A-F

A

Adjustable Separator
A pair of serrated metal blocks that act as a filler between the running rail and guard rail to provide a variable flangeway.

Adzing Machine
Portable power-operated machine designed to adz the rail seat on ties to provide proper bearing for rail or tie plates.

Alignment
The horizontal location of a railroad as described by curves and tangents.

Angle Bar
A forged steel bar for connecting the ends of rails with bolts similar to a joint bar but having a leg or angle shape to gain support from the rail base.

Annealing
The process of raising and holding the temperature of a steel product above its critical temperature for a time, followed by slow cooling, for the purpose of equalizing internal stresses and increasing ductility and toughness.

Anti-Splitting Iron
A piece of steel strip beveled on one edge and bent to the desired shape and driven into the end of a tie or timber to control its splitting.

Apron
Ferry or Brake. A bridge structure supporting tracks connecting the deck of a car ferry with the tracks extending to land, hinged at the shore so that it is free to move vertically at the outboard end to accommodate the varying elevations of the ferry.