What are fifteen facts about railroads?

Answer 1

Fifteen quick facts about US Railroads:

1. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was our nation's first common-carrier, originally chartered on February 28th, 1827.

2. US railroads established the original four time zones.

3. Per-fuel-mile nothing is more efficient at moving either people or goods than railroads.

4. The transcontinental railroad was connected at Promontory, Utah on May 10, 1869 with a symbolic golden spike (however, a golden spike was not actually pounded into the railroad tie as gold is much too soft).

5. Peak mileage for US railroads occurred in 1916 with 254,037 (today total mileage is under 170,000).

6. Tom Thumb was the first American-built steam locomotive designed by Peter Cooper in 1830.

7. The inauguration of the first fully air conditioned train, The Columbian, began on May 24, 1931 on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.

8. Standard gauge for US railroads today is 4 feet 8 1/2 inches.

9. The first diesel-electric locomotives have been around in one shape or form since the mid-1920s when the American Locomotive Company (Alco) joined with General Electric and Ingersoll-Rand to produce a 300 hp, 60 ton model in 1924 that would go on to be purchased by the Central Railroad of New Jersey, followed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.

10. Today with continuous-welded-rail (CWR or ribbon rail) in common use on almost all US railroad main lines it is weighed per yard (i.e., 120 lbs., 130 lbs, 140 lbs, etc.).

11. Jointed rail was commonly used before CWR, which was standard sections (usually 39 feet) that was bolted together, as opposed to welded (used today.

12. Ballast is a layer of natural material, almost always crushed rock, cinders, or gravel applied to the top of the railroad right-of-way that holds the ties in position and allows for drainage (water lying on rails is very damaging to them).

13. The two major locomotive manufacturers today are EMD (Electro-Motive Diesel) and General Electric.

14. The flange is a small lip on the inner edge of the rail wheel that keeps any piece of equipment on the rails (i.e., locomotives, freight cars, etc.).

15. The Ed-Of-Train (EOT) device is the modern marker on the end of a common freight train, placed on the rear coupler of a train to monitor the train's air-brakes and air pressure. Also called a FRED (Flashing Rear-End Device) they replaced the venerable caboose in the 1980s.

For more information on US railroading please visit the website below.

http://american-rails.com