Railway Engineering — Part 1 MCQs with Explanations

Turnouts, or railway switches and crossovers, are used in railway tracks for diverting a train from one track to another. When it comes to track maintenance, the number of turnouts equivalent to one track kilometer is typically considered to be 5. This means that for every 1 kilometer of track, you would have the equivalent maintenance work of 5 turnouts.

Anti-Creep Bearing Plates are specifically provided on wooden sleepers where creep is likely to take place. These plates are fixed with round spikes on wooden sleepers to prevent longitudinal movement or "creep" of rails. Since none of the options specifically mention wooden sleepers, the correct answer is Option D: none of the above.

When a train moves on a curve , additional resistance acts on it because the wheels experience extra friction and lateral force while turning. If the track is also on a gradient , the engine must overcome both: 1. Gradient resistance 2. Curve resistance To reduce the extra resistance caused by the curve, railway engineers slightly flatten the gradient on curves. This process is called grade compensation . The purpose of grade compensation is to ensure that the total resistance on a curved gradient does not exceed the resistance on a straight ruling gradient. Given: Ruling Gradient = 1 in 250 Degree of Curve = 3° First, convert the ruling gradient into percentage form: Gradient % = (1 / 250) × 100 = 0.4% For a B.G. (Broad Gauge) railway track, the standard grade compensation is: Grade Compensation = 0.04% per degree of curve Therefore: Grade Compensation = 0.04 × 3 = 0.12% Now calculate the compensated or permissible gradient: Permissible Gradient = Ruling Gradient − Grade Compensation = 0.4% − 0.12% = 0.28% Now convert 0.28% into the form 1 in N : N = 100 / 0.28 N ≈ 357 Thus, the permissible gradient becomes: 1 in 357 Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 1 in 357 .

Proceed is the correct answer to “In a shunting signal if the red band is inclined at 45° it indicates”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

25 mm is the correct answer to “The nominal size of ballast used for points and crossings is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

13 m and 12 m is the correct answer to “The standard length of rail for Broad Gauge and Meter Gauge are respectively”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

2 is the correct answer to “Number of keys used in CST-9 sleeper is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

running faces of rails is the correct answer to “Gauge is the distance between”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

$$\frac{{\text{G}}}{{10}}$$ is the correct answer to “Normally the limiting value of cant is (where G is the gauge)”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

700 MPa is the correct answer to “Tensile strength of steel used in rails should not be less than”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

height is the correct answer to “Largest dimension of a rail is its”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

Hogged rails is the correct answer to “Due to battering action of wheels over the end of the rails, the rails get bent down and are deflected at ends. These rails are called”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

proceed cautiously is the correct answer to “Yellow lighthand signal indicates”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

1 and 4 are correct is the correct answer to “Consider the following statements about concrete sleepers. 1. They improve the track modulus. 2. They have good scrap value. 3. They render transportation easy. 4. They maintain the gauge quite satisfactorily. Of these statements”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

2 and 3 are correct is the correct answer to “Consider the following statements: Automatic signalling system results in 1. greater risk 2. higher efficiency 3. avoidance of block instruments 4. higher operating cost Of these statements”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

783 is the correct answer to “Minimum composite sleeper index pres-cried on Indian Railways for a track sleeper is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

throw of the switch is the correct answer to “The distance through which the tongue rail moves laterally at the toe of the switch for movement of trains is called”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

mild steel canted bearing plate is the correct answer to “The type of bearing plate used in all joints and on curves to give better bearing area to the rails is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

275x25x13 cm is the correct answer to “Standard size of wooden sleeper for Broad Gauge track is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

115 mm is the correct answer to “Maximum value of ‘throw of switch’ for Broad Gauge track is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

Avoid the stress concentration is the correct answer to “The purpose of providing fillet in a rail section is to”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

65 mm is the correct answer to “A Broad Gauge branch line takes off as a contrary flexure from a main line If the superelevation required for branch line is 10 mm and cant deficiency is 75 mm, the superelevation to be actually provided on the branch line will be”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

hook bolts is the correct answer to “The sleepers resting directly on girder are fastened to the top flange of girder by”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

Changing the direction of engine is the correct answer to “A triangle is used for”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

Speeds higher than equilibrium speed is the correct answer to “Cant deficiency occurs when a vehicle travels around a curve at”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

6615 mm2 is the correct answer to “The cross-sectional area of 52 kg flat footed rail is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

iock bar is the correct answer to “Which of the following mechanical devices is used to ensure that route cannot be changed while the train is on the point even after putting back the signal”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

(i) and (ii) is the correct answer to “Switch angle depends on i) heel divergence ii) length of tongue rail iii) flangeway clearance iv) throw of switch The correct answer is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

(i) and (ii) is the correct answer to “The reception signal is i) outer signal ii) home signal iii) starter iv) advanced starter The correct answer is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

(i) and (iv) is the correct answer to “In a scissors cross-over, the crossings provided are i) 2 obtuse angle crossings ii) 4 obtuse angle crossings iii) 4 acute angle crossings iv) 6 acute angle crossings The correct answer is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

(i), (ii) and (iii) is the correct answer to “Which of the following factors govern the choice of the gauge ? i) volume and nature of traffic ii) speed of train iii) physical features of the country The correct answer is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

both (i) and (ii) is the correct answer to “The formation width for a railway track depends on the i) type of gauge ii) number of tracks to be laid side by side iii) slope of sides of embankment or cutting The correct answer is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

(i) and (ii) is the correct answer to “Study the following statements regarding creep. i) Creep is greater on curves than on tangent railway track ii) Creep in new rails is more than that in old rails iii) Creep is more on steep gradients than on level track The correct answer is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

Longitudinal movement of rail is the correct answer to “Creep is the”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

4 is the correct answer to “Number of cotters used in CST-9 sleepers is”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

$$\frac{{1750}}{{\text{R}}}$$ is the correct answer to “One degree of curve is equivalent to (where R is the radius of curve in meters.)”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

weight per unit length is the correct answer to “The rail is designated by its”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

heel of the switch to the theoretical nose of the crossing is the correct answer to “Lead of crossing is the distance from the”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

near and parallel to inner side of one of the rails is the correct answer to “The treadle bar is provided”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.

interlocking points and signal is the correct answer to “A treadle bar is used for”. This question is standard in competitive examination syllabi for Railway Engineering.