Final answer:
Contact rail jumpers are used in electrical railways to provide continuous electrical connections around obstacles in the conductor rail, ensuring uninterrupted power supply and operational efficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
Contact rail jumpers are used in the context of electrical engineering and are specifically implemented within electrical railways systems. These jumpers are essentially short electrical cables that provide a continuous electrical connection around obstacles or breaks in the conductor rail, also known as the third rail, which supplies power to trains.
Such breaks may occur at switch points, crossings, or sections that require maintenance. The contact rail jumpers ensure that power can still be transmitted without interruption.
When a section of the track is being serviced or when there are infrastructural elements that prevent the laying of a continuous third rail, contact rail jumpers are essential for maintaining a consistent power supply to the moving trains. Without these jumpers, there would be power outages that could lead to operational delays and safety issues. Thus, contact rail jumpers are a critical component in the integrity and efficiency of railroad electrification.