PTS Railway Hazards and Terminology 4

Question 1

What is the purpose of 'detonators' (torpedoes) used in railway safety?

Accepted Answer

To provide an audible warning to train drivers by exploding loudly when run over

Answer

To test structural integrity of rails by detonating small controlled charges

Answer

To mark the boundary of an engineering possession on the rail

Answer

To anchor track sections to prevent movement during maintenance

Question 2

What is the specific hazard associated with 'third rail' electrification systems?

Accepted Answer

The rail conducts high-voltage electricity and contact can cause fatal electrocution

Answer

The third rail alters track gauge, making it unstable for rolling stock

Answer

It emits harmful radiation when energized at full voltage

Answer

It creates a prominent tripping hazard in the four-foot area

Question 3

What is a 'lookout' responsible for during track work?

Accepted Answer

Warning track workers of approaching trains so they can reach a place of safety

Answer

Directing road traffic near a level crossing for the work gang

Answer

Operating the track possession paperwork and authorization forms

Answer

Inspecting the track ahead of engineering trains before they move

Question 4

What is the 'four-foot' in railway terminology?

Accepted Answer

The space between the two running rails of a single track

Answer

A standard measurement used for signal placement from the rail centerline

Answer

The distance between the outer rails of two adjacent tracks

Answer

A type of junction used where four lines converge

Question 5

What hazard does 'overhead electrification flashover' create for track workers?

Accepted Answer

An arc of electricity jumping from OLE to a person or object that is too close

Answer

Temporary signal failure across the electrified zone

Answer

Rail expansion due to heat generated by the electrical current

Answer

Interference with track circuit detection equipment nearby

Question 6

What does 'lineside' refer to in railway safety documents?

Accepted Answer

The area alongside the railway track, including the track itself and adjacent land

Answer

The interior of a railway station platform building

Answer

The control room from which signals and switches are operated remotely

Answer

The side of a locomotive cab facing the platform when stopped

Question 7

What is 'ballast' and what role does it play in railway track safety?

Accepted Answer

The crushed stone layer that supports sleepers, drains water, and distributes load

Answer

A sand mixture used to improve rail adhesion in wet weather conditions

Answer

The steel plate connecting the rail foot to the sleeper surface

Answer

A weight placed on freight wagons to improve stability during transit