The Permanent Way reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004
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Permanent Way

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Permanent Way is a term used collectively to describe the track infrastructure of a railway, ie. the rails, sleepers, trackbed, bridges, water drainage, etc.

The Permanent Way Institution is a specialist society interested in the dissemination of Permanent Way knowledge and techniques amongst interested parties at all levels from the trackmen to the civil engineers. It was founded in 1884 and now has over 7500 members throughout the Commonwealth.

See also: Rolling stock