Everybody knows about trains; they run on rails, they are made up of several different cars, they carry people from place to place, and there are many different types. That is about the extent of the knowledge of the general population. No matter the type, size or purpose, all trains are made of basically the same components. Here is a bit about how trains are put together and some of the components that are most commonly used.

Traditional train tracks are composed of two steel rails and wooden or concrete cross bars (ties) that sit on a bed of gravel or other crushed stone (ballast); this system has been replicated all over the world. The tracks themselves can be at least six different types, with names that describe their appearance (i.e. bullhead, grooved, flanged T, etc.). Because rails are produced in factories that may be far from the final location, they are made in uniformly sized pieces (40 feet, more or less), and then joined by smaller pieces of track specifically designed for that purpose.

During the late 1800’s-early 1900’s, most trains were rectangular cars joined together that ran on steel wheels designed to fit the track. Today’s trains, however, do not all look the same; traditional train design is still in use, but advances in technology have led to changes in appearance (i.e. “bullet trains”). There are so many miscellaneous railway, railroad and train components, that careful research is needed for anyone interested in railroad employment (i.e. conductors, track repair, etc.)