Automating the railways.

At present control of the high-speed trains is semi-automatic since they are automatically forced to comply with permissible speeds at any instant. Stops at station platforms are under the driver's control. The whole line in Japan, for example, is directly controlled from Tokyo and for this purpose is divided into four systems. The state of the line is continuously surveyed and information is transmitted at high speed to the control centre. Each train automatically identifies itself by generating a unique frequency as it passes fixed ground equipment and the information is displayed on the control system at Tokyo. Trains entering stations automatically set the points system according to classification, i.e. whether super express, limited express or freight. One interesting but simple safety feature is provided to enable anyone on the line to stop the train in an emergency. It consists of push-button switches placed at intervals of 50 m. Operation of the switch shorts the track circuit, and consequent indication in the driving cab of an approaching train causes the brakes to be applied automatically when at an appropriate distance from the danger position. All the safety circuits are fail-safe, and the possibility of an accident due to human fallibility has been virtually eliminated. Current developments intended for future installation would incline programmed control, obstacle defection by a guided radar, controlled braking to a prescribed point and centralized computer control. Extensive work is under way in our country to utilize television technique in industry, science and agriculture. Some years ago one of the research institutes of our country designed television apparatus which is now used in railway transport to record the serial numbers of freight cars arriving at a station. As a train pulls in at a station, somewhere at a distance of ten kilometers an operator sees this train on the screen of his television set. The operator reads aloud the serial number of the freight cars and they are recorded by a type recorder. On another television set the operator can see all the railway lines in a station. The operator only has to press a button and another station will appear on the screen. These installations are being used in connection with the shifting of freight cars.

The Central Research Institute of the Military of Railways is designing a new television apparatus which will enable engine drivers “to see” the condition of the freight car even when it is dark.

Вопросы к тексту:

1. Are stops at station platforms under the driver's control? And why?

2. Why can you say about an automated line in Japan?

3. How do trains identify themselves as they pass fixed ground equipment?

4. What device is used that enables anyone on line to stop the train in emergency?

5. What distance are push-button switches placed on line?

6. Does the switch short the track circuit by applying brakes automatically?

7. How is the possibility of an accident eliminated?

8. What installations for controlling safe movement will be included in future?

9. Is television technique utilized in railway transport in our country?

10. In what connection are the television installations being used on the railway lines?

Задание № 2. Переведите следующие словосочетания:

container movement, engaging movement, diesel engine, diesel-electric engine, real-time processing, autonomous peripheral transfer devices, pointsman, engine output, video output, input/output.

Задание №3. Переведите на английский язык следующие словосочетания:

1. Скоростные поезда подчиняются системе автоматического и полуавтоматического контроля.

2. Остановки на станциях находятся под контролем машинистов.

3. Создано много автоматических устройств, чтобы избежать несчастных случаев.

4. Телевизионная техника широко используется на железных дорогах.

5. Оператор TV может видеть всю железнодорожную линию на своей станции, а путём переключения кнопки он всегда может видеть другую станцию на этом пути.

6. Оператор может читать серийные номера грузовых вагонов и записывать их на магнитофон.

7. Создаётся новый телевизионный аппарат, который позволит машинисту видеть в темноте.

Вариант №2

Задание №1. Переведите текст и ответьте на вопросы:

1. How did the early cars look like?

2. What made the inventors design new types of cars?

3. What is the box-car intended for?

4. What is a refrigerator car intended for?

5. How can a refrigerator car protect goods from weather conditions?

6. How is a tank car filled with liquid goods?

7. What kinds of freight cars are designed for transporting coal, ore, gravel?

8. Why is the container traffic very popular nowadays?

9. What kinds of modern sleeping cars can you name? What is their inside arrangement?

10. What is the flat intended for?

«Carriages and wagons”

The cars used on the early railways were very much like the stage-coaches and wagons traveling on ordinary roads. Although drawn by horses, these vehicles had flanged wheels which kept them on the rails.

At time went on an railroads had to carry more and more freight, bigger and better cars were invented for hauling different kinds of goods. Today, the railroads have several classes of freight cars, there being many varieties in each class.

The box car is considered to be the most common type of covered car. It is a general-all purpose car intended to carry all kinds of ordinary goods which must be protected from the weather. A special type of b ox car is a refrigerator car used for hauling food products. The walls, floor and roof of this wagon are air- and waterproof to protect goods from the heat of the outside air.

Another type of car is a tank car intended for liquid goods. The long cylindrical tank of the car is filled through an opening on the top and emptied through a special device in the bottom.

Coal, ore, gravel, and other similar goods are known to be conveyed in open-top cars, the principal types of these being the gondola and hopper car. Both types are designed for mechanized loading and unloading and, therefore, built especially strong and durable.

The simplest type of car is the flat car. Being usually employed for transporting rails, beams, timber, and heavy machines, they, if fitted with special devices, can also carry containers. The container traffic is now coming into wide use on all modes of transport because it reduces the cost of loading and unloading goods and decreases the danger of their breakage. The fact is that goods are packed into containers at factories or ware houses and are not disturbed while in transit, thus being conveyed from “door-to-door”.

We know the passenger rolling stock of today to comprise several types of cars. There exist sleeping and dining cars, coaches for day and night sendee, saloon coaches for tourists, etc. The modern rolling stock is built with two types of inside arrangement. One is the compartment type with a side corridor, and the other is the open vehicle with a central passage.

Задание №2. Переведите следующие словосочетания:

air-conditioned cars, trunk line, hump yard, track facilities, signal appliances at railroads, centralized traffic control, traffic flow, passenger compartment, the yard terminal office.

Задание №3. Переведите следующие предложения:

1) Railways compete with other kinds of transport. The very first passenger and freight cars were pulled by horses.

2) Some goods must be protected from weather conditions. The early railway cars looked like boxes on wheels.

3) Metal cars are protected from corrosion with the help of plaint. There are various types of freight cars for different foods.

4) The sleeping cars are divided into small separate parts or compartments Covered cars are cars with roofs.

5) Old carriages were heated by stoves; modern cars have central heating. In coaches the seats are arranged on both sides of the vehicle.

6) The very first freight class were used in coal mines in England. Many innovations have been introduced in car construction since the early days.

7) George Pullman is regarded to be the inventor of the sleeping cars. The railroad travel depends largely upon the standards of cars and service.

8) Most long-distance trains are furnished with fluorescent lightning and air-conditioning. The prototype of a modern sleeping car appeared in the middle of the 19^th century.

9) Modern carriages are made of light-weight steel, aluminum and plastics. The early trains had neither lighting nor heating.

10) In Russia the construction of passenger cars was started in 1846 at the Alexander Works. Modern cars are durable and have good performance characteristics.

Вариант№ 3

Задание №1. Переведите текст и ответьте на вопросы:

" Movement of freight traffic"

Movement of freight starts at the initial terminal where the train is made up in the classification yard. Here cars are collected in groups or blocks. These are assembled on a departure track. The number of cars assigned to a train is related as nearly as possible to the tonnage capacity of the locomotive. After assembling the various blocks of cars on the track from which the train is to leave, they are coupled up with air brake connection, then tested and inspected. Defective cars are quickly repaired; if this requires more time than is available such cars are cut out and dispatched in a later train. The engine crew boards the train at the locomotive terminal. They pick up the caboose with the train and attach it to the rear end of the train, or a yard engine may handle the caboose. Prior to leaving the yard terminal office the freight conductor receives a series of sheets called billing, which show the number, character and destination of each car in his train, and checks the train for correct make-up or” consist”. When the train is ready to move, a signal from the conductor to the engineer starts it on its way. Except for stops for water or fuel a through freight train will run normally to the next intermediate terminal without stop or change in its consist. The

conductor makes out what is called a wheel report, listing the initials and numbers of each car, weight of the car, weight of lading and the points between which the train moves it. These wheel reports are the records from which the car accountant keeps track of car movement and the statistical department of the railroad compiles freight train and traffic statistics. At intermediate terminals cars consigned to destinations within the particular territory are cut out of the train New cars at intermediate terminals may be added. The train progresses by successive stops through other intermediate terminals to final destination, where it moves to the terminal yard. At the point cars are classified for delivery to the various industries, the operation being carried out by local yard crew.

Вопросы к тексту:

1) Where does the movement of freight start?

2) Why are cars classified or sorted?

3) How is the number of cars assigned to a train related to the tonnage capacity of the locomotive?

4) What cars are cut out and dispatched in a later train?

5) What does the freight conductor receive at the yard terminal office?

6) What does a series of sheets called billing show?

7) Who gives a signal to the engineer for the train being ready to move?

8) Does a through train stop sometimes? For what purpose?

9) What does the conductor show in a wheel report?

10) How does the freight train progress to its final destination?

Задание № 2. Переведите следующие словосочетания:

frequent intervals, colored lights, interlocking system, in case of emergency, strictly adhere, traffic lights.