Abbreviations and Glossary of TermsB Comrails Logo


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A

Air Brake
This is the most common type of train brake. It was used on both the South Australian and Commonwealth Railways.
Air Suspension
The bogie of a vehicle is fitted with rubber air cushions or bags. Compressed air is fed into the bags under the control of a valve to ensure the correct pressure is maintained.
A.L.A.R.C
See Australian Locomotive and Railway Carriage Company.
Alice, The
Inaugrated on 21 November 1983, The Alice was promoted as an all first class journey between Sydney and Alice Springs. No economy seating was provided on the train. Poor patronage lead to the service being terminated on 2 November 1987
A.N.
See Australian National.
A.N.R.C.
See Australian National Railway Commission.
A.R.H.S. (SteamRanger)
Australian Railway Historical Society. In South Australia they operate train services under the name SteamRanger.
A.R.T.C.
See Australian Rail Track Corporation.
Articulated Vehicle
Two adjacent railway vehicles are mounted on one bogie. It has the benefit of reducing the number of bogies required for a train and hence the weight and maintenance requirements.
A.S.R.
See Australia Southern Railway.
Australian Locomotive & Railway Carriage Company (Murraylander)
The Australian Loco & Railway Carriage Company was formed in 1999 by Steve Moritz, Bob Butrims and Bruce Roberts to take over the operational assests of the Murraylander. A joint veture company was formed on a 50/50 basis by Aust Locomotive & Railway Carriage Co. and the Victorian Railway Co (trading as West Coast Railway) to operate the Murraylander and various other charters. They are also a rollingstock provider specialising in the hire of power vans, crew cars and passenger carriages for use on the standard gauge systems.
Australian National (A.N.)
This was the operating business name of the "Australian National Railway Commission", which was owned by the Commonwealth of Australia.
Australian National Railway Commission (A.N.R.C.)
This railway organisation was owned by the Commonwealth of Australia. Its operations extended from Kalgoorlie to Alice Springs and to the boarders with Victoria and New South Wales, as well as all railways in the state of Tasmania. It was formed in 1975 from the former Commonwealth, South Australian (non-suburban) and Tasmanian railways. It traded under the name Australian National.

Australian National Railways took over the operation of the country passenger and goods services in South Australia as from 1st March 1978. In 1997 the freight business was sold to Australia Southern Railroad and the passeger business to Great Southern Railroad.


Australian Rail Track Corporation (A.R.T.C.)
The interstate rail corridors operated by Australian National were transferred to the Australian Rail Track Corporation as part of the 1997 sale. The Australian Rail Track Corporation, which is owned by the Commonwealth of Australia, commenced full operation on 1 July 1998.

Since formation it has negotiated various agreements gaining it access to the main rail corridors from Perth to Brisbane.


A.S.R. logoAustralia Southern Railroad (A.S.R.)
The freight business of Australian National was sold to the Australia Southern Railroad, a consortium consisting of Genesee and Wyoming Inc, and Clyde Engineering and Transfield, on 28 August 1997. They took over operation from 8 November 1997.
Axle
The circular shaft connecting two wheels.
Axlebox
The axlebox attaches the axle end to the bogie frame. The axle rotates within the axlebox allowing the wheel to turn.
Axle Load
The weight that is applied by one axle, on a carriage or engine, to the track. Generally axle load refers to the maximum weight permitted on a single axle.

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