Centralized Traffic Control on Light Traffic Lines

On 84 miles of single track, which handles important through traffic, 8 to 12 trains daily, the St. Louis – San Francisco cut the costs for centralized traffic control by equipping only six sidings. This installation has proved to be of much greater benefit in train operation that would have been made by conventional automatic block.

Thus the link between Edward and Afton handles the traffic between Kansas City and Tulsa. The schedule includes two through passenger trains and two through freight ones each direction.

The passenger trains are the modern streamlined type hauled by diesel locomotives. The “Firefly” is a fast day train, both directions between Kansas City and Tulsa. The “Oklahoman” is a night train, both directions between the same points. These trains are operated at speeds up to 70 m. p. h.

When deciding which sidings are to be equipped with dispatcher controlled signals preference is given to sidings spaced equal distances.

The final decision is to equip six of sixteen sidings having capacities from 137 to 157 cars.

Unit 7 Container and Containerization

A big box of standard dimensions called a container is one of the most important means of freight transportation. Containers fulfil a very important function for the national and international transportation of goods.

Containerization constitutes a complete system throughout various means of transportation completely changing the methods of handling and storing, the design of vehicles and ships, operating procedure, safety and insurance standards, road transport regulations and so on.

Containers may move about by land, sea, road and air and by any combination of these modes of transportation. Modern problems of container transportation in Europe, the United States, Asia, Australia and Africa made these continents become partners in the solution of this kind of operation.

Containers can be divided broadly into two categories: 1) a large type of containers capable of taking a load of up to five or seven tons; 2) a small one suitable for a load of about one ton in weight. Besides, the containers may be of various types designed for particular categories of traffic, including ones for the conveyance of goods and furniture, etc. Then containers may be ventilated and insulated for transporting meat and highly insulated for frozen meat and commodities requiring very low temperature. Containers may be open and covered being owned by railway administrations, shipping companies, shipping agencies, private firms, etc.

I. Pay attention to the translation of the word “both”:

Model: both + N = оба both … and= и … и

1.Both trains are long distance trains.

2.Signals were installed at both ends of both sidings.

3.Both points and signals must be set up simultaneously.

4.A marshalling yard has both arriving and departure lines.

5.The reception and departure sidings are gathered together at both ends.

6.Railways trsansport both passengers and freight.

II. Mind the translation of the word “meet”:

to meet at the station; to meet with an accident; to meet the requirements; to meet the demands; to meet a friend.

III. Mind the translation of the word “capacity”:

1.The marshalling yard has eight tracks with a total capacity of about 760 cars.

2.The car capacity is given in the table.

3.The capacities of these sidings range from 71 cars to 136 cars.

4.C.T.C. increases the traffic capacity of lines.

5.Scientists study the capacities of human beings.

IV. Translate the following attributive groups into Russian:

Track section, single track saction, yard point, point machine, reception track, siding track, 100 two-axle wagons, wagon examination, main control tower, container transportation, container handling, panel section control, trackside equipment, trackside equipment development, curve diagram, entry curve diagram, speed calculation, exit speed calculation, master retarder, master retarder operation, master retarter operation scheme, railway transport, future railway transport, future railway transport development.

V. Distinguish the forms of Participle II and Past Simple. Translate the sentences into Russian:

1.The switches are all operated electrically from a large illuminated panel.

2.Containers perfectly arranged and controlled are widely used.

3.C.T.C. installed increased the safety of traffic.

4.The new dispatching system developed provided good operation.

5.All hump yards remodeled are constructed on the same principle.

6.Many innovations introduced made it possible to operate railways automatically.

7.Mechanically refrigerated containers for perishable goods are employed now.

VI. Translate the following sentences:

1.All railroads are divided into operating units, called “divisions”.

2.These sidings have capacities ranging from 137 to 157 cars.

3.All wagons are fitted with automatic couplings, uncoupling taking place on the approach side of the hump.

4.Containerization has a lot of advantages, saving of manpower being one of them.

5.There is no better way of avoiding delay of wagons in a marshalling yard than reconstructing such a yard.

6.Resignalling on railroads is called for by high speeds, C.T.C. being introduced on trunk lines.

7.The operator pushes only buttons at the beginning and the end of the route, all points and signals being set automatically.

8.The insulated rail joints are sometimes difficult to maintain because of siding occupancy.

9.The order of trains running on the line is regulated from the control center.

10.The number of trains operating on the line is determined depending on the system of control used.

VII. Make a summary of the text: