Railway Engineering MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions)

Here are 1000 MCQs on Railway Engineering (Chapterwise).

1. What is Railway Engineering?
a) Railway engineering deals with the design, construction, and operation of railway systems
b) Railway engineering deals with the design, construction, and operation of highway bridges
c) Railway engineering deals with the design, construction, and operation of road transportation
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Railway engineering is an engineering discipline dealing with the design, construction and operation of all types of rail transportation systems.

2. Which of the following are types of gauges present in Indian railways?
a) Broad gauge, standard gauge and metre gauge
b) Standard gauge, metre gauge and narrow gauge
c) Metre gauge, narrow gauge and 2 broad gauges
d) Broad gauge, metre gauge and 2 narrow gauges
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: There are 4 different types of gauges in Indian railways namely: broad gauge, meter gauge and 2 narrow gauges. The sizes of these gauges are: Broad gauge – 1676 mm, Metre gauge – 1000 mm, Narrow gauge – 762 mm and Narrow gauge – 610 mm.

3. Which of the following is not a component of the rail?
a) Ballast
b) Foot
c) Web
d) Head
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The rail consists of three parts, a head, a web and a foot. Ballast is a separate component which is not a part of the rail section.

4. Which of the following rail line is not a part of the “Mountain Railways of India”?
a) Lumding – Badarpur Railway
b) Kalka – Shimla Railway
c) Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
d) Nilgiri Mountain Railway
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The “Mountain Railways of India” consists of three rail lines namely: Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Kalka – Shimla Railway. These lines are narrow gauge and are not included in the Project Unigauge. They are included in the UNESCO World Heritage sites.

5. India’s first passenger train from BoriBunder (Mumbai) to Thane was run on which of the following gauge?
a) Metre gauge
b) Standard gauge
c) Broad gauge
d) Narrow gauge
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: On 16th April 1853, India’s first passenger train ran from BoriBunderto Thane on broad gauge track. It carried 400 passengers and covered a distance of 34 km. It consisted of 14 carriages and was hauled by 3 steam locomotives.
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6. Which of the following is the most used ballast on Indian railways?
a) Coal ash ballast
b) Brickbat ballast
c) Broken stone ballast
d) Sand ballast
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Broken stone ballast is the most used ballast on Indian railways. It is economical in the long run and can be used for high speed tracks.

7. Which of the following is an advantage of railway transport?
a) Railways are the cheapest mode of transport compared with other modes of transports
b) Railways help a country’s industrialization process by easily transporting coal and raw materials at a lower rate
c) Railways make it easier to travel long distances and carry bulky goods that are not easily carried by motor vehicles
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Railway transport helps industrialization process easily by transporting coal and raw materials. Carrying capacity of the railways is extremely large and also cheapest mode of transport compared with other modes of transports.

8. Railway rails are made of which of the following?
a) Cast iron
b) Mild steel
c) High carbon steel
d) Wrought iron
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Railway rails are made up of high carbon steel.

9. As per the Indian Railways, the maximum height and maximum width of the rolling stock for Broad Gauge (BG) is _____ mm and _____ mm respectively.
a) 3455 mm and 3250 mm
b) 4830 mm and 3600 mm
c) 4140 mm and 3250 mm
d) 3455 mm and 2745 mm
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: According to the Indian Railways, the maximum height and maximum width of rolling stock for Broad Gauge (BG) is 4140 mm and 3250 mm respectively and for Metre Gauge (MG), the values are 3455 mm and 2745 mm. These dimensions should be strictly followed and maintained while designing the rolling stocks for Indian Railways.

10. What does alignment of a railway track mean?
a) Direction and position @ 50mm distance on either side of centerline of track
b) Direction and position of the centerline of track in vertical plane only
c) Direction and position of the centerline of track in horizontal plane only
d) Direction and position of the centerline of track in both horizontal and vertical planes
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: In railway terminology, “Alignment” means the direction and position of the centerline of the railway track with respect to both horizontal and vertical planes. A proper alignment of the track will ensure the safety and comfort of the passengers.

11. Why the railway track is made resilient and elastic?
a) Easy fixing
b) It can be adjusted easily
c) So that it absorbs shocks
d) To make it economic
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The trains exert a lot of pressure on the tracks. They are made elastic and robust so that they can absorb these shocks and vibrations easily.

12. Which of the following is not an advantage of the wooden sleepers?
a) They can be used even without stone Ballast
b) They can be easily handled
c) They have less scrap value
d) They are cheap
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Wooden sleepers have advantages like less cost, easy handling and they can be used even without stone ballast. But their scrap value is almost negligible which is a disadvantage.

13. How is Rack railway system different from normal railway system?
a) They are made of different materials
b) Extra friction is provided in the two rails
c) It has an extra toothed rail
d) It is wider
View Answer

Answers: c
Explanation: The rack railway system has a toothed rail in addition with the two usual rails. This creates an interlocking system between toothed rail and wheel of the locomotive.

14. Which of the following rail has been standardized for adoption on the Indian railways?
a) Combination of BH and DH
b) Flat footed
c) Double headed
d) Bull headed
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Flat footed rails great strength and provide lateral stability. They are much more economical and thus are standardised for usage on the Indian railways.
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15. Which of the following is not a requirement of the design of the sleepers?
a) Bearing area should be sufficient
b) Maintenance cost should be minimum
c) Track circuiting should be possible
d) It should be fixed and removed easily
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The sleepers should be designed to have sufficient bearing area, easy handling and easy track circuiting. The maintenance cost is not a design criteria, but it is an important requirement of the sleepers.

16. The term “Rolling Stock” in Railways includes ________
a) Tracks and platforms
b) Wheels and sleepers
c) Sleepers, tracks, and gauges
d) Locomotives, coaches and wagons
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: In Railways terminology, the term “Rolling Stock” includes locomotives, coaches and wagons or any vehicle that runs on rail tracks. It can include both powered and unpowered vehicles. The rolling stock can act as an engine (for eg. locomotive) or can be used to carry passengers (for eg. coaches) or can be used to carry goods (for eg. wagon).

17. At what angle should a railway line cross a road?
a) 45°
b) 60°
c) 30°
d) 90°
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: A railway line should always cross a road at 90° angle, i.e. they should be perpendicular to each other. This is done so that the passing train is clearly visible to the road passengers, thus avoiding accidents.

18. Which of the following is the most important strategic reason for the construction of a new railway line?
a) For creating jobs
b) Because of absence of a railway line
c) To increase tourists
d) To make movement of defence forces easier in case of emergency
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: In case of natural calamities like flood, earthquake or during threat of war, presence of a railway line is very important. It ensures fast movement of defence forces and relief material to the area.

19. In which of the following are rail lubricators used?
a) On cast iron sleepers
b) On narrow gauges
c) On steep rails
d) On sharp curves
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Lateral wear at sharp curves is very high. Rail lubricators are used to lubricate the gauge face on the outer rail on sharp curves to reduce friction which subsequently reduces wear and tear.
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20. Which of the following is not true about the CST-9 sleepers?
a) Very less lateral stability
b) Needs more attention
c) Limited strength to hold LWRs
d) Not suitable for mechanical maintenance with tie hammers
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The CST-9 sleepers provide considerably good stability. But requires constant attention.

21. Which of the following ballast is used at points and crossings?
a) 40mm
b) 50mm
c) 72mm
d) 25mm
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: At points and crossings small sized ballast is used because of its fineness for slight adjustments. Thus 25mm (1”) ballast is used.

22. Which of the following is not a cotter used on Indian Railways?
a) Empty end split cotter
b) Solid end split cotter
c) Centre split cotter
d) Side split cotter
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Cotters are used for fixing tie bars to CI sleepers. They are classified based on their methods of splitting. The four types of cotters used on Indian railways are; Centre split, Side split, Solid end split and Bent plate split cotter.

23. Which of the following is an old method for track maintenance?
a) Beater packing
b) Mechanised maintenance
c) Directed track maintenance
d) Measured shovel packing
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Earlier manual maintenance of tracks by Beater packing was done. But after advancement in technology and increase in traffic modern methods are being used. These include measured shovel packing, mechanized maintenance, and directed track maintenance.

24. Which of the following method is used for the Tilting of rails?
a) Adzing the wooden sleepers or by providing canted bearing plates
b) Strain method
c) Providing canted bearing plates
d) Adzing the wooden sleepers
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Tilting of rails is necessary for reducing wear and tear in addition to the lateral stresses. For this Adzing the wooden sleepers or canted bearing plates can be used.

25. Which of the following type of fittings are used by Composite sleepers?
a) They do not require fittings
b) Rubber fastenings
c) Twice the strength of wooden sleepers
d) Similar to that of wooden sleepers
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Fastenings are required to hold the rail and the sleeper together. Composite sleepers show similarities with wooden sleepers. Thus they also have similar fittings.

26. Which of the following is not a requirement of a good ballast?
a) Rounded
b) Cheap
c) Tough
d) Wear resistant
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Ballast should not be rounded. It should generally be cubical having sharp edges. This is regarding the shear strength provided by the Ballast.

27. Which of the following is another name for Tongue rail?
a) Toe rail
b) Lead rail
c) Switch rail
d) Stock rail
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Tongue rail is a tapered and movable rail which is attached to a running at its thicker end. It is made up of high carbon or manganese steel to withstand wear and tear.

28. Which of the following can be used in case of Bridge joints?
a) Metal flat or Bridge plate
b) Extra sleepers
c) Metal flat
d) Bridge plate
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The sleepers on either side of a bridge joint are connected. For this purpose a metal flat or a corrugated plate also known as a Bridge plate is used. These joints are generally not used on Indian Railways.

29. Which is the formula for railexcess length which the inner rail gains over outer?
a) 4πG2
b) πG
c) 2πG
d) 4πG
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The excess length which the inner rail gains over outer rail for a length L of the curve is the difference in circumference of outer and inner rail. It is given by 2πG, where G is the dynamic gauge.

30. Which of the following is also known as another name of inner rail?
a) Gradient rail
b) Cant rail
c) Fixed rail
d) Slope rail
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Inner rail is also known as Gradient rail. It is taken as reference rail while determining superelevation and is normally maintained at its original level.

31. Which of the following software cannot be used to design a railway track alignment?
a) Primavera
b) Ferrovia
c) Open Rail Designer
d) Trimble Quantm
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Primavera software is used for project planning and management. It cannot be used for design of rail track alignment. The Delhi Metro Rail Cooperation used the Open Rail Designer software to modify and finalize the design of its Phase 4 expansion project. Using the software, the designing team completed the alignment design of railway line within 3 months.


Chapterwise Multiple Choice Questions on Railway Engineering

Railway Engineering MCQ - Multiple Choice Questions and Answers

Our 1000+ MCQs focus on all topics of the Railway Engineering subject, covering 100+ topics. This will help you to prepare for exams, contests, online tests, quizzes, viva-voce, interviews, and certifications. You can practice these MCQs chapter by chapter starting from the 1st chapter or you can jump to any chapter of your choice.

  1. Railway Track Gauge
  2. Alignment of Railway Lines
  3. Railway Engineering Surveys and Construction of New Railway Lines
  4. Railway Track and Track Stresses
  5. Rails
  6. Railway Sleepers
  7. Ballast in Railway
  8. Subgrade and Formation
  9. Rack Fittings and Fastenings
  10. Creep of Rails & Geometric Design of Track
  11. Railway Curves and Superelevation
  12. Points and Crossings
  13. Rail Joint
  14. Railway Track Maintenance & Drainage

1. Railway Engineering MCQ on Railway Track Gauge

The section contains Railway Engineering multiple choice questions and answers on world railways gauges, indian railways gauges, gauge choice, indian railways unigauge policy, loading and construction gauges.

  • Gauges on World Railways
  • Different Gauges on Indian Railways
  • Choice of Gauge on Railways
  • Problems Caused by Change of Gauge on Railways
  • Unigauge Policy of Indian Railways
  • Loading Gauge
  • 2. Railway Engineering Multiple Choice Questions on Alignment of Railway Lines

    The section contains Railway Engineering questions and answers on good alignment importance and selection, ideal alignment basic requirements, mountain and rack railways.

  • Importance of Good Alignment
  • Basic Requirements of an Ideal Alignment
  • Selection of a Good Alignment
  • Mountain Railways
  • Rack Railways
  • 3. Railway Engineering MCQ on Engineering Surveys and Construction of New Railway Lines

    The section contains Railway Engineering MCQs on new railway line construction, preliminary investigations for a new railway line, traffic survey, reconnaissance and preliminary survey, final location survey and terrain modern surveying techniques.

  • Need for Construction of a New Railway Line
  • Preliminary Investigations for a New Railway Line and Types of Surveys
  • Traffic Survey
  • Reconnaissance Survey in Civil Engineering
  • Preliminary Survey in Civil Engineering
  • Final Location Survey
  • Modern Surveying Techniques for Difficult Terrain
  • Construction of New Railway Lines – 1
  • Construction of New Railway Lines – 2
  • 4. Railway Engineering MCQ on Track and Track Stresses

    The section contains Railway Engineering multiple choice questions and answers on good track requirements, permanent way maintenance, elastic structure track, track forces, wheels coning and rails tilting.

  • Requirements of a Good Railway Track
  • Maintenance of Permanent Way
  • Railway Track as an Elastic Structure
  • Forces Acting on the Railway Track
  • Coning of Wheels
  • Tilting of Rails
  • 5. Railway Engineering MCQ on Rails

    The section contains Railway Engineering questions and answers on rails function and types, ideal rail section requirements, rail manufacture, rail wear, rails defects, rail failure and rail flaw detection.

  • Function and Types of Rails
  • Requirements for an Ideal Rail Section
  • Rail Manufacture
  • Rail Wear
  • Other Defects in Rails
  • Rail Failure
  • Rail Flaw Detection
  • 6. Railway Engineering MCQ on Sleepers

    The section contains Railway Engineering MCQs on sleepers functions and requirements, sleepers density and spacing, sleepers types, wooden sleepers, steel channel and trough sleepers, cast iron and concrete sleepers.

  • Functions and Requirements of Sleepers
  • Sleeper Density and Spacing of Sleepers
  • Sleepers Types
  • Wooden Sleepers -1
  • Wooden Sleepers -2
  • Steel Channel Sleepers
  • Steel Trough Sleeper
  • Cast Iron Sleepers
  • Concrete Sleepers
  • 7. Railway Engineering MCQ on Ballast

    The section contains Railway Engineering multiple choice questions and answers on ballast functions and sizes, ballast types, good ballast requirements, ballast section design, track ballast collection, transportation and specifications, measurement methods and laboratory tests for ballast properties.

  • Functions and sizes of Ballast
  • Ballast Types
  • Requirements of a Good Ballast and Design of Ballast Section
  • Collection, Transportation and Specifications for Track Ballast
  • Methods of Measurement
  • Laboratory Tests for Physical Properties of Ballast
  • 8. Railway Engineering MCQ on Subgrade and Formation

    The section contains Railway Engineering questions and answers on formation slopes, earthwork execution in embankments and cuttings, blanket and blanketing material, railway embankment failures and site investigations.

  • Slopes of Formation
  • Execution of Earthwork in Embankments and Cuttings
  • Blanket and Blanketing Material
  • Failure of Railway Embankment
  • Site Investigations
  • 9. Railway Engineering MCQ on Rack Fittings and Fastenings

    The section contains Railway Engineering MCQs on rail-rail fastenings, wooden sleepers fittings, steel trough and ci sleepers fittings, elastic fastenings, fastenings testing, other fittings and fastenings.

  • Rail-to-Rail Fastenings
  • Fittings for Wooden Sleepers
  • Fittings of Steel Trough and CI Sleepers
  • Elastic Fastenings
  • Other Fittings and Fastenings
  • Testing of Fastenings
  • 10. Railway Engineering MCQ on Creep of Rails & Geometric Design of Track

    The section contains Railway Engineering multiple choice questions and answers on creep development and causes, creep effects and measurements, creep adjuster, creep reduction measures, curves gradients and grade compensation.

  • Theories for the Development and Causes of Creep
  • Effects and Measurement of Creep
  • Adjustment of Creep and Creep Adjuster
  • Measures to Reduce Creep
  • Gradients and Grade Compensation on Curves
  • 11. Railway Engineering MCQ on Curves and Superelevation

    The section contains Railway Engineering questions and answers on circular curves, superelevation, curves safe speed, transition curves, compound and reverse curves, extra clearance curves, vertical curves, curves realignment, curves cutting and gauge widening.

  • Circular Curves
  • Superelevation
  • Safe Speed on Curves and Transition Curves
  • Compound Curve and Reverse Curve
  • Extra Clearance on Curves
  • Vertical Curves and Realignment of Curves
  • Cutting and Check Rails on Curves
  • 12. Railway Engineering MCQ on Points and Crossings

    The section contains Railway Engineering MCQs on points and crossings important terms, tongue rails switches and design, crossing, worn out crossings, indian railways turnouts and trends, turnout layout, points and crossings inspection and maintenance.

  • Points and Crossings Important Terms
  • Switches and Design of Tongue Rails
  • Crossing
  • Number, Angle of Crossing and Reconditioning of Worn Out Crossings
  • Turnouts and Trends in Turnout Design on Indian Railways
  • Inspection and Maintenance of Points and Crossings
  • 13. Railway Engineering Multiple Choice Questions on Rail Joint

    The section contains Railway Engineering multiple choice questions and answers on rail joint ill effect, ideal rail joint requirements, rail joint types and welding.

  • Ill Effect of Rail Joint and Requirement of Ideal Rail Joint
  • Types of Rail Joint
  • Welding of Rail Joint
  • 14. Railway Engineering MCQ on Track Maintenance & Drainage

    The section contains Railway Engineering questions and answers on track maintenance advantages and essentials, rail surface and track maintenance, drainage needs and requirements.

  • Advantage & Essentials of Track Maintenance
  • Maintenance of Rail Surface
  • If you would like to learn "Railway Engineering" thoroughly, you should attempt to work on the complete set of 1000+ MCQs - multiple choice questions and answers mentioned above. It will immensely help anyone trying to crack an exam or an interview.

    Wish you the best in your endeavor to learn and master Railway Engineering!

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