GLOSSARY. abutment n - a boundary with something

A

abutment n - a boundary with something

access n, v – a means of approaching or entering a place; a way in; to approach, to enter, use

adjacent a – situated near or next to

aggregate n, v – material, e.g. sand or crushed stone, that is mixed with cement and water to make concrete

alignment n – arrangement in a straight line

ambient a – on all sides, surrounding

angle n, v – the amount of distance between the directions of two lines; a line or direction of movement, considered in relation to the ground

approach bridge – a bridge that allows to come close to a main bridge

arrangement n - the act of arranging

artificial a – created by people, not existing or occurring naturally

assemble v – to fit together the parts of something

automation n – the use of automatic equipment and machines to do work previously done by people.

B

balanced a - with all parts combining well together or existing in the correct amount

ballast n – a foundation for a road made of different materials: crushed stone, gravel, etc.

baseplate n – bearing slab

beam n – a long piece of wood, metal, concrete, etc, usually supported at both ends, that bears the weight of part of a structure

bearing n – a device that allows part of a machine to turn smoothly

bed n – the bottom of the sea, a river, lake; a layer of clay, rock, etc. below the soil on the surface, a stratum; a flat base on which something rests, a foundation

benitoite n, a - a mineral

blast v – to destroy something or break something (especially rocks) using explosives

block signals – signals used to operate the block system.

block system – widely adopted signaling arrangement in which the railway is divided into absolute intervals of space known as ‘block sections’. Only one train is allowed into each block section at a time. The sections are controlled by signal boxes at each end. A block section extends from the most advanced starting signal under the control of one box to the first home signal.

bolt n – a metal pin used with a nut for fastening things together

bore n, v – a deep hole made in the ground; to make a hole with a tool or by digging

boring n – drilling; bore-hole

boring machine n – a special machine designed for boring

brake n – a device for slowing or stopping motion of a vehicle by contact friction

branch n – smaller and less important division of road or mountain range

C

cable-stayed span – a span with a set of wires for carrying electricity

cantilever n - a beam, usually of metal, projecting from a wall to support a structure

capacity n (CAPY) – the nominal weight of lading the car is rated for, in multiples of 1, 000 pounds

cast v – to shape hot liquid metal by pouring it into a mould

cast in-situ – cast in the original or proper place of construction site

centralised traffic control (CTC) – a system, in which the signaling of a long section of railway is undertaken from one control point

chamber n – an enclosed space under the ground

chord n - a straight line joining two points on a curve

climb v – to go up

coach n – the cheapest type of accommodation on trains

commodity n – an article, a product or a material that is bought and sold

communications n – means of exchanging information, as by speech, signals, or writing

commuter n – a person who travels regularly from one place to another, as from suburb to city and back

computer n – an electronic machine that performs high-speed calculations or processes data

concrete-lined a – covered with a concrete

consecutive (measurements) n - following in regular unbroken order

consignee n – one to whom freight is consigned

consignor n – one who consigns freight

console n – the portion of a computer that houses the apparatus used to manually operate the machine and that provides a means of communication between the computer operator and the central processing unit

crew n – a group of people working together, gang

cross-passage n – cross narrow ways (corridors) through something

crush v – to break something firm or hard into small pieces

curvature n - the state of being curved