travers

head

travers (definite accusative traversi, plural traversler)

traversi (accusative definite)
traversler (plural)
travers (nominative singular)
traversler (nominative plural)
traversi (accusative definite singular)
traversleri (accusative definite plural)
traverse (dative singular)
traverslere (dative plural)
traverste (locative singular)
traverslerde (locative plural)
traversten (ablative singular)
traverslerden (ablative plural)
traversin (genitive singular)
traverslerin (genitive plural)
traversim (first-person nominative singular)
traverslerim (first-person nominative singular)
traversin (nominative second-person singular)
traverslerin (nominative second-person singular)
traversi (nominative singular third-person)
traversleri (nominative singular third-person)
traversimiz (first-person nominative plural)
traverslerimiz (first-person nominative plural)
traversiniz (nominative plural second-person)
traversleriniz (nominative plural second-person)
traversleri (nominative plural third-person)
traversimi (accusative definite first-person singular)
traverslerimi (accusative definite first-person singular)
traversini (accusative definite second-person singular)
traverslerini (accusative definite second-person singular)
traversini (accusative definite singular third-person)
traverslerini (accusative definite singular third-person)
traversimizi (accusative definite first-person plural)
traverslerimizi (accusative definite first-person plural)
traversinizi (accusative definite plural second-person)
traverslerinizi (accusative definite plural second-person)
traverslerini (accusative definite plural third-person)
traversime (dative first-person singular)
traverslerime (dative first-person singular)
traversine (dative second-person singular)
traverslerine (dative second-person singular)
traversine (dative singular third-person)
traverslerine (dative singular third-person)
traversimize (dative first-person plural)
traverslerimize (dative first-person plural)
traversinize (dative plural second-person)
traverslerinize (dative plural second-person)
traverslerine (dative plural third-person)
traversimde (first-person locative singular)
traverslerimde (first-person locative singular)
traversinde (locative second-person singular)
traverslerinde (locative second-person singular)
traversinde (locative singular third-person)
traverslerinde (locative singular third-person)
traversimizde (first-person locative plural)
traverslerimizde (first-person locative plural)
traversinizde (locative plural second-person)
traverslerinizde (locative plural second-person)
traverslerinde (locative plural third-person)
traversimden (ablative first-person singular)
traverslerimden (ablative first-person singular)
traversinden (ablative second-person singular)
traverslerinden (ablative second-person singular)
traversinden (ablative singular third-person)
traverslerinden (ablative singular third-person)
traversimizden (ablative first-person plural)
traverslerimizden (ablative first-person plural)
traversinizden (ablative plural second-person)
traverslerinizden (ablative plural second-person)
traverslerinden (ablative plural third-person)
traversimin (first-person genitive singular)
traverslerimin (first-person genitive singular)
traversinin (genitive second-person singular)
traverslerinin (genitive second-person singular)
traversinin (genitive singular third-person)
traverslerinin (genitive singular third-person)
traversimizin (first-person genitive plural)
traverslerimizin (first-person genitive plural)
traversinizin (genitive plural second-person)
traverslerinizin (genitive plural second-person)
traverslerinin (genitive plural third-person)

(rail transport) A sleeper for railroad tracks; a railroad tie.


HST

en-noun

HST (countable and uncountable, plural HSTs)

(UK, rail transport) Initialism of High Speed Train, a common name for the InterCity 125.


composite

Borrowed from Middle French composite, from Latin compositus, past participle of compōnō (“put together”). Doublet of compost, compote, and kompot.

The units are made up as either:
[...]
Trailer composite—4 first-class compartments—24 seats; and 3 second-class compartments—24 seats,
[...]
A total of 40 vehicles are to be built, Ten of each type of power car, ten trailer composites, five trailer seconds and five trailer second/buffets.

1963 April, “New Inter-City diesel multiple-units for W.R.”, in Modern Railways, page 266:

(rail transport, UK) A railway carriage with compartments for two different classes of travel; see Composite Corridor.


Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo Manufacturing Company
Kalamazoo, Michigan

After the Kalamazoo Manufacturing Company.

(rail transport, Australia) A pump trolley.


非常

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (非常):
* → Japanese: 非(ひ)常(じょう) (hijō)
* → Korean: 비상(非常) (bisang)
* → Vietnamese: phi thường (非常)

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²/

/fei̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ²¹/

/fi⁴⁴⁻³⁵ sɔŋ¹¹/

/hui⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ²⁴/

/hui⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ²³/

/hui⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ²⁴/

/hui⁴⁴⁻²² siaŋ¹³/

/hui³³⁻²³ sĩõ⁵⁵/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ²/

/fei̯⁵⁵ sœːŋ²¹/

/fi⁴⁴⁻³⁵ sɔŋ¹¹/

/hui⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ²⁴/

/hui⁴⁴⁻³³ siɔŋ²³/

/hui⁴⁴⁻²² siɔŋ²⁴/

/hui⁴⁴⁻²² siaŋ¹³/

/hui³³⁻²³ sĩõ⁵⁵/

非常制動

非常制动


longitudinal

/ˌlɒŋɡɪˈtjuːdɪnəl/

/ˌlɔŋɡɪˈt͡ʃʉwdɪnəl/

/ˌlɒŋd͡ʒəˈtudənəl/

/lɔŋɡəˈt͡ʃʉːdənəl/

/lɒŋɡəˈt͡ʃʉːdənəl/

From Middle English longitudinal, from Latin longitūdin-, oblique stem of longitūdō (“length, longitude”). By surface analysis, longitude + -in- + -al.

surf

(rail transport) A railway sleeper lying parallel with the rail.


SR

Southern Railway
w:Southern Railway (UK)

(UK, rail transport) Initialism of Southern Railway.


interlocking

There was still no attempt to arrange interlocking between points and signals; that came later. In 1856, John Saxby carried out the principle involved in interlocking—the prevention of signals and points being in conflicting positions—and erected apparatus to do that at this same junction.

1955 April, R. H. Warring, “Some Early Railway Signals”, in Railway Magazine, page 233:

In addition to the usual interlocking between conflicting signal and point levers achieved by electric locks, track circuits, when occupied, hold signals governing entry to the relevant line at danger; [...] The up main through inner home signal was held at danger by interlocking, because the track circuits of a conflicting route ahead of it were occupied by another train [...].

1961 March, “Talking of trains: Collision at Waterloo”, in Trains Illustrated, page 138:

(rail transport) An arrangement of signal apparatus that prevents conflicting movements through a set of intersecting tracks, such as junctions or crossings.


scissors crossover

en-noun

scissors crossover (plural scissors crossovers)

Here the line is joined by the Colne Valley branch, and both tracks are carried into Haverhill station upon a high embankment from which the town can be seen on the south side. The twin tracks, after traversing a scissors crossover, become the down and up roads through the station, which possesses an extensive goods yard.

1951 September, B. D. J. Walsh, “The Sudbury and Haverhill Line, Eastern Region”, in Railway Magazine, page 619:

Included in the new layout are four new scissors crossovers.

1962 October, “Talking of Trains: Liverpool Street layout remodelled”, in Modern Railways, page 222:

(rail transport) A superimposed pair of railway crossovers, resembling the letter X, permitting travel in either direction between a pair of parallel tracks.


chave

Guinea-Bissau Creole: tcabi

Macanese: chávi

→ Bengali: চাবি (cabi) (see there for further descendants)

→ Gujarati: ચાવી (cāvī)

→ Hindustani:

Hindi: चाभी (cābhī), चाबी (cābī)

desctree

Urdu: چابی (cābī), چابھی (cābhī)
→ Marwari: चाबी (cābī)
→ Nepali: चाबी (cābī)
→ Punjabi:
Gurmukhi script: ਚਾਬੀ (cābī)
Shahmukhi script: چابی (cābī)

→ Kannada: ಚಾವಿ (cāvi)

→ Konkani: चावी (cāvī)

→ Língua Geral Amazônica: xabi
Nheengatu: xawí

→ Malayalam: ചാവി (cāvi), ചാബി (cābi)

→ Marathi: चावी (cāvī)

→ Tamil: சாவி (cāvi)

→ Telugu: శావి (śāvi), చెవి (cevi)

→ Tulu: ಚಾವಿ (cāvi)

LL-Q5146 (por)-Nelson Ricardo 2500-chave.wav

From Old Galician-Portuguese chave (“key”), from Latin clāvis (“key”), from Proto-Italic *klāwis (“bolt, lock, bar”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kleh₂w- (“nail, pin, hook - instruments, of old use for locking doors”) (possibly through an Ancient Greek intermediate). Doublet of clave, a learned borrowing.
Cognate with Galician chave, Spanish llave, Catalan and Occitan clau, French clé, Italian chiave and Romanian cheie.

der

(rail transport) the mechanism that activates a switch


angle of attack

en-noun

angle of attack (plural angles of attack)

(rail transport) The angle between the plane of rotation of a wheel and the outer rail in the track curve.


hotbox

One of the ex-L. & Y.R. "pugs" displaced by diesels at Bank Hall, No. 51232, is going to Preston for employment on the dock lines there, but when en route on December 31 it ran out of water and also sustained a hot box, as a result of which it was detained at Bank Hall.

1961 March, “Motive Power Miscellany”, in Trains Illustrated, page 181:

In particular, hot boxes on freight trains are a persistent problem.

1963 July, “News and Comment: Roller bearings for freight stock”, in Modern Railways, page 6:

Experience with infrared hotbox detector installations has demonstrated the validity of the analysis.

1964, RSC, Railway Signaling and Communications - Volume 57, page 18:

(engineering) An overheated shaft bearing.

(rail transport) An overheated axle box, bearing and bearing enclosure.


CAB

(rail transport) The station code of Causeway Bay in Hong Kong.


CTC

(rail transport) Initialism of Centralized (or Centralised) Traffic Control.


permanent way

permanent (contrasted with the temporary way of a contractor) + way (as in railway)

Holonym: right of way

Meronyms: railbed, railroad track

The term "permanent way" arose to differentiate between the rough track laid by railway contractors for the constructional purposes of new lines, and the final ballasted track upon which the regular service of trains was to run. The former being purely temporary, qualification of "permanent" was applied to the latter.

1941 September, “The Why and the Wherefore: Temporary and Permanent Way”, in Railway Magazine, page 432:

Watt climbed the stone steps and stood before the wicket, looking through its bars. He admired the permanent way, stretching away on either hand, in the moonlight, and the starlight, as far as the eye could reach, as far as Watt's eye could have reached, if it had been inside the station.

1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, [Paris]: Olympia Press, →OCLC:

No. 320 finally drew into Paris one minute early, having run the 78.3 miles from Longueau in 65½min, inclusive of a permanent way slack and the usual tortoise-like progress from St. Denis.

1961 December, H. G. Ellison, P. G. Barlow, “Journey through France: Part Two”, in Trains Illustrated, page 749:

The paid permanent way staff prepare and refettle the track during the week and at weekends volunteer gangs of some 30/40 people are engaged on relaying — [...].

1979 August, Michael Harris, “A line for all reasons: the North Yorkshire Moors Railway”, in Railway World, page 412:

(rail transport, British, Australia) The track and ballast (bed) of a railway.


FOH

(rail transport) The station code of Fortress Hill in Hong Kong.


wissel

nl-noun

wissel m (plural wissels, diminutive wisseltje n)

wissels (plural)
wisseltje (diminutive neuter)

→ Indonesian: wesel

→ Peranakan Indonesian: wissel

From Middle Dutch wissel, from Old Dutch *wissel, from Proto-Germanic *wihslaz.

(rail transport) points; switch (in Flanders a "wissel" has the normal masculine grammatical gender, in the railroad sector in the Netherlands it is neutral)


crossover

en-noun

crossover (countable and uncountable, plural crossovers)

The passenger train was signalled from one of the west end bay platforms along the Down South Line; as it passed through a crossover to the Up South Line the freight train, which had been travelling slowly to the Up South Line, over-ran the signal protecting the crossover and came into sidelong collision with it.

1961 February, “Talking of Trains: Collision at Newcastle”, in Trains Illustrated, page 76:

Network Rail developed and delivered the new crossover in just ten months - "phenomenally quickly", Mands says - and the work is included in the £20m build cost.

2023 December 27, Richard Foster, “New rail freight terminal leads the way”, in RAIL, number 999, page 40:

(rail transport) A pair of switches and a short, diagonal length of track which together connect two parallel tracks and allow passage between them.


stationmaster

The glare, the flies, while they waited, and he and the stationmaster put their heads together over the time-table, trying to find this other train, which, of course, they wouldn't catch.

1920, Katherine Mansfield [pseudonym; Kathleen Mansfield Murry], “The Escape”, in Bliss and Other Stories, London: Constable & Company, published 1920, →OCLC, page 273:

The stationmaster was an important part of the local community. Anyon Kay, in his reminiscences of Horwich in the early 20th century, remembers a Mr Horsfield as stationmaster - "a gentlemanly character who took his job very seriously".

2023 March 8, Paul Salveson, “Fond farewells to two final trains...”, in RAIL, number 978, page 54:

(rail transport) The person in charge of a railroad station, usually an employee of a particular railroad by which the station is owned, but sometimes an employee of a separate corporation, such as one owning a station used by two or more railroads.

geltokiburu

the person in charge of a railroad station


conduttore

it-noun

conduttore m (plural conduttori, feminine conduttrice)

conduttori (plural)
conduttrice (feminine)


blind spot

blind spots (plural)
blindspot (alternative)

زاوِية مَيِّتة

part of the road/railway track/tramway track that cannot be seen

When he changed tracks, he sideswiped a railway worker that was in his blind spot.

(rail transport) The part of the railway/tramway track that cannot be seen in the side mirror or the side window.


through train

(rail transport) a train that travels a long distance without any stops


DM

en-noun

DM (countable and uncountable, plural DMs)

(rail transport, in multiple unit formations) driving motor car


tramway

→ Romanian: tramway

desctree

→ Russian: трамва́й (tramváj)
→ Armenian: տրամվայ (tramvay)
→ Azerbaijani: tramvay
→ Bashkir: трамвай (tramvay)
→ Belarusian: трамва́й (tramváj)
→ Georgian: ტრამვაი (ṭramvai)
→ Kazakh: трамвай (tramvai)
→ Kyrgyz: трамвай (tramvay)
→ Mongolian:
Cyrillic script: трамвай (tramvaj)
Mongolian script: ᠲᠷᠠᠮᠸᠠᠢ (tramwai)
→ Polish: tramwaj
→ Tajik: трамвай (tramvay)
→ Tatar: трамвай (tramway)
→ Turkmen: tramwaý
→ Ukrainian: трамва́й (tramváj)
→ Uyghur: ترامۋاي (tramway)
→ Uzbek: tramvay

→ Persian: تراموای (terâmvây)

→ Turkish: tramvay

Unadapted borrowing from English tramway, from Middle Dutch trame, ultimately from a lost West Germanic (Ingvaeonic) word.

ubor

(rail transport) tram (passenger vehicle)


tramway

(rail transport) tramway; alternative spelling of trâmuei


Dutch oven

From Dutch (“makeshift, substitutional, replacement, ersatz”) + oven. See Dutch for more information on the now obsolete sense that the term is derived from.
The cigar sense is said to originate in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

com

(rail transport) A protective cover for electrical contacts on a railway coupler, particularly but not exclusively used on the London Underground.


bombardier

bombardier (nominative singular)
bombardiery (nominative plural)
bombardiera (genitive singular)
bombardierów (genitive plural)
bombardierowi (dative singular)
bombardierom (dative plural)
bombardiera (accusative singular)
bombardiery (accusative plural)
bombardierem (instrumental singular)
bombardierami (instrumental plural)
bombardierze (locative singular)
bombardierach (locative plural)
bombardierze (singular vocative)
bombardiery (plural vocative)

(rail transport) tram or train car manufactured by a company belonging to the Bombardier Inc. multinational


hotshot

hotshots (plural)
hot shot (alternative)
hot-shot (alternative)

Indeed, development proceeded so rapidly thereafter that Mopac, for instance, was rebuilding a series of 10-year-old Woodard 2-8-4's into 4-8-4's by 1940 - not because they couldn't steam but because their 63-inch drivers couldn't roll the hotshots fast enough.

1959, David P. Morgan, editor, Steam's Finest Hour, Kalmbach Publishing Co.:

(US, rail transport) A fast freight train.


gon

(rail transport) Abbreviation of gondola car.


gripper

/ˈɡɹɪ.pə(ɹ)/

(rail transport, slang) A ticket collector.


turntable

In order to transfer an engine or carriage laterally to another line of rails, at a station or terminus, circular platforms called turntables are established upon each set of rails, which turn as upon a pivot in the centre of each line, each contiguous pair of tables being connected by short branch rails, standing at right angles to the line of rails. The engine or carriage to be transferred is brought to rest wholly upon one table, which is then turned a quarter round, and the carriage is then wheeled on to the next turntable, which being likewise turned a quarter round, the engine or carriage will then be in a position to proceed on the line to which the second table appertains.

1846, Luke Hebert, The Engineer’s and Mechanic’s Encyclopædia, […]. In Two Volumes, volume II, London: Thomas Kelly, […], →OCLC, page 432:

Of locomotive interest was "an engine house for spare engines which was about 60 ft. × 51 ft.; on the outside of this was an immense turntable sufficient to turn the engine and tender at once."

1944 July and August, Reginald B. Fellows, “The Failure of Bricklayers Arms as a Passenger Station—I”, in Railway Magazine, page 211:

The domestic coal depot at St Pancras, north of Somers Town Goods. The numerous transverse sidings, into which full wagons were placed for unloading, were served by more than a dozen small wagon turntables from a central spine siding, with shunting by horses or possibly capstans and cables.

2021 December 1, Nigel Harris, “St Pancras and King's Cross: 1947”, in RAIL, number 945, page 43, photo caption:

(rail transport, road transport) A rotating platform placed in a circular pit, used for turning locomotives, cars, or trucks.

točna

rotating platform for turning locomotives

kääntötaso

rotating platform for turning cars and trucks


red flag

(rail transport, UK) A flag formerly used by a railway guard to warn the driver not to start the train.


Jubilee

See jubilee. The proper noun sense (“London Underground line”) was named after the silver jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (born 1926) in 1977.

(rail transport) A London Underground line which runs between Stratford in East London and Stanmore in northwest London, via the London Docklands, South Bank, and West End.


stopper

The local train was empty at midday. She changed at Yatton and caught a stopper into Bristol. There was an express calling at Exeter which left Bristol at twelve-forty-five and she caught it by the skin of her teeth.

1996, Susan Sallis, Touched by Angels, Random House, page 300:

Changing times at Barnham on December 8 2022. Southern 313211 is an all-stations stopper.

2023 February 22, Howard Johnston, “Southern '313s': is the end now in sight?”, in RAIL, number 977, page 39, photo caption:

(rail transport) A train that calls at all or almost all stations between its origin and destination, including very small ones.


fishplate

From fish + plate. See fish (“curved wooden bar used to strengthen a ship's mast”).

The train, minus the three abandoned trucks, again proceeded at a slow pace, with a pump trolley doing pilot ahead ; this was very necessary as a great many sleepers were found to have been burnt underneath the fishplates.

1901, George Gipps, The Fighting in North China (up to the Fall of Tientsin City), Shanghai: Kelly and Walsh, →OL, page 40:

(rail transport) A metal bar that is bolted to the ends of two rails to join them together in a track.


fishplate

en-verb

fishplate (third-person singular simple present fishplates, present participle fishplating, simple past and past participle fishplated)

fishplates (present singular third-person)
fishplating (participle present)
fishplated (participle past)
fishplated (past)

One section of the line will consist of 60 ft. lengths of rail welded together on site to form fully continuous rails; another will be of 300 ft. lengths, flash butt-welded in Dinsdale Rail Welding Depot and fishplated together on site; [...].

1959 November, “Talking of Trains: Widening north of York”, in Trains Illustrated, page 518:

(transitive, rail transport) To connect (rails) together using a fishplate.


four foot (alternative)
four-foot (alternative)

(rail transport) Alternative form of four foot.


coupé

nl-noun

coupé m (plural coupés, diminutive coupeetje n)

coupés (plural)
coupeetje (diminutive neuter)

→ Indonesian: kupe, kup

Er passen zes mensen in deze coupé.

There's room for six people in this train compartment.


kori

kori (nominative singular)
korit (nominative plural)
kori (accusative nominative singular)
korit (accusative nominative plural)
korin (accusative genitive singular)
korit (accusative genitive plural)
korin (genitive singular)
korien (genitive plural)
koria (partitive singular)
koreja (partitive plural)
korissa (inessive singular)
koreissa (inessive plural)
korista (elative singular)
koreista (elative plural)
koriin (illative singular)
koreihin (illative plural)
korilla (adessive singular)
koreilla (adessive plural)
korilta (ablative singular)
koreilta (ablative plural)
korille (allative singular)
koreille (allative plural)
korina (essive singular)
koreina (essive plural)
koriksi (singular translative)
koreiksi (plural translative)
koritta (abessive singular)
koreitta (abessive plural)
korein (instructive plural)
See the possessive forms below. (comitative)
korini (nominative singular)
korini (nominative plural)
korini (accusative nominative singular)
korini (accusative nominative plural)
korini (accusative genitive singular)
korini (accusative genitive plural)
korini (genitive singular)
korieni (genitive plural)
koriani (partitive singular)
korejani (partitive plural)
korissani (inessive singular)
koreissani (inessive plural)
koristani (elative singular)
koreistani (elative plural)
koriini (illative singular)
koreihini (illative plural)
korillani (adessive singular)
koreillani (adessive plural)
koriltani (ablative singular)
koreiltani (ablative plural)
korilleni (allative singular)
koreilleni (allative plural)
korinani (essive singular)
koreinani (essive plural)
korikseni (singular translative)
koreikseni (plural translative)
korittani (abessive singular)
koreittani (abessive plural)
koreineni (comitative plural)
korisi (nominative singular)
korisi (nominative plural)
korisi (accusative nominative singular)
korisi (accusative nominative plural)
korisi (accusative genitive singular)
korisi (accusative genitive plural)
korisi (genitive singular)
koriesi (genitive plural)
koriasi (partitive singular)
korejasi (partitive plural)
korissasi (inessive singular)
koreissasi (inessive plural)
koristasi (elative singular)
koreistasi (elative plural)
koriisi (illative singular)
koreihisi (illative plural)
korillasi (adessive singular)
koreillasi (adessive plural)
koriltasi (ablative singular)
koreiltasi (ablative plural)
korillesi (allative singular)
koreillesi (allative plural)
korinasi (essive singular)
koreinasi (essive plural)
koriksesi (singular translative)
koreiksesi (plural translative)
korittasi (abessive singular)
koreittasi (abessive plural)
koreinesi (comitative plural)
korimme (nominative singular)
korimme (nominative plural)
korimme (accusative nominative singular)
korimme (accusative nominative plural)
korimme (accusative genitive singular)
korimme (accusative genitive plural)
korimme (genitive singular)
koriemme (genitive plural)
koriamme (partitive singular)
korejamme (partitive plural)
korissamme (inessive singular)
koreissamme (inessive plural)
koristamme (elative singular)
koreistamme (elative plural)
koriimme (illative singular)
koreihimme (illative plural)
korillamme (adessive singular)
koreillamme (adessive plural)
koriltamme (ablative singular)
koreiltamme (ablative plural)
korillemme (allative singular)
koreillemme (allative plural)
korinamme (essive singular)
koreinamme (essive plural)
koriksemme (singular translative)
koreiksemme (plural translative)
korittamme (abessive singular)
koreittamme (abessive plural)
koreinemme (comitative plural)
korinne (nominative singular)
korinne (nominative plural)
korinne (accusative nominative singular)
korinne (accusative nominative plural)
korinne (accusative genitive singular)
korinne (accusative genitive plural)
korinne (genitive singular)
korienne (genitive plural)
korianne (partitive singular)
korejanne (partitive plural)
korissanne (inessive singular)
koreissanne (inessive plural)
koristanne (elative singular)
koreistanne (elative plural)
koriinne (illative singular)
koreihinne (illative plural)
korillanne (adessive singular)
koreillanne (adessive plural)
koriltanne (ablative singular)
koreiltanne (ablative plural)
korillenne (allative singular)
koreillenne (allative plural)
korinanne (essive singular)
koreinanne (essive plural)
koriksenne (singular translative)
koreiksenne (plural translative)
korittanne (abessive singular)
koreittanne (abessive plural)
koreinenne (comitative plural)
korinsa (nominative singular)
korinsa (nominative plural)
korinsa (accusative nominative singular)
korinsa (accusative nominative plural)
korinsa (accusative genitive singular)
korinsa (accusative genitive plural)
korinsa (genitive singular)
koriensa (genitive plural)
koriaan (partitive singular)
koriansa (partitive singular)
korejaan (partitive plural)
korejansa (partitive plural)
korissaan (inessive singular)
korissansa (inessive singular)
koreissaan (inessive plural)
koreissansa (inessive plural)
koristaan (elative singular)
koristansa (elative singular)
koreistaan (elative plural)
koreistansa (elative plural)
koriinsa (illative singular)
koreihinsa (illative plural)
korillaan (adessive singular)
korillansa (adessive singular)
koreillaan (adessive plural)
koreillansa (adessive plural)
koriltaan (ablative singular)
koriltansa (ablative singular)
koreiltaan (ablative plural)
koreiltansa (ablative plural)
korilleen (allative singular)
korillensa (allative singular)
koreilleen (allative plural)
koreillensa (allative plural)
korinaan (essive singular)
korinansa (essive singular)
koreinaan (essive plural)
koreinansa (essive plural)
korikseen (singular translative)
koriksensa (singular translative)
koreikseen (plural translative)
koreiksensa (plural translative)
korittaan (abessive singular)
korittansa (abessive singular)
koreittaan (abessive plural)
koreittansa (abessive plural)
koreineen (comitative plural)
koreinensa (comitative plural)

Borrowed from Old Swedish korgh, korgher.

bodywork (exterior body of a motor vehicle)


railcar

skinnebus

self-propelled railway vehicle similar to a bus

автодрези́на

powered single railway vehicle with driver's cab at both ends

The semi-streamlined contour of the earlier G.W.R. railcars has been given up in favour of a more utilitarian blunt-nose end, and effective floor space gained thereby.

1941 October, “Notes and News: Great Western Parcels Railcar”, in Railway Magazine, page 474:

Profitable operation is being made possible by the widespread introduction of capacious diesel railcars, which for their comfort and speed are very popular with the travelling public.

1953 April, “Reviving U.S.A. Passenger Traffic”, in Railway Magazine, page 218:

(rail transport) A self-propelled railway vehicle for passengers, similar to a bus.

(rail transport) A powered single railway vehicle designed for passenger transport, with a driver's cab in both ends; Not to be confused with motor coach/motorcar, which is a powered railway vehicle capable to haul a train.


cherries

(rail transport, British) A rail-gap indicator.


banking

en-noun

banking (countable and uncountable, plural bankings)

On the Dava line, apart from the banking assistance given by the 4-4-0s, the traffic is handled by the standard class "5" 4-6-0s, known among the drivers as "Hikers"; these engines are shedded at Inverness and Perth.

1944 January and February, W. McGowan Gradon, “Forres as a Railway Centre”, in Railway Magazine, page 23:

(rail transport) The practice of assisting a train up a steep incline (called a bank) with another locomotive at the rear.

подта́лкивание

rail transport: helping a train up a steep incline


littera

littera (nominative singular)
litterat (nominative plural)
littera (accusative nominative singular)
litterat (accusative nominative plural)
litteran (accusative genitive singular)
litterat (accusative genitive plural)
litteran (genitive singular)
litteroiden (genitive plural)
litteroitten (genitive plural)
litterain (genitive plural rare)
litteraa (partitive singular)
litteroita (partitive plural)
litterassa (inessive singular)
litteroissa (inessive plural)
litterasta (elative singular)
litteroista (elative plural)
litteraan (illative singular)
litteroihin (illative plural)
litteralla (adessive singular)
litteroilla (adessive plural)
litteralta (ablative singular)
litteroilta (ablative plural)
litteralle (allative singular)
litteroille (allative plural)
litterana (essive singular)
litteroina (essive plural)
litteraksi (singular translative)
litteroiksi (plural translative)
litteratta (abessive singular)
litteroitta (abessive plural)
litteroin (instructive plural)
See the possessive forms below. (comitative)
litterani (nominative singular)
litterani (nominative plural)
litterani (accusative nominative singular)
litterani (accusative nominative plural)
litterani (accusative genitive singular)
litterani (accusative genitive plural)
litterani (genitive singular)
litteroideni (genitive plural)
litteroitteni (genitive plural)
litteraini (genitive plural rare)
litteraani (partitive singular)
litteroitani (partitive plural)
litterassani (inessive singular)
litteroissani (inessive plural)
litterastani (elative singular)
litteroistani (elative plural)
litteraani (illative singular)
litteroihini (illative plural)
litterallani (adessive singular)
litteroillani (adessive plural)
litteraltani (ablative singular)
litteroiltani (ablative plural)
litteralleni (allative singular)
litteroilleni (allative plural)
litteranani (essive singular)
litteroinani (essive plural)
litterakseni (singular translative)
litteroikseni (plural translative)
litterattani (abessive singular)
litteroittani (abessive plural)
litteroineni (comitative plural)
litterasi (nominative singular)
litterasi (nominative plural)
litterasi (accusative nominative singular)
litterasi (accusative nominative plural)
litterasi (accusative genitive singular)
litterasi (accusative genitive plural)
litterasi (genitive singular)
litteroidesi (genitive plural)
litteroittesi (genitive plural)
litteraisi (genitive plural rare)
litteraasi (partitive singular)
litteroitasi (partitive plural)
litterassasi (inessive singular)
litteroissasi (inessive plural)
litterastasi (elative singular)
litteroistasi (elative plural)
litteraasi (illative singular)
litteroihisi (illative plural)
litterallasi (adessive singular)
litteroillasi (adessive plural)
litteraltasi (ablative singular)
litteroiltasi (ablative plural)
litterallesi (allative singular)
litteroillesi (allative plural)
litteranasi (essive singular)
litteroinasi (essive plural)
litteraksesi (singular translative)
litteroiksesi (plural translative)
litterattasi (abessive singular)
litteroittasi (abessive plural)
litteroinesi (comitative plural)
litteramme (nominative singular)
litteramme (nominative plural)
litteramme (accusative nominative singular)
litteramme (accusative nominative plural)
litteramme (accusative genitive singular)
litteramme (accusative genitive plural)
litteramme (genitive singular)
litteroidemme (genitive plural)
litteroittemme (genitive plural)
litteraimme (genitive plural rare)
litteraamme (partitive singular)
litteroitamme (partitive plural)
litterassamme (inessive singular)
litteroissamme (inessive plural)
litterastamme (elative singular)
litteroistamme (elative plural)
litteraamme (illative singular)
litteroihimme (illative plural)
litterallamme (adessive singular)
litteroillamme (adessive plural)
litteraltamme (ablative singular)
litteroiltamme (ablative plural)
litterallemme (allative singular)
litteroillemme (allative plural)
litteranamme (essive singular)
litteroinamme (essive plural)
litteraksemme (singular translative)
litteroiksemme (plural translative)
litterattamme (abessive singular)
litteroittamme (abessive plural)
litteroinemme (comitative plural)
litteranne (nominative singular)
litteranne (nominative plural)
litteranne (accusative nominative singular)
litteranne (accusative nominative plural)
litteranne (accusative genitive singular)
litteranne (accusative genitive plural)
litteranne (genitive singular)
litteroidenne (genitive plural)
litteroittenne (genitive plural)
litterainne (genitive plural rare)
litteraanne (partitive singular)
litteroitanne (partitive plural)
litterassanne (inessive singular)
litteroissanne (inessive plural)
litterastanne (elative singular)
litteroistanne (elative plural)
litteraanne (illative singular)
litteroihinne (illative plural)
litterallanne (adessive singular)
litteroillanne (adessive plural)
litteraltanne (ablative singular)
litteroiltanne (ablative plural)
litterallenne (allative singular)
litteroillenne (allative plural)
litterananne (essive singular)
litteroinanne (essive plural)
litteraksenne (singular translative)
litteroiksenne (plural translative)
litterattanne (abessive singular)
litteroittanne (abessive plural)
litteroinenne (comitative plural)
litteransa (nominative singular)
litteransa (nominative plural)
litteransa (accusative nominative singular)
litteransa (accusative nominative plural)
litteransa (accusative genitive singular)
litteransa (accusative genitive plural)
litteransa (genitive singular)
litteroidensa (genitive plural)
litteroittensa (genitive plural)
litterainsa (genitive plural rare)
litteraansa (partitive singular)
litteroitaan (partitive plural)
litteroitansa (partitive plural)
litterassaan (inessive singular)
litterassansa (inessive singular)
litteroissaan (inessive plural)
litteroissansa (inessive plural)
litterastaan (elative singular)
litterastansa (elative singular)
litteroistaan (elative plural)
litteroistansa (elative plural)
litteraansa (illative singular)
litteroihinsa (illative plural)
litterallaan (adessive singular)
litterallansa (adessive singular)
litteroillaan (adessive plural)
litteroillansa (adessive plural)
litteraltaan (ablative singular)
litteraltansa (ablative singular)
litteroiltaan (ablative plural)
litteroiltansa (ablative plural)
litteralleen (allative singular)
litterallensa (allative singular)
litteroilleen (allative plural)
litteroillensa (allative plural)
litteranaan (essive singular)
litteranansa (essive singular)
litteroinaan (essive plural)
litteroinansa (essive plural)
litterakseen (singular translative)
litteraksensa (singular translative)
litteroikseen (plural translative)
litteroiksensa (plural translative)
litterattaan (abessive singular)
litterattansa (abessive singular)
litteroittaan (abessive plural)
litteroittansa (abessive plural)
litteroineen (comitative plural)
litteroinensa (comitative plural)

Internationalism, ultimately from Latin littera.

(rail transport) identification code of a class of rolling stock


normalize

en-verb

normalize (third-person singular simple present normalizes, present participle normalizing, simple past and past participle normalized)

normalizes (present singular third-person)
normalizing (participle present)
normalized (participle past)
normalized (past)
normalise (alternative UK)

palauttaa

rail transport, transitive: to return to the normal position

palautua

rail transport, intransitive: to return to the normal position

(rail transport, transitive) To return a set of points (switches) to the normal position.

(rail transport, intransitive, of points) To return to the normal position from the reverse position.


fogó

From foc (“fire”) + -ó (augmentative suffix).


serce

pl-noun

serce n (diminutive serduszko, augmentative serducho, related adjective sercowy)

serduszko (diminutive)
serducho (augmentative)
sercowy (adjective)
serce (nominative singular)
serca (nominative plural)
serca (genitive singular)
serc (genitive plural)
sercu (dative singular)
sercom (dative plural)
serce (accusative singular)
serca (accusative plural)
sercem (instrumental singular)
sercami (instrumental plural)
sercu (locative singular)
sercach (locative plural)
serce (singular vocative)
serca (plural vocative)

czego oczy nie widzą, tego sercu nie żal

(obsolete, rail transport) railroad switch, set of points, turnout (track system allowing the passage of railway vehicles or their combinations from one track to another)


mada

madowy (adjective)
mada (nominative singular)
mady (nominative plural)
mady (genitive singular)
mad (genitive plural)
madzie (dative singular)
madom (dative plural)
madę (accusative singular)
mady (accusative plural)
madą (instrumental singular)
madami (instrumental plural)
madzie (locative singular)
madach (locative plural)
mado (singular vocative)
mady (plural vocative)

Uncertain. Perhaps borrowed from German Mud, from Middle Low German mudde. Per Trubachyov inherited from Proto-Slavic *mada, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *meh₂d-.

(colloquial, rail transport) mixture of wet leaves or other materials and substances of natural origin deposited on railway or tram rails, which makes the track surface very slippery


SNCF

(rail transport) initialism of Société nationale des chemins de fer français (the national railway company of France)


staggered

en-adj

staggered (comparative more staggered, superlative most staggered)

more staggered (comparative)
most staggered (superlative)

The line now veers slightly south through a wooded cutting before arriving at the staggered platforms of Stocksmoor station (6½ miles) and a further ¾-mile stretch of level track leads to Shepley & Shelley (7¼ miles).

1959 May, Yorkshireman, “The Huddersfield-Penistone line and its branches”, in Trains Illustrated, page 253:

(rail transport, of platforms at a station) Not directly opposite each other.


thumper

en-noun

thumper (countable and uncountable, plural thumpers)

(UK, rail transport, slang) A kind of slam-door train introduced in the late 1950s.


Piccadilly

Audio (US)

From Pickadilly Hall, a house belonging to a tailor who specialized in a type of lace collar called a piccadill, possibly from conjectured Spanish *picadillo, from picado (“punctured, pierced”); compare 17th century Spanish picadura (“a similar lace collar”).
Piccadilly attested from 1743; previously the area was called Portugal, and the street Portugal Street (1692), after Catherine of Braganza.

(rail transport) Manchester Piccadilly station, the main railway station in Manchester.

Why Piccadilly? The Piccadilly Line was originally the Great Northern, Piccadilly & Brompton Railway (GNP&BR) which was shortened to Piccadilly in practice. Running under the main road between Piccadilly Circus and Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly made sense and was also the most well-known location in the original company name.

2024 March 6, Stefanie Foster, “The changing face of the Piccadilly...”, in RAIL, number 1004, page 52:

(rail transport) The Piccadilly Line of the London Underground, originally known as the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway.


diamond crossover

diamond crossover (plural diamond crossovers)

Named after the diamond crossing in its center.

"In 15 is illustrated the diamond crossover, one of the many kinds in common use."

1916, Lee O. Kellogg, editor, Details of Practical Mining, page 458:

"It travelled on until the bogie fouled a diamond crossover at the north end of the station where derailment became complete."

1955, L.T.C. Rolt, Red for Danger: A History of Railway Accidents and Railway Safety Precautions, page 104:

"Increased height is necessary when scales or a double hump lead with diamond crossover is placed on the descending slope of the hump."

1956, Robert William Abbett, American Civil Engineering Practice, page 2:

"A diamond crossover provides each track with access to the entire yard."

1958, S. Kip Farrington, Railroads of the Hour, page 230:

"Each chamber contains a diamond crossover designed for 60 km/h running."

1995, Institution of Civil Engineers (Great Britain), The Channel Tunnel, →ISBN, page 20:

"The closed-deck ballasted bridge is double-tracked and opens up to a third track through a combination diamond-crossover and double-slip switch before it reaches the bulkhead on the Hoboken side."

2002 August, Paul Jannotti, “Thinking outside the box on light rail: Hudson-Bergen project”, in Railway Track and Structures:

2004 — U.S. Federal Register, v. 69 #101, May 25, 2004, p. 29780.
"The reason given for the proposed changes is that the crossover and switches were installed to replace a diamond crossover. The BNSF is taking their north connecting track out of service, so the control point with the crossover is no longer needed."

~2005 — Robert Ferreira, "North Springs Branch", in "MARTA North Springs and Doraville Branches", http://world.nycsubway.org/us/atlanta/marta-northbranches.html.
"In December, 1999 a new diamond crossover interlocking was placed into service at Medical Center."

(rail transport) superimposed pair of railway crossovers, resembling a letter X, permitting to travel in either direction between a pair of parallel tracks


SSP

(rail transport) The station code of Sham Shui Po in Hong Kong.


interlaced

(rail transport) Synonym of gauntleted (“having overlapping parallel rail tracks”).


metals

It was appropriate that 'King' number 6000 began the return to steam on British Rail metals in 1971.

Now and again a night train roared along the metals within twenty feet of him; but he had all the Oriental’s indifference to mere noise, and it did not even weave a dream through his slumber.

1900 December – 1901 October, Rudyard Kipling, “chapter 8”, in Kim (Macmillan’s Colonial Library; no. 414), London: Macmillan and Co., published 1901, →OCLC:

They stood on the foot-bridge over Boathouse Station and looked at the metals gleaming coldly.

1913, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, “chapter 7”, in Sons and Lovers, London: Duckworth & Co. […], →OCLC:

The way the glare from our engine firehole pulsated, reflecting continuously in the steam, combined with our achievement in keeping level with the lighter train until our metals parted at Wilton, provided another lasting memory.

1955 April, W. J. Alcock, “Unforgettable Moments”, in Railway Magazine, page 271:

Steam services began running over NR [Network Rail] metals from Grosmont to the traffic objective of Whitby in 2007, with operations enhanced by opening of the second platform at the terminus in 2014.

2019 October, James Abbott, “Esk Valley revival”, in Modern Railways, pages 77, 78:

(rail transport) The rail tracks owned by a company or organisation; a rail network.


switchback

The noun is derived from switch (“to turn (a train) from one railway track to another using a switch”, verb) + back (“so as to reverse direction and return”, adverb).
The verb is derived from the noun.

compound

"Of course," said Harry, "there will have to be a branch track built, and a ‘switch-back’ up the hill."

1873, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], Charles Dudley Warner, chapter XLIX, in The Gilded Age: A Tale of To-day, Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company, published 1874, →OCLC, page 445:

Marriage was the switchback, the giant racer, the lobster teas, the guarantee that one would never be alone.

1934, Graham Greene, chapter 4, in It’s a Battlefield, library edition, London: William Heinemann, published 1959, →OCLC, page 171:

A railway track on a steep slope in a zigzag formation, in which a train travels in a reverse direction at each switch.

serpentiinirata

The WR faction claims that the Westbury route is better adapted to high speed, to which advocates of the SR route are apt to retort that the effect of modern diesel traction on schedules over the Salisbury–Exeter switchback has yet to be measured (the speed potential between Waterloo and Salisbury is scarcely disputable) […]

1964 March, “News and comment: Which way to the west?”, in Modern Railways, Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing, page 147:

A railway track on which there are steep ascents and descents, a train moving partially or fully by the force of gravity using the momentum generated when descending to travel up an ascending part of the track; especially (British, dated), such a track built for fun rides at an amusement park; a type of rollercoaster.


MEF

(rail transport) The station code of Mei Foo in Hong Kong.


vaunu

vaunu (nominative singular)
vaunut (nominative plural)
vaunu (accusative nominative singular)
vaunut (accusative nominative plural)
vaunun (accusative genitive singular)
vaunut (accusative genitive plural)
vaunun (genitive singular)
vaunujen (genitive plural)
vaunua (partitive singular)
vaunuja (partitive plural)
vaunussa (inessive singular)
vaunuissa (inessive plural)
vaunusta (elative singular)
vaunuista (elative plural)
vaunuun (illative singular)
vaunuihin (illative plural)
vaunulla (adessive singular)
vaunuilla (adessive plural)
vaunulta (ablative singular)
vaunuilta (ablative plural)
vaunulle (allative singular)
vaunuille (allative plural)
vaununa (essive singular)
vaunuina (essive plural)
vaunuksi (singular translative)
vaunuiksi (plural translative)
vaunutta (abessive singular)
vaunuitta (abessive plural)
vaunuin (instructive plural)
See the possessive forms below. (comitative)
vaununi (nominative singular)
vaununi (nominative plural)
vaununi (accusative nominative singular)
vaununi (accusative nominative plural)
vaununi (accusative genitive singular)
vaununi (accusative genitive plural)
vaununi (genitive singular)
vaunujeni (genitive plural)
vaunuani (partitive singular)
vaunujani (partitive plural)
vaunussani (inessive singular)
vaunuissani (inessive plural)
vaunustani (elative singular)
vaunuistani (elative plural)
vaunuuni (illative singular)
vaunuihini (illative plural)
vaunullani (adessive singular)
vaunuillani (adessive plural)
vaunultani (ablative singular)
vaunuiltani (ablative plural)
vaunulleni (allative singular)
vaunuilleni (allative plural)
vaununani (essive singular)
vaunuinani (essive plural)
vaunukseni (singular translative)
vaunuikseni (plural translative)
vaunuttani (abessive singular)
vaunuittani (abessive plural)
vaunuineni (comitative plural)
vaunusi (nominative singular)
vaunusi (nominative plural)
vaunusi (accusative nominative singular)
vaunusi (accusative nominative plural)
vaunusi (accusative genitive singular)
vaunusi (accusative genitive plural)
vaunusi (genitive singular)
vaunujesi (genitive plural)
vaunuasi (partitive singular)
vaunujasi (partitive plural)
vaunussasi (inessive singular)
vaunuissasi (inessive plural)
vaunustasi (elative singular)
vaunuistasi (elative plural)
vaunuusi (illative singular)
vaunuihisi (illative plural)
vaunullasi (adessive singular)
vaunuillasi (adessive plural)
vaunultasi (ablative singular)
vaunuiltasi (ablative plural)
vaunullesi (allative singular)
vaunuillesi (allative plural)
vaununasi (essive singular)
vaunuinasi (essive plural)
vaunuksesi (singular translative)
vaunuiksesi (plural translative)
vaunuttasi (abessive singular)
vaunuittasi (abessive plural)
vaunuinesi (comitative plural)
vaunumme (nominative singular)
vaunumme (nominative plural)
vaunumme (accusative nominative singular)
vaunumme (accusative nominative plural)
vaunumme (accusative genitive singular)
vaunumme (accusative genitive plural)
vaunumme (genitive singular)
vaunujemme (genitive plural)
vaunuamme (partitive singular)
vaunujamme (partitive plural)
vaunussamme (inessive singular)
vaunuissamme (inessive plural)
vaunustamme (elative singular)
vaunuistamme (elative plural)
vaunuumme (illative singular)
vaunuihimme (illative plural)
vaunullamme (adessive singular)
vaunuillamme (adessive plural)
vaunultamme (ablative singular)
vaunuiltamme (ablative plural)
vaunullemme (allative singular)
vaunuillemme (allative plural)
vaununamme (essive singular)
vaunuinamme (essive plural)
vaunuksemme (singular translative)
vaunuiksemme (plural translative)
vaunuttamme (abessive singular)
vaunuittamme (abessive plural)
vaunuinemme (comitative plural)
vaununne (nominative singular)
vaununne (nominative plural)
vaununne (accusative nominative singular)
vaununne (accusative nominative plural)
vaununne (accusative genitive singular)
vaununne (accusative genitive plural)
vaununne (genitive singular)
vaunujenne (genitive plural)
vaunuanne (partitive singular)
vaunujanne (partitive plural)
vaunussanne (inessive singular)
vaunuissanne (inessive plural)
vaunustanne (elative singular)
vaunuistanne (elative plural)
vaunuunne (illative singular)
vaunuihinne (illative plural)
vaunullanne (adessive singular)
vaunuillanne (adessive plural)
vaunultanne (ablative singular)
vaunuiltanne (ablative plural)
vaunullenne (allative singular)
vaunuillenne (allative plural)
vaununanne (essive singular)
vaunuinanne (essive plural)
vaunuksenne (singular translative)
vaunuiksenne (plural translative)
vaunuttanne (abessive singular)
vaunuittanne (abessive plural)
vaunuinenne (comitative plural)
vaununsa (nominative singular)
vaununsa (nominative plural)
vaununsa (accusative nominative singular)
vaununsa (accusative nominative plural)
vaununsa (accusative genitive singular)
vaununsa (accusative genitive plural)
vaununsa (genitive singular)
vaunujensa (genitive plural)
vaunuaan (partitive singular)
vaunuansa (partitive singular)
vaunujaan (partitive plural)
vaunujansa (partitive plural)
vaunussaan (inessive singular)
vaunussansa (inessive singular)
vaunuissaan (inessive plural)
vaunuissansa (inessive plural)
vaunustaan (elative singular)
vaunustansa (elative singular)
vaunuistaan (elative plural)
vaunuistansa (elative plural)
vaunuunsa (illative singular)
vaunuihinsa (illative plural)
vaunullaan (adessive singular)
vaunullansa (adessive singular)
vaunuillaan (adessive plural)
vaunuillansa (adessive plural)
vaunultaan (ablative singular)
vaunultansa (ablative singular)
vaunuiltaan (ablative plural)
vaunuiltansa (ablative plural)
vaunulleen (allative singular)
vaunullensa (allative singular)
vaunuilleen (allative plural)
vaunuillensa (allative plural)
vaununaan (essive singular)
vaununansa (essive singular)
vaunuinaan (essive plural)
vaunuinansa (essive plural)
vaunukseen (singular translative)
vaunuksensa (singular translative)
vaunuikseen (plural translative)
vaunuiksensa (plural translative)
vaunuttaan (abessive singular)
vaunuttansa (abessive singular)
vaunuittaan (abessive plural)
vaunuittansa (abessive plural)
vaunuineen (comitative plural)
vaunuinensa (comitative plural)

Borrowed from Old Swedish vaghn (compare modern Swedish vagn), from Old Norse vagn, from Proto-Germanic *wagnaz.

(rail transport) wagon, (US) car, (UK) carriage


locomotive

/ˌləʊkəˈməʊtɪv/

From French locomotif, from Latin locō (literally “from a place”) (ablative of locus (“place”)) + Vulgar Latin mōtivus (“moving”) (see motive).
In the rail transport sense, ellipsis of locomotive (steam) engine, attested from 1814.

As on all other British Railways standard locomotives to date, the lubrication of motion pins and reversing gear is by grease nipple and gun.

1953 February 10, “British Railways Standard Class "4" 2-6-0 Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 109:

(rail transport) The power unit of a train that pulls the coaches or wagons.


daycoach

(US, rail transport) A normal railway car with seats, but no sleeping arrangements.


crampon

crampoane (plural)
crampon (accusative indefinite nominative singular)
cramponul (accusative definite nominative singular)
crampoane (accusative indefinite nominative plural)
crampoanele (accusative definite nominative plural)
crampon (indefinite singular)
cramponului (definite singular)
crampoane (indefinite plural)
crampoanelor (definite plural)
cramponule (singular vocative)
crampoanelor (plural vocative)

(rail transport) square-headed spike used to fasten rails on sleepers / railroad ties


pense

pense (present tense pensar, past tense pensa, past participle pensa, passive infinitive pensast, present participle pensande, imperative pense/pens)

pensar (present)
pensa (past)
pensa (participle past)
pensast (infinitive passive)
pensande (participle present)
pense (imperative)
pens (imperative)

(rail transport) to move the points from one track to another


traverser

As the pithead (Fig. 15) had not been designed for large wide gauge cars it was necessary to replace the usual runround with a traverser.

1954, Colliery Engineering - Volume 31, page 8:

Before I left Paris I had the chance to visit La Chapelle depot. I was fascinated by the place. Basically, the steam depot is divided into two halves, the repair side and the steam side, with a traverser in between.

1961 March, ""Dalmore"", “Driving and firing modern French steam locomotives”, in Trains Illustrated, page 148:

The outside sidings and test areas are rail-connected at the western end to the Down Service line, whilst the test area and assembly area are connected via a traverser at the eastern end of the site.

2019 October, “Trackwatch: Wales”, in Modern Railways, page 90:


running board

(rail transport) A narrow footway above the driving wheels of some steam locomotives, and along the sides of some diesel locomotives.


Lasche

de-noun

Lasche f (genitive Lasche, plural Laschen)

Lasche (genitive)
Laschen (plural)
Lasche (nominative singular)
Laschen (definite nominative plural)
Lasche (genitive singular)
Laschen (definite genitive plural)
Lasche (dative singular)
Laschen (dative definite plural)
Lasche (accusative singular)
Laschen (accusative definite plural)


push-pull

The coaches require modifications, including work to ensure they can work in push-pull mode with Class 67 locos.

2019 October, Rhodri Clark, “TfW seeks PRM derogation for Class 37 sets”, in Modern Railways, page 87:

That train is Inspection Saloon 975025, better known as Caroline. It's a former Hastings line Class 201 diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU) buffet car converted to run in push-pull operation, with large windows at both ends to give a great view of the line ahead.

2022 December 14, Pip Dunn, “Caroline is ready for inspection...”, in RAIL, number 972, page 48:

(rail transport) Operating with locomotives at both the head and rear of a train, or with a locomotive at one end and a driving position in the vehicle at the opposite end, so that the train can be driven from either end.


поезд

ru-noun+

по́езд • (pójezd) m inan (genitive по́езда, nominative plural поезда́, genitive plural поездо́в, relational adjective поездно́й)

по́езд (canonical)
pójezd (romanization)
по́езда (genitive)
поезда́ (nominative plural)
поездо́в (genitive plural)
поездно́й (adjective relational)
по́езд (nominative singular)
поезда́ (irregular nominative plural)
по́езда (genitive singular)
поездо́в (genitive plural)
по́езду (dative singular)
поезда́м (dative plural)
по́езд (accusative singular)
поезда́ (accusative irregular plural)
по́ездом (instrumental singular)
поезда́ми (instrumental plural)
по́езде (prepositional singular)
поезда́х (plural prepositional)
по́ѣздъ (alternative)

→ Armenian: պոեզդ (poezd)

→ Bashkir: поезд (poyezd)

→ Ingrian: poojezda

→ Kazakh: пойыз (poiyz)

→ Kildin Sami: по̄яс (pōjas)

→ Kyrgyz: поезд (poyezd)

→ Skolt Sami: poojâs

→ Ossetian: поезд (poezd)

→ Tajik: поезд (poyezd)

→ Udmurt: поезд (pojezd)

→ Uyghur: پويىز (poyiz)

→ Uzbek: poyezd

→ Yakut: поезд (poyezd)

→ Yiddish: פּאָיעזד (poyezd)

According to Dal, from Russian пое́здка (pojézdka, “trip, journey”) and originally meaning a series of wagons following each other, a meaning preserved in сва́дебный по́езд (svádebnyj pójezd, “wedding train (procession)”). Cognates include Polish pojazd.

m+

е́здить на по́езде

скоростно́й по́езд

(rail transport) train, a line of connected railway cars


поезд

pojezd (romanization)
поезд (nominative singular)
поездъёс (nominative plural)
поездэз (accusative singular)
поездъёсыз (accusative plural)
поездлэн (genitive singular)
поездъёслэн (genitive plural)
поездлы (dative singular)
поездъёслы (dative plural)
поездлэсь (ablative singular)
поездъёслэсь (ablative plural)
поездэн (instrumental singular)
поездъёсын (instrumental plural)
поездтэк (abessive singular)
поездъёстэк (abessive plural)
поездъя (adverbial singular)
поездъёсъя (adverbial plural)
поездын (inessive singular)
поездъёсын (inessive plural)
поездэ (illative singular)
поездъёсы (illative plural)
поездысь (elative singular)
поездъёсысь (elative plural)
поездысьен (egressive singular)
поездъёсысьен (egressive plural)
поездозь (singular terminative)
поездъёсозь (plural terminative)
поездэтӥ (prolative singular)
поездъёсытӥ (plural prolative)
поездлань (allative singular)
поездъёслань (allative plural)
поездэ (nominative singular)
поездъёсы (nominative plural)
поездме (accusative singular)
поездъёсме (accusative plural)
поездэлэн (genitive singular)
поездъёсылэн (genitive plural)
поездэлы (dative singular)
поездъёсылы (dative plural)
поездэлэсь (ablative singular)
поездъёсылэсь (ablative plural)
поездэным (instrumental singular)
поездъёсыным (instrumental plural)
поездэд (nominative singular)
поездъёсыд (nominative plural)
поезддэ (accusative singular)
поездъёстэ (accusative plural)
поездэдлэн (genitive singular)
поездъёсыдлэн (genitive plural)
поездэдлы (dative singular)
поездъёсыдлы (dative plural)
поездэдлэсь (ablative singular)
поездъёсыдлэсь (ablative plural)
поездэныд (instrumental singular)
поездъёсыныд (instrumental plural)
поездэз (nominative singular)
поездъёсыз (nominative plural)
поездзэ (accusative singular)
поездъёссэ (accusative plural)
поездэзлэн (genitive singular)
поездъёсызлэн (genitive plural)
поездэзлы (dative singular)
поездъёсызлы (dative plural)
поездэзлэсь (ablative singular)
поездъёсызлэсь (ablative plural)
поездэныз (instrumental singular)
поездъёсыныз (instrumental plural)
поездмы (nominative singular)
поездъёсмы (nominative plural)
поездмэс (accusative singular)
поездъёсмес (accusative plural)
поездмылэн (genitive singular)
поездъёсмылэн (genitive plural)
поездмылы (dative singular)
поездъёсмылы (dative plural)
поездмылэсь (ablative singular)
поездъёсмылэсь (ablative plural)
поездэнымы (instrumental singular)
поездъёсынымы (instrumental plural)
поездды (nominative singular)
поездъёсты (nominative plural)
поезддэс (accusative singular)
поездъёстэс (accusative plural)
поезддылэн (genitive singular)
поездъёстылэн (genitive plural)
поезддылы (dative singular)
поездъёстылы (dative plural)
поезддылэсь (ablative singular)
поездъёстылэсь (ablative plural)
поездэныды (instrumental singular)
поездъёсыныды (instrumental plural)
поездзы (nominative singular)
поездъёссы (nominative plural)
поездзэс (accusative singular)
поездъёссэс (accusative plural)
поездзылэн (genitive singular)
поездъёссылэн (genitive plural)
поездзылы (dative singular)
поездъёссылы (dative plural)
поездзылэсь (ablative singular)
поездъёссылэсь (ablative plural)
поездэнызы (instrumental singular)
поездъёсынызы (instrumental plural)


поезд

Meronym: вагон (vagon, “railroad car”)


regulator

منظِّم

device that controls or limits something

To start No. S.002 effectively with a heavy train, one opens the main regulator sufficiently to move the train off very slowly. An excess of regulator opening with the by-pass valve open can cause heavy slipping; if the worst happens, the slipping continues a little longer after the regulator is closed than on an English locomotive.

1961 March, Balmore, “Driving and firing modern French steam locomotives”, in Trains Illustrated, page 146:

This uncoupling done, Gimbert opened the regulator as Nightall climbed back onto the footplate, in order to pull the one burning wagon away from the rest of the bomb-laden train.

2022 January 12, Benedict le Vay, “The heroes of Soham...”, in RAIL, number 948, page 42:

(rail transport) A device that controls the supply of steam to the cylinders of a steam locomotive.

regulaattori

rail transport: device that controls the supply of steam to the cylinder


railroad tie

Holonyms: railroad track, rail track, railway track, train track, permanent way

(rail transport, US) A heavy, preserved piece of hewn timber laid crossways to and supporting the rails of a railroad or a member of similar shape and function of another material such as concrete.

траверса

piece supporting the rails of a railroad


flying meet

(rail transport) The carefully-timed situation in which two opposing trains on a nominally single-track line meet at a siding and are able to pass each other without stopping, because they have reached the siding simultaneously.


car door

car doors (plural)
car-door (alternative)
cardoor (alternative)

We found Jeru to be a pleasant city; with only one fault: the inhabitants will crowd into a car before passengers can get out; consequently the heads of the two columns collide near the car-door, and there is a general choke.

1863, Gail Hamilton, Gala-Days, Boston: Ticknor and Fields, page 22:

(automotive, rail transport) A door designed for use on a car (whether a railway carriage or an automobile).


meester

nl-noun

meester m (plural meesters, diminutive meestertje n)

meesters (plural)
meestertje (diminutive neuter)

Afrikaans: meester

Berbice Creole Dutch: mesre

Jersey Dutch: mêster

Negerhollands: meester

Skepi Creole Dutch: maester

→ Caribbean Javanese: mèster

→ Indonesian: mester

→ Papiamentu: meester

→ Saramaccan: më́sítë

From Middle Dutch mêester, from Old Dutch *mēster, from Vulgar Latin *maester, from Latin magister.


VR

Virar railway station
w:Virar railway station

(rail transport) The station code of Virar railway station in India.

(Australia, rail transport, obsolete) Initialism of Victorian Railways.


redcap

redcaps (plural)
red cap (alternative)
red-cap (alternative)

From red + cap.
In sense of "porter", 1890s US; compare contemporary Japanese 赤帽 (akabou), Chinese 小紅帽 /小红帽 (Xiǎo Hóng Mào). On Labor Day, 1890, John Williams, an African-American railway porter, tied a red ribbon to his black uniform cap to stand out from the crowd at Grand Central Terminal. The strategy was so successful that it was soon adopted by others in the profession, leading to the synecdochic use of redcap as a term for all railway porters.

(US, rail transport) A porter in a US railway station.


siding

From side + -ing (“derivative noun, having the quality of”).

suffix

They slept where they could, sometimes in an empty truck on a siding near the station, sometimes in a cart behind a warehouse; [...]

1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “chapter 47”, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC:

Laid out over six square kilometres, Sellafield is like a small town, with nearly a thousand buildings, its own roads and even a rail siding – all owned by the government, and requiring security clearance to visit.

December 15 2022, Samanth Subramanian, “Dismantling Sellafield: the epic task of shutting down a nuclear site”, in The Guardian:

(rail transport) A second, relatively short length of track just to the side of a railroad track, joined to the main track by switches at one or both ends, used either for loading or unloading freight, storing trains or other rail vehicles; or to allow two trains on a same track to meet (opposite directions) or pass (same direction) (the latter sense is probably an American definition).


horsebox

On October 31 [...] Laira "Grange" No. 6871 passed through Wolverhampton with a Holyhead-Didcot horsebox special.

1960 January, “Motive Power Miscellany: Western Region”, in Trains Illustrated, page 58:

(UK, rail transport, obsolete) A van-type railway vehicle specially built for the carriage of horses.


signalling

en-noun

signalling (countable and uncountable, plural signallings)

signallings (plural)
signaling (alternative)

(rail transport) the signals and associated equipment required for their operation.


trailing

On the far hillside we are approaching can be descried a bridge on the first section (Ruabon–Llangollen) of the important G.W.R. branch to Dolgelley, which will shortly join our main line by means of a trailing junction.

1955 January, R. S. McNaught, “From the Severn to the Mersey by Great Western”, in Railway Magazine, page 18:

(rail transport, of points and crossovers) That converge in the direction of travel.


pens

pens m (definite singular pensen, indefinite plural pensar, definite plural pensane)

pensen (definite singular)
pensar (indefinite plural)
pensane (definite plural)


passenger car

(rail transport, US) A railroad car designed to carry passengers.


slip coach

Slip-coach workings on the Western Region, the last stronghold of this practice, are now reduced to two daily - at Didcot off the 7.0 a.m. Weston-super-Mare-Paddington; and at Bicester (Saturdays excepted) off the 5.10 p.m. Paddington-Wolverhampton.

1960 February, “Talking of Trains: The vanishing slip-coach”, in Trains Illustrated, page 72:

Friday, September 9, saw the last of the slip coach in Great Britain; the location was Bicester, and the train was the 5.10 p.m. from Paddington to Wolverhampton, which from September 12 began to stop there instead.

1960 October, “Talking of Trains: The last of the slip coach”, in Trains Illustrated, page 577:

(rail transport) A coach at the end of a long-distance train which carries passengers for an intermediate destination and is decoupled or "slipped" and left behind. (In bygone times the decoupling was done on the move; the rest of the train did not stop.)


dynamometer car

dynamometer car (plural dynamometer cars)

Wide open, a 4000 consumed up to 22 tons of coal and 100,000 pounds of water an hour and produced in one authenticated dynamometer-car test 6290 drawbar horsepower at 41.4 miles per hour.

1959, Steam's Finest Hour, edited by David P. Morgan, Kalmbach Publishing Co., referring to the Union Pacific "Big Boy" 4-8-8-4

More trials of diesel locomotives with fitted mineral trains have been observed. On October 31 a Brush Type 2, No. D5834, was seen on the Doncaster-Scunthorpe line with dynamometer car and 32 loaded wagons.

1963 January, “Motive power miscellany”, in Modern Railways, page 64:

(rail transport) A piece of railway rolling stock used to measure various aspects of a locomotive's performance.


staithe

staithes (plural)
stathe (alternative)
staith (alternative)

From Old English stæþ and/or Old Norse stöð (“harbor”).

(UK, rail transport) An installation built at the railside or nearby for the storage of coal unloaded from wagons.


fishing space

It offers a greater moment of inertia than the strap type for small rails with limited fishing space.

1982, William W. Hay, Railroad Engineering, page 566:

(rail transport) The space between the base and head of a rail in which a rigid steel bar is placed.


EMU

EMU (countable and uncountable, plural EMUs)

The Government has thrown a lifeline to Alstom's Derby Works, with an offer of an order for ten Class 345 nine-car electric multiple units (EMUs) for the Elizabeth line - but only if the 'price is right'.

2024 May 1, Mel Holley, “Network News: Elizabeth line '345s' offer a lifeline for Derby Works”, in RAIL, number 1008, page 8:

electric multiple unit
electric multiple unit

(rail transport, countable) Initialism of electric multiple unit.


fast track

(rail transport) A racetrack with optimum conditions for high speeds

(rail transport) A railroad for express trains.


地下鉄

地下鉄 (canonical)
chikatetsu (romanization)

Abbreviation for 地下鉄道 (ちかてつどう, chikatetsudō, “underground railway”), from 地下 (ちか, chika, “underground”) + 鉄道 (てつどう, tetsudō, “railway”).

(rail transport) rapid transit, metro, (AmE) subway, (BrE) underground


balas

Borrowed from Dutch ballast, from Middle Dutch ballast.

(rail transport) coarse gravel or similar material laid to form a bed for roads or railroads, or in making concrete


parcels

An unusual visitor to Leeds on September 26 was Class 4 4-6-0 No. 75042 (17A), on a Class H goods from York; it soon returned on the 6.30 p.m. Leeds-York parcels.

1962 December, “Motive Power Miscellany: North Eastern Region”, in Modern Railways, page 425:

(rail transport, UK, dated, in the plural) A parcels train, normally carrying nothing but parcels.


RAC

(rail transport) The station code of Racecourse in Hong Kong.


wigwag

From wig (“to wag, waggle”) + wag (“to swing”). The noun is derived from the verb.

com

One of the first standard types of automated visual grade-crossing warning was the automated flagman, a signal commonly known as a "wigwag." According to Santa Fe documents, the wigwag was adopted as a standard crossing device by the American Railway Association in 1923. A standard wigwag is actuated by a track circuit and consists of a paddle with a red lamp that gracefully swings back and forth in a horizontal pattern when a train approaches. A wigwag is usually accompanied by a bell.

2003, Brian Solomon, “Grade Crossing Signals”, in Railroad Signaling, St. Paul, Minn.: Voyageur Press, →ISBN, page 147, column 1:

Any of a number of mechanical or electrical devices which cause a component to oscillate between two states.

(US, rail transport) A grade crossing signal with a swinging motion used to indicate an approaching train.


boxcar

boxcars (plural)
box car (alternative)
box-car (alternative)

The locomotive pulled one single car, a dilapidated boxcar missing numerous planks in its walls.

2016, Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad, Fleet (2017), page 83:

(rail transport, US) An enclosed railway goods wagon, typically with a sliding door.


goods van

(rail transport, British) An enclosed railway freight car, especially one with a sliding door.


brakeman

(US, rail transport) A railroad employee responsible for a train's brakes, couplings etc.


Santa Fe

Borrowed from Spanish Santa Fe (“Holy Faith”). The SUV is named after the capital city of New Mexico.

On a line like the Santa Fe, in such desert country as that on the Chicago-Los Angeles main line through Arizona and New Mexico, stations are few and far between, and at many of them one or two employees are the only permanent staff.

1950 May, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 300:

(rail transport) Short for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.


pusher

(rail transport) Synonym of banker (“type of railway locomotive”).


vogn

nb-noun-c

vogn f or m (definite singular vogna or vognen, indefinite plural vogner, definite plural vognene)

vogna (definite singular)
vognen (definite singular)
vogner (indefinite plural)
vognene (definite plural)

(rail transport) carriage or coach (UK, for passengers), wagon (UK, for goods), car (mainly America)


vogn

vogn f (definite singular vogna, indefinite plural vogner, definite plural vognene)

vogna (definite singular)
vogner (indefinite plural)
vognene (definite plural)


steam locomotive

en-noun

steam locomotive (plural steam locomotives)

Inevitably the present extent and variety of the Belgian railways will diminish, and within the space of the ten-year plan we can expect to see a modern system concentrated on the main traffic routes like its neighbour in the Netherlands, and with its last steam locomotives and wooden coaches honourably retired to the museum.

1960 February, J. N. Faulkner, “The Belgian Railways today”, in Trains Illustrated, page 86:

(rail transport, chiefly historical) A locomotive, usually for use on a railway, that is powered by steam.


blanketing

blanketing (countable and uncountable, plural blanketings)

The track blanketing required excavation of up and down main lines to a depth of 4½ft below rail level for 1⅜ miles, to allow the defective track bed to be removed and replaced by a new formation. [...] a layer of polythene was employed by the E.R. at the base of the new formation; [...] On top of the polythene is laid the sand, as a blanketing and drainage medium, and above that the ballast.

1962 July, “Talking of Trains: Big E.R. track blanketing job”, in Modern Railways, page 6:

(rail transport) The provision of a layer under the trackbed to prevent clay subsoil and water being forced to the surface by the weight of trains.


railroading

railroading (usually uncountable, plural railroadings)

The recommendations of the Air Brake Association and the rules of the other railroads cited in this report differ in some respects, but the underlying intent of all is the common desire to prevent the most feared event in railroading - the irrevocable loss of control of trains descending mountain grades.

1981 August 18, National Transportation Safety Board, “Adequacy of Current UP Air Brake Rules and Instructions”, in Railroad Accident Report: Rear-End Collision of Union Pacific Railroad Company Freight Trains Extra 3119 West and Extra 8044 West, Near Kelso, California, November 17, 1980, archived from the original on 2022-03-29, page 32:

The terminology used in model railroading is one of the toughest things for beginners, but don't try to memorize everything all at once. You may not know the difference between a PS-1 and a GP7 today, but with time you'll be talking like an old hand.

1999, Marty McGuirk, N Scale Model Railroading: Getting Started in the Hobby, page 5:

(rail transport, US) The operation of a railroad.

(rail transport, US) The class of people, equipment, terminology, and lore pertaining to railroads.


sander

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-sander.wav

Grass growing on the track made the running far from easy, and only frequent use of the sanders enabled us to breast the 1 in 50 gradients between Letterkenny and Kilmacrenon [sic].

1949 November and December, K. Longbottom, “By Goods Train to Gweedore”, in Railway Magazine, page 356:

Traditionally, sand was used to aid grip, being released onto the track in front of the wheels from a special 'sandbox'. However, the Slough accident led to two trials on the use of train-borne sanders to aid braking: [...] Now, all new stock is fitted with automatic sanders, as have most of the pre-1994 units still running.

2021 November 17, Greg Morse, “Network News: Background: causes and effects of low adhesion and wheelslide”, in RAIL, number 944, pages 8–9:

(rail transport) A device which spreads sand on the rails in wet, snowy, icy, slippery conditions to improve traction.

Sandstreuer

device which spreads sand to improve traction


diamond crossing

diamond crossing (plural diamond crossings)

From the diamond shape that is formed by the four rails at the intersection.

Holonym: diamond crossover

(rail transport) An at-grade junction between two crossing railroad tracks.


diamond junction

diamond junction (plural diamond junctions)


level junction

úrovňové křížení

an at-grade junction between two crossing railroad tracks


railroad track

Holonym: permanent way

Meronyms: rail, railroad tie, railway tie, railway sleeper, sleeper

(rail transport, US) A pair of formed steel rails, separated and supported usually on wooden or concrete ties or sleepers, forming a track along which flange-wheeled railroad vehicles may travel.


driving wheel

While not, perhaps, the handsomest of 4-4-2 tanks, as they had a rather large proportion of their driving wheels exposed, they proved very useful locomotives, doing yeoman work on suburban trains around London and Birmingham, and later on numerous rural routes.

1951 March, David R. Webb, “British 4-4-2 Tank Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 152:

(rail transport) On a steam locomotive, a powered wheel driven by the locomotive's pistons or turbine.


trailing wheel

(rail transport) On a steam locomotive, an unpowered wheel or axle located behind the driving wheels.


(rail transport) Under the Whyte notation system, a steam locomotive that has two leading wheels, six coupled driving wheels, and four trailing wheels.


dormente

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese dormente, from Latin dormientem, present active participle of dormiō (“to sleep”). By surface analysis, dormir + -ente.

inh+

(rail transport) railway sleeper, railway tie


burn off

en-verb

burn off (third-person singular simple present burns off, present participle burning off, simple past and past participle burned off or burnt off)

burns off (present singular third-person)
burning off (participle present)
burned off (participle past)
burned off (past)
burnt off (participle past)
burnt off (past)

Near-synonym: burn up

(intransitive, rail transport, of an axle bearing) To fail due to overheating.


carload

less-than-carload freight

By 1887 the company had grown so large that it was buying its flour and sugar by the carload.

(rail transport, US, Canada) The quantity of goods that can be carried in a freight car.


roomette

Although many luxurious single-room sleepers are in service, the demand for sleeping accommodation on long journeys is so great that vehicles less weighty in proportion to their passenger accommodation, and therefore less expensive for the traveller, have become a paramount need, which is largely solved by the roomette car.

1944 November and December, “"Duplex Roomette" Sleeping Cars”, in Railway Magazine, page 324:

The 20-hr. rail journey was, I think the most unusual and comfortable that I have ever made, because I travelled in a "roomette," a small private room for one person.

1953 July, Allen Rowley, “First Impressions of American Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 493:

For most of its journey it is made up to about fourteen cars, of which a large proportion provide the better type of sleeping accommodation (bedrooms, roomettes, etc.).

1959 November, J. N. Westwood, “The Railways of Canada”, in Trains Illustrated, page 554:

(rail transport, US) A small private compartment, for one person, in a railroad sleeping car.


roundhouse

roundhouses (plural)
round house (alternative)

Crewe North Motive Power Depot is to be modernised completely. This includes the provision of a new coaling plant, ash handling plant, and two new locomotive sheds of the latest roundhouse type, each with 32 roads radiating from a 70-ft. dia. turntable.

1948 November and December, “Crewe M.P.D. to be Modernised”, in Railway Magazine, page 372:

Archaeologists working on HS2 in Birmingham have uncovered the remains of what is believed to be the world's oldest railway roundhouse at Curzon Street station.

2020 March 25, “Network News: HS2 work uncovers oldest roundhouse”, in Rail, page 16:

(rail transport) A circular building in which locomotives are housed, sometimes with a turntable.

депо

a circular building in which locomotives are housed


guardrail

guardrails (plural)
guard rail (alternative)


immunisation

en-noun

immunisation (countable and uncountable, plural immunisations)

From French immunisation. Equivalent to immunise + -ation or immune + -isation.

"Secondly, we have to find more cost-effective ways of electrifying. And we've had a real breakthrough in the last couple of years in terms of bridge clearances and immunisation, meaning we've been able to take hundreds of millions of pounds off the cost of electrification.

2020 May 20, Andrew Haines talks to Stefanie Foster, “Repurpose rail for the 2020s”, in Rail, page 33:

electrical engineering
electrical engineering

(rail transport, electrical engineering) The process of immunising signalling and traction power supplies so they don't interfere with each other.


TPH

(rail transport) Initialism of trains per hour.


switcher

(rail transport, US) A railway locomotive used for shunting (switching).

järjestelyveturi

A railway locomotive used for shunting; a shunter

(rail transport, trucking, US) The yardman who operates such an engine, or performs a similar role in a trucking depot.


headboard

A new use has been found for the L.M.S.R. observation car which previously worked in the Llandudno area. Mr. W. G. S. Wike writes that, still carrying headboards with the inscription "Llandudno and Blaenau Festiniog", it found its way to the Blackpool District, where it was used for familiarising enginemen with the various routes of access to this populous resort.

1939 June, “What the Railways are Doing: Novel Use of an Observation Car”, in Railway Magazine, page 462:

(rail transport) A board on the front of a train, carrying the train's name or that of the service it is on.


railhead

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-railhead.wav

The improved service to and from Taunton is fully justified by the passenger patronage to and from this town, which is a railhead for a large surrounding area.

1961 October, “The winter timetables of British Railways: Western Region”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 590–591:

It would also offer an important opportunity to move construction materials in bulk, using a new railhead.

2019 October, John Glover, “Heathrow rail expansion”, in Modern Railways, page 71:

(rail transport) A point on a railway system where goods (or passengers) are loaded, unloaded or transferred to other transport.

Alternative form: rail head

High levels of railhead contamination (which can prevent train predictor systems working correctly) were present in the area - probably as a result of limited operation of the railhead treatment train, according to RAIB.

2020 December 30, “Network News: Railhead contamination contributed to level crossing near miss”, in RAIL, page 10:

"During the winter, we get really bad snow conditions. We can go to eight inches of snow above the railhead, then the trains are stopped. It's usually more like four inches, but you get big drifts up towards Rannoch.

2023 November 29, Paul Clifton, “West is best in the Highlands”, in RAIL, number 997, page 39:

(rail transport) The top surface (head) of a rail.


станция

ru-noun+

станцио́нный

ста́нция • (stáncija) f inan (genitive ста́нции, nominative plural ста́нции, genitive plural ста́нций, relational adjective станцио́нный)

ста́нция (canonical)
stáncija (romanization)
ста́нции (genitive)
ста́нции (nominative plural)
ста́нций (genitive plural)
станцио́нный (adjective relational)
ста́нция (nominative singular)
ста́нции (nominative plural)
ста́нции (genitive singular)
ста́нций (genitive plural)
ста́нции (dative singular)
ста́нциям (dative plural)
ста́нцию (accusative singular)
ста́нции (accusative plural)
ста́нцией (instrumental singular)
ста́нциею (instrumental singular)
ста́нциями (instrumental plural)
ста́нции (prepositional singular)
ста́нциях (plural prepositional)
ста́нція (alternative)

→ Kazakh: станция (stansiä)

→ Uyghur: ئىستانسا (istansa)

→ Uzbek: stansiya

→ Azerbaijani: stansiya

desc

→ Tajik: стансия (stansiya), истанса (istansa)

→ Yakut: ыстаансыйа (ıstaansıya)

Ru-станция.ogg

A conflation of two sources — Russian archaic стан (stan, “postal station, stage”), стани́ца (staníca, “stanitsa”) and the European words for “station” descended from Latin statio, such as Polish stacja, French station, Italian stazione, etc. Both sources ultimately derive from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂-.


pan

(rail transport, informal) Clipping of pantograph.


mainline

(rail transport) Of or pertaining to the principal route or line of a railway.

(rail transport) Of or pertaining to a surface railway as distinct from an underground, elevated or light rail one.


mainline

mainlines (plural)
main line (alternative)

(rail transport) The principal route or line of a railway.


Therefore, the new standard design in fact has materialised as a 4-6-2 with two 20 in. cylinders and a boiler pressure of 250 lb. per sq. in.

1951 April 10, Stirling Everard, “A Matter of Pedigree”, in Railway Magazine, number 600, page 272:

(rail transport) Under the Whyte notation system, a steam locomotive that has four coupled leading wheels, six coupled driving wheels, and a pair of trailing wheels. Also known in British English as a "Pacific" locomotive.


coincidenza

From coincidere + -enza (compare Latin coincidentia).

Ho perso la mia coincidenza a Bologna.


speeder

(rail transport) A motorized railroad track crew cart.


signaller

signallers (plural)
signaler (alternative)

'We're recruiting an extra signaller for Nunthorpe, the only box [signal box] on the branch', says Chris Gee, Head of Operations - North at Network Rail in York. 'From December Nunthorpe will be staffed 24/7'.

2019 October, James Abbott, “Esk Valley revival”, in Modern Railways, page 77:


firebox

From fire + box. In the sense of a redheaded woman, from box (“vagina”).

The firebox married to Britannia's boiler is not, however, in the Doncaster tradition, notwithstanding that it is comparable in dimensions to that of the "V2." […] Britannia's firebox would appear to have derived from those of the Bulleid Pacifics, which it closely resembles.

1951 April, Stirling Everard, “A Matter of Pedigree”, in Railway Magazine, number 600, page 273:

(rail transport) The chamber of a steam engine, or a steam locomotive, in which the fuel is burned.


booster

Another notable new series of locomotives, now in course of delivery to the Canadian National Railways, [...]. Fifteen are being built by the Montreal Locomotive Works Limited, and ten by the Canadian Locomotive Company, of Kingston, Ontario; the former are being provided with boosters and the latter are not.

1941 January, “Recent North American Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 27:

Also in 1939, six 4-8-4s, classified "Kb" because they have boosters, were built at Hillside for service between Christchurch and Arthurs Pass.

1954 August, J. B. Snell, “The New Zealand Government Railways—2”, in Railway Magazine, page 561:

(rail transport) A booster engine fitted to a steam locomotive.


derailment

en-noun

derailment (countable and uncountable, plural derailments)

The length ganger saw the train passing with the van derailed and promptly telephoned the Sandbach signalman, who restored his signals to danger, but not in time to stop the train before the final derailment occurred.

1961 November, “Talking of Trains: Derailment near Holmes Chapel”, in Trains Illustrated, page 652:

In retrospect, it was small wonder that Railtrack found its finances under pressure, as with ever increasing demand there was an inevitable effect on infrastructure renewals. Matters came to a head with the Hatfield accident on October 17 2000, when there was a high-speed derailment as a result of deferred track maintenance.

2024 January 10, 'Industry Insider', “Success built on liberalisation and market freedom”, in RAIL, number 1000, page 69:

(rail transport) The action of a locomotive or train leaving the rails along which it runs.


marshalling

marshalling (countable and uncountable, plural marshallings)

marshallings (plural)
marshaling (alternative)

It is the first British yard in which every activity of hump marshalling, except for the driving of the hump locomotive and the uncoupling and coupling of wagons, is fully automatic or drastically simplified by modern aids.

1960 June, “Talking of trains: The new Margam yard”, in Trains Illustrated, page 323:

He wanted to see less marshalling of trains, and a move away from a culture that allowed 85% of a wagon's life to be spent "empty, being used as storage bins for goods or in sidings as coal scuttles".

2023 March 8, David Clough, “The long road that led to Beeching”, in RAIL, number 978, page 42:

(rail transport) The sorting of rolling stock in a marshalling yard.


дуга

uk-noun

дуга́ • (duhá) f inan (genitive дуги́, nominative plural ду́ги, genitive plural дуг)

дуга́ (canonical)
duhá (romanization)
дуги́ (genitive)
ду́ги (nominative plural)
дуг (genitive plural)
дуга́ (nominative singular)
ду́ги (nominative plural)
дуги́ (genitive singular)
дуг (genitive plural)
дузі́ (dative singular)
ду́гам (dative plural)
дугу́ (accusative singular)
ду́ги (accusative plural)
дуго́ю (instrumental singular)
ду́гами (instrumental plural)
дузі́ (locative singular)
ду́гах (locative plural)
ду́го (singular vocative)
ду́ги (plural vocative)

From Old East Slavic дуга (duga), from Proto-Slavic *dǫga, from Proto-Balto-Slavic *dangāˀ.

(colloquial, rail transport) bow collector


MR

(UK, rail transport) Initialism of Midland Railway.


brake shoe

brake shoes (plural)
brakeshoe (alternative)

(rail transport) A hard friction-producing element which is pressed against the tread of a wheel to provide braking.


drawbar

(rail transport) An open-mouthed bar at the end of a car, which receives a coupling link and pin by which the car is drawn. It is usually provided with a spring to give elasticity to the connection between the cars of a train.

kytkin

open-mouthed bar at the end of a car which receives a coupling link and pin

(rail transport) A bar of iron with an eye at each end, or a heavy link, for coupling a locomotive to a tender or car.


drawgear

Although loads of up to 900 tonnes could be handled by one of these locomotives, in practice the load is limited to 790 tonnes by drawgear.

1961 February, “Letters to the Editor: Swiss railways”, in Trains Illustrated, page 126:

(rail transport) The means or parts by which cars are connected to be drawn.


drawhead

(rail transport) The flanged outer end of a drawbar.


drawrod

(rail transport) A rod which unites the drawgear at opposite ends of the car, and bears the pull required to draw the train.


drawspring

(rail transport) The spring to which a drawbar is attached.


semafor

pl-noun

semafor m inan (related adjective semaforowy)

semaforowy (adjective)
semafor (nominative singular)
semafory (nominative plural)
semafora (genitive singular)
semaforów (genitive plural)
semaforowi (dative singular)
semaforom (dative plural)
semafor (accusative singular)
semafory (accusative plural)
semaforem (instrumental singular)
semaforami (instrumental plural)
semaforze (locative singular)
semaforach (locative plural)
semaforze (singular vocative)
semafory (plural vocative)

Borrowed from French sémaphore. First attested in 1830.

(countable, rail transport) semaphore; railway signal (signaling device used in railways to convey information)


LU

(UK, rail transport) Initialism of London Underground.


Pacer

diesel multiple unit
diesel multiple unit

(rail transport) A British lightweight railbus diesel multiple unit of class 140, 141, 142, 143 or 144.


rail head

(rail transport) The top part of a railway rail; the part of the rail the wheel runs on.


standard gauge

The city began as a local trading centre for north Chinese settlers at the end of the 18th century. It expanded rapidly and from 1905 to 1935 was a major junction and transshipment point between the Russian-owned broad-gauge Chinese Eastern railway and the Japanese-owned standard-gague South Manchurian railway. Ch’ang-ch’un was equipped with sizable railroad shops and also became the junction for railways extending westward into Inner Mongolia and eastward into northern Korea.

1964, Norton S. Ginsburg, “CH’ANG-CH’UN”, in Encyclopedia Britannica, volume 5, →OCLC, page 267, column 2:

(rail transport) A track gauge of 56.5 inches (1435 mm).


smoke wagon

smoke wagons (plural)
smoke-wagon (alternative)

From smoke + wagon, probably a humorous reference to a conveyance or implement which “carries” or generates smoke.

If you gwine afoot, it'll take you about a day; if you gwine in de stage or de homneybuss, you make it in half a day; but if you get in one ob dese smoke-waggons, you be almost dar now!

1852 December 25 (week ending), “Random Readings”, in Family Herald: A Domestic Magazine of Useful Information and Amusement, volume X, number 503, London: George Biggs, […], →OCLC, page 560, column 1:

The village priests were seen to go to and fro by train, and the simple country folk thought that what they did could not be wrong. By degrees the peasants themselves began to try the "smoke-wagons" too, […]

1888 August, David Ker, “A Wonderful Railroad”, in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, volume LXXVII, number CCCCLIX, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 483:

Indians of Idaho are losing their superstitious feeling about the "smoke wagon," as they call an automobile, and the rush to get machines has started among the more intelligent and wealthy tribesmen.

1913 October 17, “Idaho Indians Take to Autos: Two Enterprising Nez Perces Start Rush for ‘Smoke Wagons’”, in The Carlisle Arrow, volume X, number 7, Carlisle, Pa.: Carlisle Indian Press for students of the United States Indian School, →OCLC, page [4]:

I am not old enough to remember those one- and two-cylinder primitives that first chugged on the scene around the turn of the century. But those who can remember attest to the fact that they came in with billowing plumes of smoke in their wake. Indeed, "smoke-wagon" was commonly their derisive designation. You can still see why, if you witness a demonstration of antique cars restored to their prime by proud owners today.

[1958 November 18 (date delivered), Harry A. Williams, “Accomplishments in Air Pollution Control by the Automobile Industry”, in Proceedings: National Conference on Air Pollution, Washington, D.C., November 18–20, 1958 (Public Health Service Publication; number 654), Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office [for the Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare], published 1959, →OCLC, page 58:

[T]he President said nothing on how to protect our lungs from the some 70 million smoke wagons currently on the road.

1970 February 11, “The environment: clean up or patch up?”, in The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, page A20; reproduced in “President [Richard] Nixon’s Environmental Message”, in Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 91st Congress, Second Session (United States Senate), volume 116, part 3, Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, February 17, 1970, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 3496, column 3:

(rail transport, road transport) A vehicle that generates smoke; specifically, an automobile or a train.