656

II. Choose the correct word.

a) destinations b) efficiency c) track d) automation e) hump f) degree

1.___ is the use of automatic equipment and machines to do work previously (прежде) done by people.

2.A freight train usually consists of cars moving to a number of different ___.

3.Most large classification yards have a ___ over which cars are pushed. They then roll down from it by gravity.

4.Switches are set to direct each car into the proper classification ___.

5.Electronically equipped yards can sort cars with great ___.

III. Decide if the sentences are true (T) or false (F).

1.The terminal operation is a complicated one.

2.A major area for automation techniques in railroading is the large classification yard.

3.In classification yards, freight cars from many different origins are sorted out and placed in new trains going to the proper destinations.

4.Only a few large classification yards have a hump.

5.The weight of the car carries it down off the hump.

Unit 18

Read the text.

Rail Safety

But for the Clapham Junction collision, 1988, in terms of passengers killed or injured in train accidents, would have been one of the best on record. This is revealed in the Report on the Safety Record of the Railways in Great Britain During 1988 by the Chief Inspecting Officer of Railways, Mr R.Seymour.

In terms of total train accidents, it was not such a good year, with an increase from 1,165 in 1987 to 1,330 in 1988. Significant accidents, that is derailments and collisions actually or potentially the most dangerous to passengers, rose by 26, despite the increases in modern signaling. There were 52 bufferstop collisions, meaning that braking of modern stock is less predictable, or that drivers are inadequately trained.

The only train accident apart from Clapham involving on-train fatalities occurred on 11 November, when a driver was killed as his Diesel Multiple-Unit was derailed and struck a bridge abutment.

A collision at King Edward Bridge, Newcastle, involved a disputed signal aspect, with both a passenger and the driver of a northbound High-Speed Train claiming a signal was showing a proceed aspect, with the result that the train collided with a southbound HST correctly signaled across its path. No fault was found with the signaling and the claimed aspect could not be reproduced; the railway’s own internal inquiry concluded that the driver and passenger were mistaken and that the driver had passed the relevant signal at danger. The vehicles were rerailed the next day.

Another accident involving a high-speed train at Gasworks Tunnel was probably the most unusual of the year. It occurred when people working on land above the tunnel uncovered a capped ventilator shaft. They attempted to fill the shaft with rubble bulldozed into the hole. Nobody had thought to tell them that the bottom of the shaft was open to the tunnel, and that the rubble was being deposited on the main line below, where it was struck by the high-speed train.

Of the 120 station and lineside fires reported in the year, 37 were started deliberately. Most of the fire incidents, though, were on older diesel locomotives or multiple-units where fires were due to ‘technical causes’ rising with the age of first-generation DMUs.

While Mr Seymour has welcomed the introduction of train-crew-operated sliding doors on newer stock, with the potential to reduce accidents arising from open doors and leaning out of the window, concern has been expressed about the loss of free passenger egress in the event of fire on the new types of stock.

Some of the technical failures of rolling stock reported during the year would have had serious consequences. On 6 August, as a train left Lancaster a staff member working alongside the line saw something hanging from a coach and the train was stopped. A swing link on the bogie had fractured from corrosion and allowed the spring plank to drop on to the running rail.

Inexperience and insufficient training have been a potent cause of accidents, and the ability to retain staff so that they become experienced depends on pay and conditions.

Read and remember the meaning of the words and phrases.

2. Translate the attributive groups.

On-train fatalities, a proceed aspect, the railway’s own internal inquiry, the 120 station and lineside fires, train-crew-operated sliding doors, a staff member.

3. Translate the sentences with conditionals.

1) But for the Clapham Junction collision, 1988, in terms of passengers killed or injured in train accidents, would have been one of the best on record.

2) Some of the technical failures of rolling stock would have had serious consequences.

4. Match the beginning of the sentence (1–4) with its ending (a–d).

5. Render the texts in English.

1.5 октября 1999 года трехвагонный дизель-поезд, направляющийся от вокзала Паддингтон (Лондон) в Бедуин, проехал запрещающий красный сигнал и врезался в головной вагон поездаэкспресса. Начался сильный пожар. 31 человек погиб, 160 человек были ранены. Трагедии могло не случиться, если бы здесь была установлена новая автоматическая система безопасности, которой намечалось оборудовать опасные точки на железных дорогах Великобритании. Национальный совет по безопасности принял решение усовершенствовать программу подготовки машинистов и ускорить внедрение новой автоматической системы безопасности.

2.7 сентября 2002 года на Транссибе в 185 километрах от Новосибирска машинист поезда, состоящего из ста вагонов, увидел коров, разгуливающих по железнодорожному полотну, и резко затормозил. В результате экстренного торможения электровоз и четыре цистерны с керосином сошли с рельсов. С ближайших станций на место происшествия прибыли пожарный поезд и поезд

соборудованием для ремонта полотна. Пострадавших нет. Было повреждено железнодорожное полотно, в результате чего на несколько часов было остановлено движение на линии Владивосток

– Москва.

6.Work in pairs. Talk about the types of accidents, their causes and what should be done to provide safety.

Optional tasks

1. Where would you find the notices below? How do you say these things in Russian?

1) Don’t lean out of the window.

2) Ever met a person who’s been hit by a train?

2.Match the prefixes (1–3) with their meaning in the box.

a)again b) not/negative c) remove from

1)re- means

2)de- means

3)in- means

3. The words below can take the prefixes de-, reor in-. Write a prefix in front of each word. (One word can take two prefixes.)

1)–rail

2)–adequately

3)–experience

4)–sufficient

4. Find in the text the opposites to these words.

Safe, older, to increase.

Test 18

I. Match the words.

II. Choose the correct word.

a) occur b) cause c) safety d) accidents e) dangerous f) despite

1.Railroads live by the rules to protect the ___ of people and avoid damage to property.

2.Of great importance in railroad operations are the great number of safety inspectors that railroads employ to assure that the track, the trains and their operation are guarded against (защищены от) ___ to employees, the public, and goods.

3.When accidents ___, railroads follow action plans with public safety first and foremost.

4.Inexperience and insufficient training have been a potent ___ of accidents.

5.Derailments and collisions are the most ___ accidents to passengers.

III. Choose the correct variant.

1. An on-train fatality occurred on 11 November, when a driver was ___ as his train was derailed and struck a bridge abutment.

Unit 19

Read the text.

Signaling

Types of signals. Railroad signals are used to inform the train crew of track conditions ahead and to tell it how to operate the train. Methods of controlling train operations evolved over many years of trial and error. The earliest form of railroad signal was simply a flag by day or a lamp at night. The first movable signal was a revolving board, introduced in the 1830s, followed in 1841 by the semaphore signal. One early type of American signal consisted of a large ball that was hoisted to the top of a pole to inform the engineman that he might proceed.

The semaphore signal was nearly universal until the early years of the 20th century, when it began to be replaced by the colour-light signal, which uses powerful electric lights to display its aspects. The number of lights and the range of aspects available from one signal can vary depending on its purpose. For example, additional lights may be installed to the left or right of the main lights to warn the driver of divergence ahead from the through track. Red (stop or danger), yellow (warning), and green (track clear) have the same significance worldwide, but they also are used in combination of two colours. Colour-light signaling is now standard on almost all lines of the world’s principal railways.

Automated systems. The railroad is divided into sections called blocks, and at the block divisions there are signals which indicate to an oncoming train whether it may enter that section of track. The important principle which is followed is that only one train is allowed into each block section at a time. The basis of much of today’s railroad signaling is the automatic block system, introduced in 1872 and one of the first examples of automation. It uses track circuits that are short-circuited by the wheels and axles of a train, putting the signals to the rear of the train at the danger aspect. A track circuit is made by the two rails of a section of track, insulated at their ends. Electric current, fed into the section at one end, flows through a relay at the opposite end. The wheels of the train will then short circuit the current supply and de-energize the relay. Thus, in automatic signaling, the train itself activates the danger signals behind its path. It then automatically changes them to warning or clear signals as it leaves each block.

In a conventional automatic block system, permissible headway between trains is determined by the fixed length of each block section and is invariable. Modern electronics has made possible a so-called “moving block” system, in which block length is determined not by fixed ground distance but by the relative speed and distance from each other of successive trains. In a typical moving block system, track devices transmit to receivers on each train continuous coded data on the status of trains ahead. Apparatus on a train compares this data with the train’s own location and speed, projects a safe stopping distance ahead, and continuously calculates maximum speed for maintenance of that headway. A moving block system increases the throughput of trains over one track in a given period of time.

To ensure observance of restrictive signals, a basic form of automatic train control is used by many major railroads. This system gives the driver audible (sound) and visual indication in his cab of signals ahead and applies the brakes of the train automatically if he passes a yellow warning signal without reducing speed in readiness to stop at the next danger signal.

2. The number of lights and the range of aspects available from one signal can vary depending on its purpose.

number число, количество; номер; выпуск (издания); цифра; показатель

3. Apparatus on a train projects a safe stopping distance ahead, and continuously calculates maximum speed for maintenance of the headway between trains.

maintenance поддержание, сохранение, средства к существованию, поддержка, защита, текущий ремонт, эксплуатационные расходы

4. Interlocking of switches and signals at crossings prevents the displaying of a clear signal for one route when clearance has already been given to a train on a conflicting route.

сlearance очистка; распродажа; таможенное свидетельство; оплата долга; зазор, просвет; холостой ход; разрешение; габарит; удар от ворот; преодоление препятствия

2. Match the signal with its significance.

3. Put in a preposition where necessary.

1.The earliest form of railroad signal was simply a flag ___ day or a lamp ___ night.

2.One early type of American signal consisted ___ a large ball that was hoisted to the top of a pole.

3.The number of lights and the range of aspects available from one signal can vary depending ___ its purpose.

4.Additional lights may be installed ___ the left or right of the main lights.

5.The railroad is divided ___ sections called blocks.

6.At the block divisions there are signals which indicate to an oncoming train whether it may enter

___ that section of track.

7.Electric current, fed into the section at one end, flows ___ a relay at the opposite end.

8.Track circuits are short-circuited by the wheels and axles of a train, putting the signals to the rear of the train ___ the danger aspect.

9.The train itself automatically changes the danger signals ___ warning or clear signals as it leaves each block.

10.In a typical moving block system, track devices transmit to receivers on each train continuous coded data ___ the status of trains ahead.

11.CTC is a system in which the signalling of a long section of railway is undertaken ___ one control

point.

12.Early CTC centres contained one panoramic diagram of the area ___ control, with small lights to show the exact location of any trains on the line.

4. Join a phrase from A with one from B to make a sentence.

центра, в который поступают все данные о движении поезда, о показаниях светофоров, о состоянии путей и т.д. Перед диспетчером расположено светящееся табло, на котором он прокладывает маршрут каждого поезда.

8. Tell the class about the evolution of methods of controlling train operations.

Optional tasks

1. Form the nouns from these words.

Introduce, divide, operate, add, indicate, receive, move, clear, safe, ready.

2. Find in the text the synonyms of the following words.

Vary, danger signal.

3. Find in the text the opposites of the following words.

Reduce, outgoing train, enter the block, danger signal.

4. Translate the phrases using a dictionary.

1.a) clear day, clear sky, clear water, clear glass, clear sight, clear view, clear tone, clear voice, clear conclusion, it is clear to me, clear intellect, clear head, clear signal;

b)operate a train, operate a factory, operate a business, operate a computer, operate on for appendicitis, operate a switch, operate signals, operate at high speeds, operate quickly, operate mechanically, operate daily;

c)alphabetical order, order of the seasons, order of the events; in good working order, out of order; public order; the order of a dispatcher, give orders, receive orders, follow orders; the order for machines, large order, cancel an order, in order to provide safety;

d)intellectual capacity, capacity for making friends, seating capacity, capacity of a car, capacity of a railroad, carrying capacity, capacity to pay, in the capacity of an engineer, traffic capacity.

2.a) to add some cars, the addition of extra cars, additional cars, in addition to cars;

b)to move materials, movable signal, moving train, moveless countenance, movability, movables, prime mover, train movements;

c)to vary greatly, variable weather, invariable distance, various cars, wide variety.