Chapter 9 - Railcar Extrication

Question 1

The most common type of locomotives are:

Answer 1

Diesel only
Diesel/Electric
Electric Only
Steam

Question 2

Diesel/Electric locomotives can weigh from ___ tons up to _______ tons, develop as much as _____ horsepower, and carry between ____ to _____ gallons of diesel fuel inside or under the locomotive. Locomotives have a top speed of up to ___ mph.

Answer 2

130 up to 175,000 tons
4,250 horsepower
1,800 to 2,200 gallons
125 mph

Question 3

Electric Locomotives operate with a power from ______ volt AC to ______ volt AC catenary system of wires suspended about the tracks.

Answer 3

12,000

25,000

Question 4

The third rail carries ___ volts DC and must be avoided by all but trained Amtrak personnel.

Answer 4

600

Question 5

Depending on the layout of the locomotive passenger cars, they can seat anywhere from ___ to ___ passengers

Answer 5

44 to 85

Question 6

All Amtrak cars are equipped with ___-volt electrical circuits charges by power from the locomotive, commonly called “_______”.

Answer 6

480-volt

Head-End Power

Question 7

Most Amtrak cars have exterior skins made of ____-inch stainless steel.

Answer 7

3/32-inch

Question 8

Only trained Amtrak crew members can safely perform the following actions:

Answer 8

> De-Energize head-end power
> Lower locomotive pantographs
> Disengage third-rail shoes
> Ground electrical equipment when required
> Remove or install power cables

Question 9

Locomotive walls are made from ___ thick steel, the roof is made from ___ inch steel.

Answer 9

3/8 inch

1/8 inch

Question 10

The pantograph mounted on top of the locomotive maintains contact with the trolley wires to conduct ______ volts to ______ volts AC, ___ Hz, to the locomotive motors.

Answer 10

12,000 to 25,000 volts AC

25 Hz

Question 11

Caternary poles are ___-inch square steel H-sections weighing ___ pounds per foot. They range from ___ to ____ feet.

Answer 11

14-inch
84 lbs
70 to 170 feet

Question 12

All wires and hardware of the caternary system are energized to ______ volts

Answer 12

12,000 volts

Question 13

Do not permit any metallic object within __ feet or the ______ volt caternary system or the _____ volt signal power lines.

Answer 13

3 feet
12,000 volt
6,900 volt

Question 14

Do not permit and metallic object with __ feet of the _______ volt transmission lines.

Answer 14

8 ft

138,000 volt

Question 15

Third-rail electrical-power distribution systems generally distribute ___-volt DC current.

Answer 15

600-volt

Question 16

Diesel/Electric locomotives can carry up to _____ gallons of diesel fuel in tanks located inside the locomotive or underneath it.

Answer 16

2,200 gallons.

Question 17

to shut off the fuel supply to the engine, push and hold the emergency fuel shutoff for __ to ___ seconds. The engine will stop running within about ____ minute.

Answer 17

8 to 10 seconds.

one minute

Question 18

Unless affected by slope or similar environmental influences, a railcar on its side is ________.

Answer 18

Very Stable

Question 19

Because a railcar is top heavy when resting on its roof, this position can be ________.

Answer 19

Very unstable

Question 20

Because the majority of the weight of most railcars is concentrated in the lower third of their structure, railcars that are upright and still on their tracks are ________.

Answer 20

Relatively stable.

Question 21

_______ is a polycarbonate plastic ____ times stronger than glass and ___ times stronger than Plexiglas

Answer 21

Lexan
250 times
30 times