of way. Table VII gives examples of equivalents that may be used as a guide in dividing the workload.
Table VII. Comparative Maintenance Equivalents
Track Equivalent in
Facility
Kilometer of Main Track
First main track, per kilometer.............................................................................. 1.00
Additional main tracks, per kilometer...................................................................0.80
Branch-line track, per kilometer............................................................................0.49
Passing and running tracks, per kilometer............................................................ 0.43
Yard and side tracks, per kilometer.......................................................................0.32
Main line switch, each...........................................................................................0.07
Side track switch, each.......................................................................................... 0.05
Railroad crossing, each......................................................................................... 0.10
Paved highway or street crossing, each.................................................................0.07
Unpaved road crossing, each.................................................................................0.03
The track chart is a fine example of how track forces are distributed. The track diagram shows the extent
of the track facilities between kilometer posts. If you add the amount of the various facilities and multiply by the
factors given in table VII, you obtain the equivalent trackage in each case. The calculations given below
illustrate the process for two hypothetical sections. The first is 20 kilometers long, has few switches, and has
only a small amount of yard and side trackage. The second section, on the other hand, is only 12 kilometers long
and contains a long passing siding as well as a large yard with a number of switches.
For section 1 between kilometer posts 1 and 20--
lst main track - 20 km @ 1.00
=
20.00
2d main track - 20 km @ 0.80
=
16.00
Passing track - 1 km @ 0.43
=
0.43
Yard and side track - 1 km @ 0.32
=
0.32
Main track switches - 3 @ 0.07
=
0.21
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