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A "hump" in rail traffic control refers to a raised track in a marshaling yard. Freight cars are pushed over this hump and then roll down a grade, using gravity to sort them. This process, known as "humping," allows cars to be directed over switching points to their designated berths for forming trains.1

Modern humping yards often employ automatic systems. Sensors detect the speed and weight of each car to estimate its rolling resistance. Once a car's destination is identified, automatic switches guide it along a predetermined path. Computers calculate the necessary speed for the car to reach the end of its assigned train, with automatic braking devices or boosters adjusting its speed as needed. This technology helps reduce delays in sorting freight cars.1

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