding loudly when run over (Correct answer)
- To mark the boundary of an engineering possession on the rail
- To anchor track sections to prevent movement during maintenance
Correct answer: To provide an audible warning to train drivers by exploding loudly when run over
Detonators are explosive devices clipped to the rail that produce a loud bang when a train wheel crushes them, alerting the driver to stop or proceed with extreme caution.
Question 2: What is the specific hazard associated with 'third rail' electrification systems?
- The rail conducts high-voltage electricity and contact can cause fatal electrocution (Correct answer)
- The third rail alters track gauge, making it unstable for rolling stock
- It emits harmful radiation when energized at full voltage
- It creates a prominent tripping hazard in the four-foot area
Correct answer: The rail conducts high-voltage electricity and contact can cause fatal electrocution
The third rail carries high-voltage DC electricity (typically 750V) and direct or indirect contact can deliver a fatal electric shock.
Question 3: What is a 'lookout' responsible for during track work?
- Directing road traffic near a level crossing for the work gang
- Warning track workers of approaching trains so they can reach a place of safety (Correct answer)
- Operating the track possession paperwork and authorization forms
- Inspecting the track ahead of engineering trains before they move
Correct answer: Warning track workers of approaching trains so they can reach a place of safety
A lookout watches for approaching trains and gives advance warning to track workers, ensuring they have enough time to reach a place of safety before the train arrives.
Question 4: What is the 'four-foot' in railway terminology?
- A standard measurement used for signal placement from the rail centerline
- The space between the two running rails of a single track (Correct answer)
- The distance between the outer rails of two adjacent tracks
- A type of junction used where four lines converge
Correct answer: The space between the two running rails of a single track
The four-foot is the space between the two running rails of a single track, approximately four feet wide on standard gauge railways.
Question 5: What hazard does 'overhead electrification flashover' create for track workers?
- Temporary signal failure across the electrified zone
- An arc of electricity jumping from OLE to a person or object that is too close (Correct answer)
- Rail expansion due to heat generated by the electrical current
- Interference with track circuit detection equipment nearby
Correct answer: An arc of electricity jumping from OLE to a person or object that is too close
A flashover occurs when electricity arcs from overhead line equipment to a nearby person or conductor — direct contact is not required if the person is too close to energized OLE.
Question 6: What does 'lineside' refer to in railway safety documents?
- The interior of a railway station platform building
- The area alongside the railway track, including the track itself and adjacent land (Correct answer)
- The control room from which signals and switches are operated remotely
- The side of a locomotive cab facing the platform when stopped
Correct answer: The area alongside the railway track, including the track itself and adjacent land
Lineside refers to the area alongside and adjacent to the railway track, including any structures, equipment, or land within or close to the railway boundary.
Question 7: What is 'ballast' and what role does it play in railway track safety?
- A sand mixture used to improve rail adhesion in wet weather conditions
- The crushed stone layer that supports sleepers, drains water, and distributes load (Correct answer)
- The steel plate connecting the rail foot to the sleeper surface
- A weight placed on freight wagons to improve stability during transit
Correct answer: The crushed stone layer that supports sleepers, drains water, and distributes load
Ballast is the crushed stone layer beneath railway sleepers that provides drainage, distributes train loads, and holds the track in correct alignment.
PTS Railway Hazards and Terminology 4
What is the purpose of 'detonators' (torpedoes) used in railway safety?