| Home | TRAIN WORLD TRACK FACTS THE RAIL Trains run on a set of steel rails fastened to crosswise underneath. This holds the tracks together and keeps the rails an equal distance apart. In the United States, ties are usually made of wood cushion the rails. The rails are joined end to end by pieces of steel called fishplates. The fishplates cause the click-clack sound that is heard when the train wheels run along the rails. Today rails are often welded together to make it a smother, safer ride. THE FLANGE WHEEL OF FORTUNE Trains roll along on a special kind of wheel called the flange wheel. The flange is a rim on the edge of the wheel, guiding the locomotive or car along the track. Because of the flange, trains don’t have to be steered like cars, trucks or ships. THE COUPLE Cars on early trains were held together by chains. When the trains stopped, each car crashed into the one front of it. The invention of the automatic coupler put an end to this problem. If you have any questions or comments, please E-Mail the Webmaster |