Why are there stones on a railway line?

Question

Why are there stones on a railway line?

Answer 1

Transmitt and distribute the load of the track and equipment to the subgrade.

Restrain the track laterally, longitudinally, and vertically under dynamic loads impose by railroad rolling equipment and thermal stress exerted by the rail (tempeture change).

Provide adequate drainage fot the track.

Maintain proper track crosslevel, surface, and alinement.

Answer 2

The stones are there to help dissipate the heat generated from the rail cars as they pass. The stones are typically lava rock which stand up to a large amount of heat .

Answer 3

Track ballast is what that is. It does a number of things.

           It helps with draining water that may be there from rain. Because if rain stayed there, it would make mud, making track unstable. It also makes the track have tiny flexablity, so when the 80 tons of each axle goes over the track, theres some flex..

          Theres no spark on a track. lol

Answer 4

Why do people keep asking the same question? Its called Ballast and helps primarily with spreading the load of the trains when travelling along the section of track.

Answer 5

its called ballest and is there to keep the sleepers (ties) in place. It is compacted down around the sleepers. It also aids drainage.

Answer 6

It's called ballast.  It serves a couple purposes.

1.  It helps drain water away from the track so as to prevent erosion.

2.  It stabilizes the roadbed and helps keep the track level over time by spreading out the weight of the train passing over, so it doesn't become bumpy or wavy.

Answer 7

BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE TO  MOE GRASS

Answer 8

so the traincrew can stop and throw things back at the scummy yobs!!  

its to drain and hold the tracks in place.

Answer 9

Track ballast, consisting of gravel, cinders or other aggregate, forms the trackbed upon which railroad ties (US) or railway sleepers (UK) are laid. It is used to facilitate drainage of water, and to create an even running surface. This also serves to hold the track in place as the trains roll by.

In the early days of railroads in the United States, much material for ballast came from rock found in the local area. In the Midwest, for example, much use was made of quartzite, while states in the southeast, such as Florida, made use of limestone. One specific type of quartzite used in the Midwest earned the name "Pink Lady" due to its color; in other areas, the ballast can be a mix of light and dark colors called "Salt and Pepper".

Answer 10

its called ballast rock. and its there to raise the rail to a level surface drains well and locks together tight under pressure,

Answer 11

It is called "ballast "and is made from crushed and shaped portland stone. It`s put there as a bed for the sleepers and the rails. When a train passes over the ballast acts as a slight cushion allowing the rails to flex slightly, it also allows for drainage from rain water. In railway stations the ballast looks brown in colour this is because the brake pads of the train are made of cast iron and is softer than the steel wheel, tiny fragments of the cast iron rub off and go rusty and over time discolour the ballast.

The whole track is called the "permenant way" or P way for short, the sleepers are made of concrete and made by either Dow Mac or Costain, The track when hot will buckle and can somtimes slide sideways out of algnment but generaly the track has short breaks in it of up to 5mm evey so often and are called expansion joints. The track is made of the very best quality steel and is shaped into either "flat bottom" or the older "bull nosed" variety.

Answer 12

To break down excrement that it discharged from the trains loos. If it was just mud or grass, cess-pools could form.

Answer 13

soaks up the oil i guess.

its to keep the track in its place

Answer 14

because the train wheels create sparks as they pass over the tracks and stones do not catch fire.

Answer 15

It acts as a base for the track, aids a resilient ride and allows drainage - and it's called "ballast" ! ! !

Answer 16

its called ballast and it helps to drain away water, dissipate heat and to keep the track balanced

Answer 17

cuz B&Q had a 50% off all stones when they built britains railways so it was cheaper than turf or sand

Answer 18

It's part of the rail bed. Allows drainage for better stability

Answer 19

there their to help the sleepers stay in place (sleepers are the wooden beams  that hold the track in place also)

1,sleepers...2, track...3,stones, they all hold each other in place..i.e stones hold sleepers,sleepers hold track

good luck..