SATHEE: Railway Engineering

Railway Engineering

Item	Details
1. First passenger train in India	16 April 1853, Mumbai–Thane (34 km)
2. First electric train in India	3 Feb 1925, Bombay VT–Kurla (1500 V DC)
3. Indian Railways network length (2025)	~1,27,000 route km
4. Broad-Gauge width	1676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
5. Maximum permitted BG speed (2025)	160 km/h (Gatimaan Express)
6. Standard rail length (BG 60 kg)	13 m (260 mm × 260 mm × 13 m)
7. Minimum curve radius (BG)	175 m (plain track), 120 m in station yard
8. Maximum gradient (BG goods)	1 in 150 (ruling gradient)
9. Rail-cum-road bridge longest	Bogibeel Bridge (4.94 km, Assam)
10. Longest railway tunnel	Pir Panjal (11.2 km, J&K)
11. Track modulus (BG)	~90 MN/m/m
12. Sleeper density (BG)	1540 sleepers / km (M+7 formula)
13. Ballast cushion depth (BG)	250 mm (min) below sleeper
14. Rail-wear limit (BG 60 kg)	5 % of original head width
15. AWS meaning	Automatic Warning System (cab signalling)
16. PRLA meaning	Passenger Reservation System with Last-Arrival
17. RDSO full form	Research Designs & Standards Organisation
18. Wheel diameter (new BG coach)	915 mm (36")
19. P-way number for 60 kg 90 UTS rail	IRS 52 kg → 60 kg 90 UTS (IRS-T-12)
20. EMU full form	Electric Multiple Unit

52 kg & 60 kg rails are now standard on Indian Railways; 90 UTS indicates 90 kg/mm² ultimate tensile strength.
Fish-plated joints are being replaced by welding to give Long Welded Rail (LWR) & Continuous Welded Rail (CWR).
Pre-stressed concrete (PRC) sleepers have replaced 90 % wooden sleepers on BG.
Pandrol clip (e-clip) is the most widely used elastic fastening on BG.
Track-circuiting works on 110 V DC feed and proves “section clear” for signalling.
Ballast should be 50 mm size machine-crushed stone; over-burden < 1 %.
For high-speed (≥160 km/h), track geometry tolerances are checked by Oscillograph Car (O.F. car).
Ruling gradient is the steepest gradient in a section that determines the load a single locomotive can haul.
Slack adjusters in vacuum/air-brake systems maintain constant piston stroke as brake blocks wear.
Guard’s emergency brake valve creates a drop in brake-vacuum/air-pressure to apply instantaneous brake.
WDM-3D (3300 hp) is the last variant of ALCO locomotives; now being phased out by 4500 hp WAG-9H.
Kavach (IR’s ATP) gives automatic braking if driver fails to acknowledge caution/aspect drop.

What is the width of Broad-Gauge in India?
- a) 1435 mm b) 1676 mm c) 1524 mm d) 1600 mm
Answer
1676 mm
The first electric train in India ran between
- a) Mumbai–Pune b) Howrah–Burdwan c) Bombay VT–Kurla d) Chennai–Tiruvallur
Answer
Bombay VT–Kurla (3 Feb 1925)
Minimum radius for BG station yard curve is
- a) 175 m b) 120 m c) 100 m d) 140 m
Answer
120 m
Standard length of a 60 kg BG rail is
- a) 12 m b) 11 m c) 13 m d) 18 m
Answer
13 m
Which organisation fixes standards for Indian Railways rolling stock?
- a) CORE b) RDSO c) CONCOR d) IRCTC
Answer
RDSO
The steepest gradient normally permitted for BG goods train is
- a) 1 in 100 b) 1 in 200 c) 1 in 150 d) 1 in 300
Answer
1 in 150
How many sleepers are provided per km in BG as per M+7 formula?
- a) 1310 b) 1660 c) 1540 d) 1480
Answer
1540
Pir Panjal tunnel is located in which state?
- a) Himachal Pradesh b) Uttarakhand c) Jammu & Kashmir d) Arunachal Pradesh
Answer
Jammu & Kashmir
The minimum depth of ballast cushion below sleeper for BG is
- a) 150 mm b) 200 mm c) 250 mm d) 300 mm
Answer
250 mm
What does EMU stand for?
- a) Electric Multiple Unit b) Express Metro Unit c) Energy Management Unit d) Engine Maintenance Unit
Answer
Electric Multiple Unit