trackbed
Where tracks rest
The trackbed is the foundation on which railroad tracks rest—the prepared surface of compacted earth, gravel, or ballast that supports the ties and rails.
When rail lines are abandoned, the trackbed often remains as a corridor, frequently converted to hiking or cycling trails: The old trackbed now serves as a greenway through town.
Soil layer supporting pavement
- formationCreation or arrangement
- ballastShip stability material
- aggregateCombined sum total
- gravelLoose small rock fragments
sleepers · ties · crosstie · rails · drainage · geotextile · compaction · tamping
Act of unearthing
- gradingAssigning marks to work
- earthworkConstructed soil structure
- embankmentRaised earth structure
- cuttingDividing via sharp edge
surveying · compaction · leveling · drainage · geotechnical · engineering · alignment · formation
Ship stability material
- graniteIgneous rock, quartz-rich
- limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
- aggregateCombined sum total
- gravelLoose small rock fragments
slag · geotextile · concrete · timber · steel · basalt · sandstone
Tunnel for water passage
- bridgeStructure spanning an obstacle
- viaductArched span crossing valleys
- tunnelEnclosed underground route
- overpassBridge spanning a road
underpass · embankment · cutting · signals · switching · junction · siding · terminus
Left behind completely
- disusedNo longer in operation
- conversionAct of changing states
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
- right-of-wayLegal passage entitlement
greenway · corridor · remnant · overgrown · reclaimed · cycleway
subgrade
Soil layer supporting pavement
gravel · sleepers · ties · crosstie · rails · drainage · geotextile · compaction · tamping · layering
excavation
Act of unearthing
- gradingAssigning marks to work
- earthworkConstructed soil structure
- embankmentRaised earth structure
cutting · surveying · compaction · leveling · drainage · geotechnical · engineering · alignment · formation · subgrade
ballast
Ship stability material
gravel · slag · geotextile · concrete · timber · steel · basalt · sandstone
culvert
Tunnel for water passage
- bridgeStructure spanning an obstacle
- viaductArched span crossing valleys
- tunnelEnclosed underground route
overpass · underpass · embankment · cutting · signals · switching · junction · siding · terminus
abandoned
Left behind completely
- disusedNo longer in operation
- conversionAct of changing states
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
right-of-way · greenway · corridor · remnant · overgrown · reclaimed · cycleway
- railway tracksrails, steel rails, railbed, ballast, crushed stone
- roadbedroadbed, railbed, subgrade, subbase, base course
- railwaystrains, train, locomotives, locomotive, rails