ABSTRACT
This chapter considers railroad transportation for less developed countries where traffic exceeds 500,000 tons annually because the unit cost per ton-mile is less than that for alternative modes of transport. In building a railroad in a less developed region, it is probable that the type of ballast material most readily available would be crushed rock or gravel. Some gravel ballast that contains a high percentage of sand and hard parties that do not wear or disintegrate gives very satisfactory track performance. The builders of the rail system will be in position to study the type of equipment needed for the particular traffic that will be handled. Three study groups should be set up to handle the following categories: track and fixed structures, locomotives, freight and passenger cars, and shops and special equipment. The car should be provided with ventilation facilities to permit the handling of such commodities as citrus and potatoes without use of refrigeration.
