1. India’s first passenger train from BoriBunder (Mumbai) to Thane was run on which gauge?
a) Standard gauge
b) Broad gauge
c) Narrow gauge
d) Metre gauge
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.
2. Broad gauge line covers ____ % of total track length in India.
a) More than 90%
b) 85 to 90%
c) 80 to 85%
d) Less than 80%
Explanation: Broad gauge is the most predominant gauge used in India. It covers a length of approximately 92% of the total rail route in India. The Indian Railways has decided to convert all the existing lines to broad gauge as part of “Project Unigauge”.
3. Which of the following railways has narrow gauge and is still operational?
a) Assam Bengal Railway
b) Satpura Railway
c) Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
d) Bikaner State Railway
Explanation: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway runs on narrow gauge and is still operational. It has been declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Satpura Railway, Assam Bengal Railway and Bikaner State railway have been recently converted from narrow gauge to broad gauge.
4. The Indian railways have decided to convert all metre gauge lines to broad gauge. However, few of them will not be converted as they would help in promoting tourism in the country
a) true
b) false
Explanation: True. In 2017, the Indian Railways took a decision to convert all the metre gauge lines to broad gauge. However in 2018, a meeting was held and it was decided to preserve five metre gauge lines so as to attract more tourists.
5. Recently, India launched its first engineless semi-high speed train running on broad gauge. What was the name of the train?
a) Train 16
b) Train 17
c) Train 18
d) Train 19
Explanation: Train 18 also known as “Vande Bharat Express” is India’s first engineless and semi-high speed train. It runs on broad gauge line and has speed of approximately 180 km/hour. It has been named as Train 18 as it took nearly 18 months for its completion.
6. On whose recommendation the broad gauge was introduced in India
a) Mountbatten recommendation
b) Warren Hastings recommendation
c) W. Simms recommendation
d) Dalhousie recommendation
Explanation: The East India Company wanted to introduce Standard gauge of size 1435 mm in India. But, W. Simms who was the consulting engineer to the Government of India challenged this proposal and recommended a wider gauge of 1676 mm.
7. Which of the following is not a factor influencing the choice of gauge?
a) Cost of construction
b) Volume of traffic
c) Topography of the area
d) Weather conditions
Explanation: The factors affecting the choice of gauge in a particular area are: Cost of construction; Volume of traffic; Topography and geographical features; Future development prospects in that area and speed required. Weather in particular does not affect the choice of gauge.
8. Which of the following is recommended while choosing a gauge in a particular country?
a) Providing a uniform gauge throughout the country
b) Providing two types of gauge in a country
c) Providing three types of gauge in a country
d) Providing more than three types of gauge in a country
Explanation: A uniform gauge (i.e. only one type of gauge) should be provided throughout the country. This would enable smooth and efficient operation of the trains. Providing different gauges within the same country would cause connectivity problems.
9. How is speed of the train related to the gauge distance provided?
a) Directly proportional
b) Inversely proportional
c) Not related to the gauge distance provided
d) Varies according to the topography of the place
Explanation: A wider gauge has more capacity to withstand higher speed than a narrow gauge. Therefore, more the gauge distance more is the speed of the train.
10. A narrow gauge can carry more traffic as compared to the broad gauge.
a) true
b) false
Explanation: False. A broad gauge can handle more traffic as it can carry larger wagons and coaches. Therefore, if traffic intensity increases in the narrow gauge then it needs to be converted to a wider gauge.