Question

In which industry is sal wood used mostly?
 A. Railway sleepers
 B. Matches
 C. Paper
 D. None of these

Answer 1

Hint: Sal wood is one of the hardwood timbers also it comes from very tough and coarse grain. Sal wood is ideal for furniture as it is highly durable and strong. Sal is the most important timber tree and the timbers are of two types:
I. White meranti
II. red meranti.

Complete answer:
The botanical name of sal is Shorea robusta Gaertn. Sal wood ranks second as compared to teak and is widely used for Railway sleepers and for construction works.
Sal wood is also used for furniture, shipbuilding, and musical instruments. Leaves of sal trees are used for making Bidis. Sal tree has its own importance; it is used as an astringent in Ayurvedic medicines. Sal fruit and seeds are an important source of vegetable fat.

Why are railway sleepers made up of sal wood?
The sal wood has the features of weight, light, simple in making, and is easy to lay, easy maintenance, and transportable, and also inside of the wood can be protected for about 60 years and that of the outside for about 30 years.

Wooden sleeper advantages:
I. High load carrying capacity
II. Can meet the basic needs of railway sleepers better than others.
III. Wood is easier to get.
IV. Also it is light, easy to maintain

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note: Oak sleepers last longest as it is highly resistant to decay and can last up to forty years without being treated. Sal is one of the most important hardwood timber but it becomes dark brown with exposure. It is highly durable but not well suited for polishing and planning.