Operation of Trains

In order to simplify the problem of running trains, all railroads except the very short ones, are divided into divisions. A division may be three or four hundred miles long or it may be thirty or forty miles long. Each division is operated just as a small railroad. A train with a long run is operated over many divisions. It may change engines and crews several times in the course of its journey.

Each railroad has two kinds of trains. They are regular and extra trains. A regular train is a scheduled train, a train listed on the railroad timetable. A railroad has certain trains which are operated each day. They have definite time of leaving and definite time for arrival at the terminals where they complete their runs. These are regular trains. They are all numbered.

The list of times at which a regular train is to arrive at and leave station is called the train’s schedule. The printed schedules of the regular trains are operating on a railroad division from the timetable of that division.

All regular trains are divided into freight and passenger trains. Passenger trains, in their turn, are subdivided into fast expresses, which have long runs and make few stops, and local trains, which stop at all stations.

As to freight trains they may be trains for carrying food products and other goods which make few stops during their runs, and trains, which stop at small station to load and unload freight and pick up and deliver single cars.

Extra trains are not scheduled in the railroad time-tables. Extra freight and passenger trains are both quite common on our large railroads. Work trains and wreck trains are always run as extra trains.

The transportation of the passengers and goods requires a large number of trains every day. It is only because the work is well organized and well directed that the problem of railway operation can be solved and our freight and passenger trains can come and go day after day throughout the year.

Handling trains and separate cars at passenger stations, freight or marshalling yards is one of the most difficult jobs. So nowadays many technical aids are made use of in order to facilitate this task.

The telephone system used by railroad for the control purposes is only one aspect of what are called telecommunication services. Another one, more familiar to travelers, is the loudspeaker system for giving information at stations, which plays an important part in handling passenger traffic.

Radio is also essential in the modern freight yard. It helps car inspectors do a better job and saves them a lot of time. If a car inspector finds a car in the yard requiring repairs, he will radio other inspectors for help.

Television is finding application in the freight yards, too. Some years ago when a train arrived at the freight yard, a man had to walk along the trains, checking car after car. Now by the magic of TV, a man in an office of the freight yard can watch the long line of cars appear on a television screen and check them off comfortably and accurately. So we see that radio, telephone and television make the job of railroad workers easier and more efficient.

Exercise 2 Answer these questions.

1. Why are the railroads divided into sections? 2. What trains are operated each day? 3. What do we call regular trains? 4. What is the purpose of railroad schedules? 5. What do we call fast expresses? 6. What are local trains? 7. What do we call extra trains? 8. For what purpose is the telephone system used on railroads? 9. In what way does the radio facilitate the work of car inspectors? 10. Why is television finding application in the freight yards?

Exercise 3 Translate and memorize the following words and expressions from the text.

Handling trains, railroad, division, crew, schedule, arrival, terminal, freight and passenger trains, goods, load and unload, pick up and deliver cars, solve, marshalling yard, facilitate, traveler, loudspeaker system, check a car.

Exercise 4 Find synonyms (antonyms) among the following words.

Timetable (n), assist (v), name (v), local (adj), recent (adj), aim (n), facilitate (v), arrival (n), application (n), observer (n), effectual (adj), magical (adj); miraculous (adj); unusual (adj), pick up (v), domestic (adj), different (adj), efficient (adj), modern (adj), compile (v), use(n), settle (v), solve (v), discover (v), schedule (n), incoming (n), find (v), purpose(n), call (v), inspector (n),

Exercise 5 Write a summary of the text, presenting the content of each paragraph in 2-3 sentences. Use the expressions:

The main idea of the text is ... The text deals with one of the most important (urgent) issues ... Much attention (consideration) is given to (classification, description)... It focuses on the matters of … The text gives an overview of... The text is mainly concerned with ... The aim of the survey is to show (demonstrate, find)... Particular emphasis is given to the analysis of... The text gives a detailed analysis of (reports on)... To sum up ... In conclusion ...