MARSHALLING YARD Meaning and
Definition
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A marshalling yard, also referred to as a classification yard or a sorting yard, is a crucial component of a railway system that serves as a hub for the organization, sorting, and assembly of freight trains. It is an expansive facility, featuring an extensive network of tracks and switches, where incoming trains are disassembled, and their individual cars are rearranged and regrouped according to their destinations and the specific requirements of the outbound trains.
The primary purpose of a marshalling yard is to manage the efficient movement and distribution of freight by combining individual railcars into cohesive trains that will travel together towards their respective destinations. This process involves coordinating the movement of trains, redirecting cars to appropriate tracks, and combining cars with similar destinations or characteristics. Additionally, cars may be added or removed to accommodate varying load requirements.
Marshalling yards generally have specialized equipment, including hump yards or flat-switching yards, to facilitate the sorting process. Hump yards use the force of gravity to roll cars along a hump and into different tracks, while flat-switching yards employ switch engines to manually move cars to the appropriate tracks.
Overall, marshalling yards are essential for optimizing the efficiency of freight transport by ensuring that trains are composed in a logical and orderly manner, thereby streamlining the processes of loading and unloading cargo and providing logistical benefits to the railroad industry.
Common Misspellings for MARSHALLING YARD
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Etymology of MARSHALLING YARD
The word "marshalling yard" is derived from the word "marshal", which in turn has its roots in Old French as "mareschal". The term initially referred to a high-ranking officer in charge of military logistics and the maintenance of horses. Over time, the meaning of "marshal" expanded to include various roles, including a person in charge of organizing and overseeing the movement of trains and railway operations. In the context of railway transportation, a "marshalling yard" is a large area where trains are sorted, assembled, and prepared for departure. Hence, the term "marshalling yard" refers to the function of marshaling or organizing trains within a designated area.
