Rail tracks

Rail tracks are like roads for trains to travel on. Just like we have two lanes for cars to use, tracks are also made with two parallel (side-by-side) strips of metal called rails. These rails are long and thin and have a lot of tiny bumps and grooves on the top of them to help the train’s wheels grip onto them.

Tracks are made by laying these parallel rails onto track-beds, which are like foundations to keep the tracks from sinking into the ground. These track-beds can be made of different materials like cement or gravel. The rails are closely fixed onto the track-beds with ties, which look like rectangular blocks under the rails, almost like tiny concrete pillows that keep the rails at the right height and distance apart.

Trains move on these tracks by something called ‘contact’. The wheels of the train have lots of little edges that grip onto the bumps on the rail, making the train ‘stick’ to the tracks. This makes it easier for the train to move and go faster without slipping or falling off the tracks.

Trains and tracks are designed to work together. The width of the tracks and the wheels of the train are exactly measured to fit together precisely, so that the train can move safely and smoothly. Tracks also have signals which tell the train when to stop or slow down and which also guide it towards the right direction.

That’s pretty much all there is to know about rail tracks. It's like a special road that trains can use to travel safely and reach their destination without any traffic lights or traffic jams!