What do railroad tracks usually consist of?
Short answer: Two parallel steel rails
Tracks guide flanged wheels so trains stay on course.
Groan of the day: These rails really know how to stay on track.
Sources: Rail transport
Study guides · Stuff Every Railroad Scout Should Know
Stuff Every Railroad Scout Should Know: the Study Guide
Practice facts for the Railroading merit badge. Not an official Scouting America credential. Grab a snack: this guide is the friendly version, with the answers explained and a groan-worthy joke waiting at the end of most cards.
Knowing Railroad Scout saves you money, time and the occasional embarrassment.
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Chapter 1: Emergencies and First Aid
Why can trains carry more weight than trucks?
Short answer: The track spreads the weight
Spreading weight over rails lets trains haul larger loads safely.
Groan of the day: That is a load off my mind.
Sources: Rail transport
What does ballast under the track help do?
Short answer: Drain water and spread load
Ballast distributes weight and lets water drain away.
Groan of the day: Ballast is a real drain expert.
Sources: Rail transport
What is the purpose of Amtrak?
Short answer: To run national passenger trains
Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail service.
Groan of the day: Amtrak is on the right track for passengers.
Sources: Scouting America: Railroading
What does a train horn signal communicate?
Short answer: Warnings and messages to people nearby
Horn signals warn people and pass messages along the line.
Groan of the day: That horn really blows its own trumpet.
Sources: Scouting America: Railroading
What do railroad signals help prevent?
Short answer: Trains colliding
Signals keep trains apart so they do not collide.
Groan of the day: Signals keep trains from bumping into old friends.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a hopper car used to carry?
Short answer: Bulk goods like grain or coal
Hopper cars carry bulk materials that pour out easily.
Groan of the day: Hoppers really pour on the service.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a tank car designed to carry?
Short answer: Liquids
Tank cars carry liquids such as chemicals or fuel.
Groan of the day: Tank cars are liquid assets.
Sources: Rail transport
What does an autorack car carry?
Short answer: Road vehicles
Autoracks carry cars and trucks on trains.
Groan of the day: Autoracks give cars a ride.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a stock car used to transport?
Short answer: Livestock
Stock cars carry animals like cattle.
Groan of the day: Stock cars really moo-ve along.
Sources: Rail transport
What does a container train carry?
Short answer: Stackable shipping containers
Containers move easily between ships, trucks, and trains.
Groan of the day: Containers really box clever.
Sources: Rail transport
What is intermodal transport?
Short answer: Moving goods between different modes
Intermodal means cargo moves between ship, truck, and rail.
Groan of the day: Intermodal is a real team player.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a commuter train used for?
Short answer: Daily trips to work or school
Commuter trains serve people traveling to work or school.
Groan of the day: Commuter trains are on the daily grind.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a light rail system?
Short answer: A passenger train using upgraded tram technology
Light rail uses upgraded tram technology for city travel.
Groan of the day: Light rail is a bright idea for cities.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a rapid transit system?
Short answer: High capacity city rail, often underground
Rapid transit moves many people in cities, often underground.
Groan of the day: Rapid transit is quick on its feet.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a monorail?
Short answer: An elevated train on a single rail
Monorails are elevated systems that run on one rail.
Groan of the day: Monorail is one of a kind.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a people mover?
Short answer: A driverless shuttle serving a few stations
People movers are driverless shuttles for short routes.
Groan of the day: People movers really move the crowd.
Sources: Rail transport
What is superelevation on a curve?
Short answer: The outer rail is higher than the inner rail
Raising the outer rail helps trains take curves smoothly.
Groan of the day: That curve is on the up and up.
Sources: Rail transport
What is standard gauge?
Short answer: The most common track width worldwide
Standard gauge is the most widely used track width.
Groan of the day: Standard gauge sets the standard.
Sources: Rail transport
What is continuous welded rail?
Short answer: Rails joined into long smooth lengths
Welded rail reduces gaps and gives a quieter ride.
Groan of the day: Welded rail really joins the club.
Sources: Rail transport
What is the purpose of a signal box?
Short answer: Housing equipment to control switches and signals
Signal boxes house controls for switches and signals.
Groan of the day: The signal box is in control.
Sources: Rail transport
What does block signalling do?
Short answer: Keeps only one train in a track zone
Block signalling keeps trains apart by dividing track into zones.
Groan of the day: Block signalling blocks trouble before it starts.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a third rail used for?
Short answer: Supplying electric power to trains
Some rapid transit systems draw power from a third rail.
Groan of the day: The third rail is a real live wire.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a goods station used for?
Short answer: Loading and unloading cargo
Goods stations handle cargo, not passengers.
Groan of the day: That station is all business.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a heritage railway?
Short answer: A preserved old railway for tourists
Heritage railways preserve old lines for tourist rides.
Groan of the day: Heritage railways are history on the move.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a high-speed rail system?
Short answer: An intercity train running much faster than normal
High-speed rail runs much faster than conventional trains.
Groan of the day: High-speed rail is fast and furious.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a train?
Short answer: A connected series of rail vehicles moving on track
A train is linked rail vehicles that move along a track, usually pulled by a locomotive.
Groan of the day: This train question is on the right track.
Sources: Rail transport
What does a locomotive provide for a train?
Short answer: The tractive force to haul the train
A locomotive supplies tractive force to pull the full weight of the train.
Groan of the day: That answer has real pulling power.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a push-pull train good at?
Short answer: Changing direction without moving the locomotive
A cab on the end car lets the driver control the locomotive remotely, so it need not be moved.
Groan of the day: That answer pushes all the right buttons.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a multiple unit train?
Short answer: A train with powered wheels throughout
Multiple units have powered wheels along the whole train and are used for transit and trams.
Groan of the day: That answer multiplies your knowledge.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a railcar?
Short answer: A single self-powered car
A railcar is one self-powered car, electric or diesel.
Groan of the day: That answer is a car above the rest.
Sources: Rail transport
How does a steam locomotive make power?
Short answer: Burning fuel to boil water into steam
Fuel burned in a firebox boils water, and the steam powers a piston.
Groan of the day: That answer is steaming ahead.
Sources: Rail transport
Where does an electric locomotive get power?
Short answer: From an overhead wire or third rail
Electric locomotives draw power from a stationary source like an overhead wire or third rail.
Groan of the day: That answer is shockingly correct.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a benefit of electric locomotives?
Short answer: They are cheap to run and quieter
Electric traction is cheapest to run, quieter, and has no local air pollution.
Groan of the day: That answer has good energy.
Sources: Rail transport
What is the prime mover in a diesel locomotive?
Short answer: A diesel engine
Diesel locomotives use a diesel engine as the prime mover, often diesel-electric.
Groan of the day: That answer is a prime pick.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a passenger train's job at stations?
Short answer: Letting passengers get on and off
Passenger trains stop at stations so people can embark and disembark.
Groan of the day: That answer boards well.
Sources: Rail transport
What is an intercity train?
Short answer: A long-haul train with few stops
Intercity trains are long-haul trains operating with few stops between cities.
Groan of the day: That answer goes the distance.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a regional train?
Short answer: A medium-distance train making more stops
Regional trains connect cities to surrounding areas, making more stops at lower speeds.
Groan of the day: That answer is right on region.
Sources: Rail transport
What is an airport rail link for?
Short answer: Quick access from city centers to airports
Airport rail links provide quick access from city centers to airports.
Groan of the day: That answer really takes off.
Sources: Rail transport
Why is rapid transit kept separate from roads?
Short answer: It runs on an exclusive right-of-way
Rapid transit uses an exclusive right-of-way that pedestrians and vehicles cannot enter.
Groan of the day: That answer has its own lane.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a tram?
Short answer: A small street-level rail vehicle
At street level, smaller trams can be used for city travel.
Groan of the day: That answer is on the right street.
Sources: Rail transport
What do freight trains carry?
Short answer: Cargo in specialized cars
Freight trains carry cargo using freight cars specialized for the goods.
Groan of the day: That answer carries weight.
Sources: Rail transport
Why are freight trains efficient?
Short answer: Economies of scale and high energy efficiency
Freight trains are very efficient, with economies of scale and high energy efficiency.
Groan of the day: That answer is efficiently great.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a benefit of double-stacking containers?
Short answer: It reduces costs
Double stacking containers, especially in North America, reduces costs.
Groan of the day: That answer stacks up well.
Sources: Rail transport
What did containers replace for general freight?
Short answer: The boxcar loaded by hand
Containers succeeded the boxcar, where cargo had to be loaded and unloaded manually.
Groan of the day: That answer boxes clever.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a roadrailer?
Short answer: A trailer that can ride on a train
A roadrailer lets trailers be driven onto the train, easing the road-to-rail transition.
Groan of the day: That answer drives the point home.
Sources: Rail transport
What kinds of cargo are typical bulk freight?
Short answer: Coal, ore, grains, and liquids
Typical bulk cargo includes coal, ore, grains, and liquids.
Groan of the day: That answer is a bulk bargain.
Sources: Rail transport
What is a subway?
Short answer: A rapid transit line running underground
A grade-separated rapid transit line below ground is often called a subway.
Groan of the day: That answer goes underground but stands out.
Sources: Rail transport
What are railway tracks laid upon?
Short answer: Land owned or leased by the railway
Railway tracks are laid upon land owned or leased by the railway company.
Groan of the day: That answer owns the track.
Sources: Rail transport
Why are rails sometimes laid in tunnels in cities?
Short answer: To minimize effects on existing properties
In dense urban areas, railways are sometimes tunneled to minimize effects on existing properties.
Groan of the day: That answer tunnels to the truth.
Sources: Rail transport
The cheat sheet
The whole guide on one screen. Screenshot it, print it, stick it on the fridge.
- Tracks guide flanged wheels so trains stay on course.
- Spreading weight over rails lets trains haul larger loads safely.
- Ballast distributes weight and lets water drain away.
- Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail service.
- Horn signals warn people and pass messages along the line.
- Signals keep trains apart so they do not collide.
- Hopper cars carry bulk materials that pour out easily.
- Tank cars carry liquids such as chemicals or fuel.
- Autoracks carry cars and trucks on trains.
- Stock cars carry animals like cattle.
- Containers move easily between ships, trucks, and trains.
- Intermodal means cargo moves between ship, truck, and rail.
Pop quiz
Think of your answer first, then peek.
- What do railroad tracks usually consist of?
- Two parallel steel rails
- A single wooden beam
- A chain of rubber belts
Show the answer
Two parallel steel rails. Tracks guide flanged wheels so trains stay on course.
- What does a container train carry?
- Passengers with luggage
- Stackable shipping containers
- Loose sand only
Show the answer
Stackable shipping containers. Containers move easily between ships, trucks, and trains.
- What is the purpose of a signal box?
- Selling snacks to passengers
- Storing luggage
- Housing equipment to control switches and signals
Show the answer
Housing equipment to control switches and signals. Signal boxes house controls for switches and signals.
- What is a railcar?
- A single self-powered car
- A pair of steel rails
- A station building
Show the answer
A single self-powered car. A railcar is one self-powered car, electric or diesel.
- What is a tram?
- A freight truck
- A small street-level rail vehicle
- A large ocean ship
Show the answer
A small street-level rail vehicle. At street level, smaller trams can be used for city travel.
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