Английский язык. Part 1. Freight Cars: учебно-методическое пособие

80 Pages·2012·1.87 MB·Russian

by  Жесткова М. В.

Министерство транспорта Российской Федерации
Федеральное агентство железнодорожного транспорта

ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОЕ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЕ БЮДЖЕТНОЕ ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНОЕ УЧРЕЖДЕНИЕ
ВЫСШЕГО ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОГО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ
САМАРСКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ ПУТЕЙ СООБЩЕНИЯ

М.В. Жесткова

АНГЛИЙСКИЙ Я З Ы К
Учебно-методическое пособие

Part 1
Freight Cars

Самара
2012

1
УДК 811.111
ББК 81.2 Англ.
Ж 64

Рецензенты:
кандидат технических наук, профессор кафедры «Вагоны»
Самарского государственного университета путей сообщения
Т.В. Лисевич;

кандидат филологических наук, доцент кафедры «Иностранные языки»
Самарского государственного университета путей сообщения
С.Я. Никитина

Жесткова M.В.
Ж 64 Английский язык : учебно-методическое пособие. Part 1. Freight Cars /
М.В. Жесткова. – Самара : СамГУПС, 2012. – 80 с.

Включает 8 уроков и словарь технических терминов. Каждый урок состоит из
основного текста для аналитического чтения и ряда лексико-грамматических упражнений.
Упражнения направлены на усвоение и закрепление терминологической лексики, на
обучение технике чтения и перевода профессионально-ориентированной литературы. Все
тексты заимствованы из аутентичных источников и объединены единой тематической
линией – конструкция грузовых вагонов и их эксплуатация.
Учебно-методическое пособие предназначено для студентов 2 курса специальности
«Вагоны» дневной формы обучения.
УДК 811.111
ББК 81.2 Англ.

© СамГУПС, 2012
© Жесткова М.В., 2012

План 2012 г.

Учебное издание

Жесткова Марина Владимировна
АНГЛИ ЙСКИ Й Я З Ы К
Учебно-методическое пособие

Part 1
Freight Cars

Подписано в печать 25.06.2012. Формат 60×90 1/ .
16
Усл. печ. л. 5,0. Тираж 100 экз. Заказ 189.

Издательство СамГУПС.
443022, Самара, Заводское шоссе, 18.
Тел.: [phone].

Отпечатано в Самарском государственном университете путей сообщения.
443022, Самара, Заводское шоссе, 18.
Тел.: [phone].
2
CONTENTS

UNIT 1 FREIGHT CAR HISTORY ..................................................................... 4
UNIT 2 BOXCAR ......................................................................................................... 13
UNIT 3 GONDOLA ..................................................................................................... 21
UNIT 4 FLATCAR ...................................................................................................... 28
UNIT 5 TANK CAR .................................................................................................... 37
UNIT 6 HOPPER CAR ............................................................................................. 46
UNIT 7 REFRIGERATOR CAR .......................................................................... 55
UNIT 8 RACK CAR ...................................................................................................... 65
ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................................ 77
GLOSSARY .......................................................................................................................... 77
VOCABULARY ..................................................................................................................... 78

3
UNIT 1
FREIGHT CAR HISTORY

Ex. 1. Practice the reading of these words:
air, accident, among, to apply, approximately, automatically, autorack, capacity,
company, coupler, course, cushion, demand, direction, to distribute, height, to mention,
modified, patented, to precede, preferred, private, purpose, quarry, refrigerator, reliable,
rigidly, service, smooth, specialized, specific, ton, version, whistle, to wonder.

Ex. 2. (A) To refresh your memory, translate the following words into Russian:
actually, to allow, to appear, to arrive, to damage, destination, to develop, development,
entire, to equip with, to invent, to operate, to provide, several, various.

(B) Translate the sentences into English.
1. Турецкие государственные железные дороги Turkish State Railways) – это
(
корпорация, играющая важную роль в развитии турецкой экономики.
2. Современные поезда оборудуют спутниковой (satellite) системой навигации.
3. В России первый паровой двигатель был изобретен И.И. Ползуновым.
4. Грузовые вагоны используется для перевозки различных типов грузов.
5. После реконструкции ж.д. линии поезда будут ходить со (at) скоростью 210 км/ч.
6. Поезд из Лондона, прибывающий на станцию, будет стоять почти 20 минут.
7. Первые спальные вагоны появились на железных дорогах США в 1857 году.
8. В поездах дальнего следования пассажирам за дополнительную плату (at extra cost)
предоставляются постельные принадлежности (bedding) и горячее питание.
9. Общая длина грузового поезда в составе из 682 вагонов для железной руды (iron
ore) и 8 тепловозов – 7353 м.
10. Высокоскоростные поезда позволяют пассажирам добираться до (to get to) места
назначения гораздо (much) быстрее.
11. Груз на самом деле был поврежден во время перевозки (in transit) и ж.д. компании
пришлось покрыть убытки (loss) грузоотправителя (shipper).

Ex. 3. These are the words and phrases to be memorized.

1. to advance – развиваться, совершенствоваться, продвигаться вперед
advance – прогресс, усовершенствование, шаг вперед
2. all-steel car – цельнометаллический вагон
3. amount, quantity, number – количество
4. to attach – прикреплять, присоединять
5. axle – ось
axleload(ing) – нагрузка от оси на рельсы, осевая нагрузка
axle load – нагрузка на ось
6. body, carbody – кузов (вагона)
7. brake – тормоз
air brake – пневматический тормоз, воздушный тормоз
to apply the brake – привести в действие тормоз
8. bulk freight – навалочный (насыпной, бестарный) груз
9. capacity – вместимость, грузоподъемность, пропускная способность
load(ing) capacity, payload capacity, carrying capacity – грузоподъемность
10. considerable – значительный

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11. to couple – сцеплять
coupler, automatic coupling device – сцепка, автосцепное устройство
12. direction – направление
13. to distribute the weight / the load – распределять нагрузку
14. evenly – равномерно
15. frame, underframe – рама (вагона)
16. general service car, general-purpose car – универсальный вагон
17. to introduce – внедрять, вводить в эксплуатацию
introduction – внедрение, ввод
18. leak, leaking – утечка, протечка
19. to mount – устанавливать, монтировать, закреплять
20. reliable – надежный
21. to replace – заменять
replacement – замена
22. to retire – снять с эксплуатации, списать
23. rolling stock – подвижной состав
24. safe – безопасный
safety – безопасность, сохранность
safely – благополучно, безопасно, в сохранности
25. similar to – подобный, похожий
26. specialized car, special-purpose car – специализированный вагон
27. specific – определенный, конкретный
28. stability – устойчивость
29. strong – прочный, крепкий
30. tare weight – тара вагона, собственная масса вагона
31. truck, bogie – тележка (вагона)
swivel truck – поворотная тележка
32. variety, version – разновидность, вариант, модификация

33. whistle – гудок

Ex. 4. As you may know, the English terminological vocabulary is rich in synonyms.
Thus, for example:
(cid:57) вагон → car ∗ carriage ∗ coach ∗ wagon ∗ van ∗ vehicle;
(cid:57) груз → freight ∗ goods ∗ load ∗ cargo ∗ commodity ∗ lading * shipment;
(cid:57) перевозить → to carry ∗ to transport ∗ to haul ∗ to ship ∗ to move;
(cid:57) средство транспорта → mode of transport ∗ means of transport ∗ form of transport ∗
kind of transport.

Ex. 5. Read the sentences and translate them. Pay attention to the highlighted words.

1. The weight of bulk commodities that can be carried in a single car has been increased
by advances in truck design.
2. The Federal Railroad Administration has set a 50-year service life standard for railroad
freight cars before they must be retired.
3. Many lines in Europe are limited to an axle load of 22.5 tonnes, whereas in the U.S.
some heavy-haul lines allow axle loads of up to 35 tons.
4. The problem of safety in railway transportation becomes especially important because of
ever-increasing speeds.
5
5. Boxcars are divided into two broad categories: general service type and cars built for a
specific freight or service.
6. The challenging project of refurbishing rolling stock will require a large amount of time
and money.
7. In 1887, a coupler designed by Eli. Janney was adopted as the standard by all car builders.
8. All tank cars undergo periodic inspection for damage and corrosion to prevent leaking of
dangerous materials in transit.
9. When shipping heavy goods, special care must be taken to distribute the weight evenly
over the floor of the carbody.
10. When container cars were first introduced, it was thought that they would be used only
for carrying valuable goods and machinery.
11. Automatic air brake is s braking system, which draws air from the atmosphere and stores
it under pressure. A reduction of pressure in brake pipe automatically applies the brakes.
12. Trying to maximize payload capacity without increasing tare weight, railroads put into
use articulated cars. This car comprises several frames or bodies (usually not more than
five), which, where they adjoin, are mounted on a single truck.

Ex. 6. Mind the difference between British English and American English.

American English British English
грузовой вагон freight car goods wagon / van
крытый вагон boxcar covered wagon
полувагон gondola / gondola car open-top wagon
вагон-платформа flatcar flat wagon
вагон-цистерна tank car tank wagon
вагон-хоппер hopper car hopper wagon
вагон-самосвал / думпкар dump car dump wagon
вагон-рефрижератор refrigerator car, reefer refrigerated van
изотермический вагон insulated car insulated wagon
вагон для перевозки автомобилей rack car, autorack auto carrier
вагон для перевозки скота stock car, livestock car cattle wagon
вагон-транспортер well car carrier wagon
вагон для перевозки полуприцепов spine car spine wagon

Ex. 7. Read the sentences, replacing Russian words with their English equivalents.
1. George Westinghouse (изобрел) a system of (воздушные тормоза) that made travel
(на) train (гораздо безопаснее).
2. In the U.S., a federal law (требующий) the installation of (автосцепка) on all
(подвижной состав) was passed in 1897.
3. (Самые тяжеловесные) trains (перевозят навалочные грузы такие как) iron ore and
coal. Loads (могут быть) 130 tons per car and tens of thousands of tons per train.
4. Modern North American (четырехосные вагоны для угля) typically have 100–110 tons'
(грузоподъемность) In Europe, where (рельсовый путь) is not designed for (осевая
нагрузка) as high as those accepted in North America, the (грузоподъемность) of
(подобный) four-axle cars is between 60 and 65 tons.
5. Wooden freight cars (были заменены) by (цельнометаллический) designs, which were
much (прочнее) and capable of hauling (более тяжеловесные) loads.
6
6. Although the Cork Run tunnel on the Pittsburgh Railroad can handle most freight trains
(идущих в противоположных направлениях) on the (двухпутная линия), many large
freight cars can not pass side-by-side.
7. (Пропускная способность ж.д. линии) is the maximum (количество) of trains that can
operate (безопасно) and (надежно) over a given (участок пути) during a given period
of time. For example, the Betuwe line (the Netherlands) has (пропускная способность)
for ten (тяжеловесный) freight trains per hour in each (направление), with a transit
time for the line of 90 min.
8. In 1998, German Railways (эксплуатировать) about 16,000 (четырехосные
полувагоны). Since the 1990s, this type of cars has been increasingly (снимать с
эксплуатации) and they are now rarely seen.

Ex. 8. Fill in the gaps with the words from the list. (Tip: there are two extra words.)
1. Freight cars weighing 70 to 80 tons have two four-wheel ___. a) advances
2. Additional carriages can be ___ to the train as needed. b) amount
3. If the paint is too thick, it will not spread ___. c) attached
4. Boxcars can be divided into two types: ___ and cars built for a ___ d) axle load
commodity or service. e) bulk cargo
5. Russia has a considerable ___ of freight cars having 4 two-axle trucks. f) considerably
6. A modern 36- or 45-ton boxcar ___ differs from the freight cars of g) coupled
the early 20th century, when the usual ___ was 9 or 14 tons. h) distributed
7. A train ___ is a signaling device on a locomotive used to warn that i) evenly
the train is approaching and to communicate with rail workers. j) frame
8. Cars in a train are ___ by couplers located at both ends of each car.
k) general service
9. ___ is commodity that is transported unpackaged in large quantities.
l) introduction
10. Prior to the ___ of air brakes, stopping a train was a difficult task.
m) loading capacity
11. There are about 100 ___ of special-purpose cars.
n) replace
12. In 1955, British railways began to ___ steam trains with diesel and
o) retired
electric ones. The last steam locomotive was ___ in 1968.
p) specific
13. ___ is the maximum weight allowed on a single axle.
q) stability
14. The payload capacity of freight cars has been considerably
r) trucks
increased by ___ in truck design.
s) varieties
15. A four-axle vehicle weighing 60 tons has an axle load of
t) whistle
approximately 15 tons depending on how the weight was ___.

Ex. 9. A) Translate the words from the box. If you fail to translate, look at the clues below.

almost although among as early as as well as both…and
during ever except instead of still

B) Fill in the gaps with the words from the box.
1. The use of special-purpose freight cars has ___ advantages ___ disadvantages.
2. All freight and passenger trains ___ extra trains run according to schedule.
3. Aluminum is increasingly used ___ steel for body design to reduce the car's tare weight.
4. The boxcar was slightly damaged ___ unloading in the port.
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5. ___ most tank cars are very similar in appearance, they are often customized for hauling
the specific goods.
6. The BNSF railway is ___ the top transporters of intermodal freight in North America and
is #1 in grain transportation ___ the Class I Railroads.
7. The railway remains the single land carrier that can carry ___ anything anywhere the
tracks go.
8. The automatic coupler isn't fully automatic; after coupling, a switchman ___ must climb
between the cars to connect the air hoses for the brakes.
9. Railroad cars were used ___ 1840 to rapidly transport fresh milk from farms to cities.
10. Have you ___ sat in your car at a railroad crossing, waiting for a freight train that never
seems to end pass by
.
11. Numerous tests ___ practical experience show that electric traction has many advantages
especially on lines with heavy traffic.

Ex. 10. Match the English phrases with their Russian equivalents.

A B
1. to attach rigidly a) на большие расстояния
2. brakeman b) вагон усовершенствованной конструкции
3. car of better design c) машинист
4. compressed air d) самые первые грузовые вагоны
5. locomotive engineer e) каменоломни и угольные шахты
6. over great distances f) частная компания
7. over the course of time g) сжатый воздух
8. private company h) закручивать колесо ручного тормоза
9. quarries and coal mines i) двухтележечный вагон
10. to remain in use j) большое количество разнообразных вагонов
11. the very first freight cars k) со временем
12. to turn brake wheel l) прикреплять жестко (неподвижно)
13. two-truck car m) оставаться в эксплуатации
14. a wide variety of cars n) тормозильщик

Ex. 11. Match the beginnings and ends of the sentences.

1. Interchanging cars between railroads a) an integral part of all freight trains.
required…
2. Early train brakes were hand brakes… b) only to work on passenger trains.

3. Efforts to standardize brakes were… c) if cars became separated.

4. In that year, George Westinghouse… d) after testing on the Chicago &
Burlington in Burlington, Iowa.
5. In 1871, he designed an air brake that e) developed his first air brake.
would immediately engage…
6. Westinghouse's air brakes were f) the standardization of brakes.
designed …
7. Air brakes for freight trains were g) unsuccessful until 1869.
adopted in 1887…
8. These air brakes, with improvements, h) operated by brakemen in each car.
have remained…
8
Ex. 12. Degrees of comparison. Use the adjectives from the box in the superlative form
and fill in the gaps with them.

big busy common early economical expensive
good heavy large new noticeable safe

1. Rail shipping is possibly ___ and ___ mode of transportation. Rail shipping is ___ for
shipping bulky and heavy goods over long distances.
2. According to Guinness World Records, ___ freight train on record weighed 220 million
pounds and was more than 4 1/2 miles long.
3. ___ mining railroad cars were pulled by men or horses, and it was until 1804 when the
first steam locomotive appeared in Wales.
4. Daqin Railway is ___ freight line in the world; it transports more than 1 million tons of
coal to the east sea shore of China every day.
5. Although the railroad is considered one of ___ forms of transport, there are many
possibilities for accidents to take place.
6. ___ high-speed lines allow speeds of up to 320 km/h in normal operation.
7. CNR Corp. (China) will deliver 260 40-ton-axle-load gondola cars to FMG, Australia's
third-largest iron ore miner. These gondolas are ___ railway freight cars in terms of
loading capacity.
8. Through the years, ___ change in tank cars was in size. The 100 barrel tank was ___ size
during the 1880s. Some of ___ tank cars seen on the tracks now can carry over 600 barrels.

Ex. 13. Degrees of comparison. Use the adjectives in brackets in the comparative form.
1. The new siding will allow (slow) freight trains to move off the main track and let (fast)
passenger trains pass.
2. As freight cars continue to advance, (good) designs will appear, making them of (high)
quality and able to haul (heavy) loads.

3. The problem of stopping long trains (quick), (smooth) and (safe) was solved in 1869
when air brake was invented by George Westinghouse.
4. (Strong) and (reliable) than wooden cars, steel boxcars quickly became popular on railroads.
5. Introducing steel cars made railways (efficient) as (powerful) locomotives pulled (long)
trains at (high) speed.
6. The new steel for railcars is lightweight and 50% (resistant) to corrosion compared with
existing variants.
7. Aluminum cars are (light), (durable), (expensive) than cars with steel bodies. They are
used in specific services such as hauling coal where the (high) loading capacity of
aluminum cars justifies the car's extra cost.
8. Most rail networks in the world operate on a 1,435 mm gauge track known as standard
gauge but some countries such as Russia, Finland and Spain use (broad) gauges while
many other countries in Africa and South America use (narrow) gauges on their networks.

Ex. 14. Equivalents of modal verbs. Choose the correct form.
1. Loads that (are able to / are to) be protected from weather are hauled in boxcars.
2. To apply the brakes on a boxcar, the brakeman (is to / had to) climb to the roof of the
moving train.
3. A 48-ft coal car weighing 27 tons (is able to / are allowed to) carry 77 tons of coal, but 50-
ft cars of similar construction weighting 34 tons (is to / are able to) carry 109 tons of coal.
4. In the US, rules prevent train crews from running longer than twelve hours. When the
twelve hours run out, the crew (is able to / has to) be replaced.
9
5. According to the traffic requirements, the railways (have to / was able to) change their
schedules two times a year.
6. The earliest reefers were ice-cooled and trains (were to / were allowed to) make stops
every 400 miles to load cars with ice.
7. On March 1, 1873, several cars of the Pittsburgh Express derailed inside the Cork Run
tunnel. Passengers (had to / was to) leave the train and walk through the tunnel by foot.
8. The damaged train (will have to / are able to) be shunted onto a side track.
9. On the pioneer railways of the US, accidents happened very often as the trains (weren't
able to / didn't have to) stop quickly due to the limited brake power.
10. Freight cars (has to / are allowed to) remain in service for 50 years after their manufacture.

Ex. 15. Read the text and translate it.
FREIGHT CAR HISTORY
As you have already known, there is a wide variety of freight cars used for transporting
various types of commodities, from standard boxcars, flatcars, gondolas and hopper cars to
more specialized autoracks, well-cars and spine cars. Have you ever wondered the history of
these railroad cars?
Well, believe it or not, railroad freight cars actually preceded railroads themselves. They
were used in quarries and coal mines as early as the 1820s. The very first freight cars were simple
planks mounted on two axles. Later, there appeared flatcars and covered gondolas (a shorter
version in height of a boxcar). These cars were used to carry almost all types of goods except
coal and other bulk loads, which used jimmies or cars similar to today’s open-top hoppers.
By the mid-19th century, railroads became the preferred means of transport in many
countries, as they could haul large amounts of freight over great distances and do it in any weather.
As demand grew, so did the need for1 more specialized car types and better design of them.
Special-purpose cars used for carrying specific type of load were already being introduced
by private companies in the 1850s. Among these were tank cars, stock cars and refrigerator cars.
Over the course of time, an increasing number of specialized cars were developed.
The design of freight cars, both general service and specialized, was modified in several
directions. In this connection, three main innovations should be mentioned: the addition of two
swivel trucks, the invention of automatic coupler and air brake as well as the use of steel
instead of wood in the construction of car bodies, frames and trucks.
Early railroad cars were four-wheeled vehicles of simple construction (tare weight was 6-
7 tons; loading capacity was 8-10 tons). As axles were attached rigidly to the frame, there were
no springs2 and freight was often damaged by the time it arrived at its destination. The two-
axle cars were very impractical when used to haul heavier and heavier loads.The two-truck car

with 8 wheels was invented in the 1830s by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. These four-axle
cars quickly became popular, as they were able to distribute weight more evenly, to carry
heavier loads and to provide better stability for the freight car.
Before 1872 when Westinghouse
developed a reliable air brake, stopping a
train was a very difficult and dangerous
job. Brake wheels located atop cars were
connected to a braking system by a long
metal rod. The brakemen, usually two to
a train, were to ride on top of the car. On
a whistle signal from the engineer, the
brakemen began turning a large brake
10