ground frame

Before long, this box will be installed nearer Grosmont (NYM) level crossing to permit control of the crossing gates (presently hand-worked) and to replace the eight-lever ground frame which currently operates the pointwork.

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

At the western [actually eastern] end of the line, operation of the ground frames at Grosmont and Whitby for NYMR [North Yorkshire Moors Railway] services is time-consuming: if we could speed that up, we'd improve track occupancy. Motorising points is quite easy to do.

2019 October, James Abbot, “Esk Valley revival”, in Modern Railways, page 78:

(rail transport) A lever frame controlling the operation of points and/or signals which is installed at ground level.


track pizza

(rail transport, slang, US) A person hit by a train after jumping or falling in front of it.


re-tractioning

Gemini Rail Technology has the contract for internal refurbishment and re-tractioning of the '442s', although the re-tractioning was delayed to allow procurement of new static converters due to concerns about electromagnetic compatibility.

2019 October, “'442s' withdrawn due to signal interaction issues”, in Modern Railways, page 87:

(rail transport) Renewal of traction equipment, in particular traction motors.


dual-voltage

Transport for London has ordered 48x4-car and 6x5-car '710s' from Bombardier, with the initial order of 45x4-car units comprising 31x4-car AC-only units for West Anglia services and 14x4-car dual-voltage units for the Gospel Oak to Barking line (GOBLIN) and Watford DC services. However, this has recently been varied, with one of the AC-only units now to be delivered as a dual-voltage set. The nine units later added to the order are all dual-voltage, meaning the total order is now for 30x4-car AC-only units and 18x4-car and 6x5-car dual-voltage units.

2019 October, “'710s' debut on Watford DC services”, in Modern Railways, page 88:

(rail transport, of an electric train) Able to run using two different voltages, depending on the voltage supplied to the particular railway line, whether by third rail direct current or overhead wires.

Quévy, the end-to-end junction with the S.N.C.F. main line via Aulnoye to Paris, will be a dual-voltage station with arrangements of overhead and signalling equipment similar to those at Luxembourg, another junction between the 3,000V and 25kV systems.

1962 October, “Beyond the Channel: Belgium: Brussels-Paris electrification”, in Modern Railways, page 276:

(rail transport, of a station) Provided with two separate traction power supplies at different voltages, typically as a changeover point between voltages.


fogman

As against this, really bad fogs have been experienced and on one occasion the 7.35 p.m. from Victoria crawled into Herne Bay 95 min. late, having halted at every stop signal between Gillingham and Whitstable. The explanation? Not a single fogman had turned out for duty between Gillingham and Ramsgate.

1959 April, P. Ransome-Wallis, “The Southern in Trouble on the Kent Coast”, in Trains Illustrated, London: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 216:

(rail transport, historical) A railwayman who placed fog signals (detonators) on the track at distant signals during thick fogs (and falling snow) to warn train drivers.


ticket hall

Note that while most of the new Elizabeth Line stations have ticket halls at both ends of the platforms Whitechapel does not; disembark at the wrong end of your train and you will certainly hit your steps target before you reach the street.

2019 October, Dan Harvey, “Crossrail Update: Whitechapel barrels on”, in Modern Railways, page 92:

(rail transport) An area in some railway stations where travel tickets are sold.


ticket gate

... which leads into a substantial lobby area. As this precedes the ticket gate line this may prove a popular meeting place, particularly during inclement weather.

2019 October, Dan Harvey, “Crossrail Update:Whitechapel barrels on”, in Modern Railways, page 92:


empty stock working

en-noun

empty stock working (plural empty stock workings)

Proposed for wiring: the Shrewsbury route. Unit 221116 passes through Codsall on an empty stock working on 24 October 2018.

2019 October, photo caption, “Midlands Connect's £3.5bn plan”, in Modern Railways, page 16:

(rail transport) A train of empty passenger rolling stock that is moved from one location to another where, for example, it is needed to form a revenue-earning service.


metroisation

This forms part of TfL's strategic case for metroisation that was published earlier this year and covered enhancements on this and a number of suburban routes.

2019 October, “Funding for 20tph East London Line service”, in Modern Railways, page 18:

(rail transport, British spelling) The process of converting a railway to a metro-style service.

捷運化 /捷运化

The process of converting a railway to a metro service


double-tracking

The 15-week closure enabled completion of double-tracking between Dyce and Inverurie and upgrades to the signalling system between Aberdeen and Huntly. Over 10 miles of new rail has been laid and 19 bridges refurbished or replaced, with double-tracking covering a 16-mile stretch in total.

2019 October, “A2I reopens after summer blockade”, in Modern Railways, page 22:

(rail transport) The provision of double track, usually as a conversion from single track.


signal cabin

Having completed their task, Fireman Page telephoned from a lineside box to the next signal cabin, briefly reported the incident and said that, as no high explosive had dropped and the track was safe, they proposed proceeding "at caution".

1944 July and August, “Top Link Drivers: XXI—Driver H. Blunt, L.N.E.R.”, in Railway Magazine, page 226:

At Putney Bridge the train description transmissions for eastbound trains must be originated as there is no manned signal cabin on the London Transport system beyond this point; [...].

1960 December, “More L.T. progress with programme machines”, in Trains Illustrated, page 758:

The latest 'go live' introduced the new signalling across the complex junction at Baker Street and saw the decommissioning of the signal cabin at Edgware Road, which opened in 1926.

2019 October, “Edgware Rd cabin closes”, in Modern Railways, page 22:


running rail

In order to reduce noise to a minimum, the running rails have been welded into 315 ft. lengths.

1940 December, “Notes and News: Waterloo & City Tube Modernisation”, in Railway Magazine, page 668:

When AC traction was being introduced this was recognised as a threat to track circuits. Harmonics of the switching frequency would appear in the traction return currents in the running rails and, potentially, this would cause wrong-side track circuit failures.

2019 October, Roger Ford, “Power failure highlights specification confusion”, in Modern Railways, page 27:

(rail transport, usually in the plural) One of the two rails of a railway track with which the wheels of a train make contact.


semaphore signal

semaphore signal (plural semaphore signals)

The phased programme will run from 1 to 23 February, with semaphore signals replaced with modern colour lights.

2019 October, “February completion for Wherry lines resignalling”, in Modern Railways, page 22:

After dropping off travellers at Foregate Street, my train terminates at Shrub Hill - a station which boasts one of the best selection [sic] of semaphore signals left in the country.

2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 67:

(rail transport) A railway signal with a moving arm mounted on a signal post or gantry, the position of the arm indicating whether a train should stop or proceed; they are now largely replaced by colour light signals.


signal bridge

(rail transport, US) A structure built over railroad tracks on which signals are mounted.


ROSCO

Until the mid-2010s, the ROSCOs 'made hay while the sun shone', taking advantage of growing passenger demand and expanding services to find homes for their rolling assets - in some cases, well beyond their expected design lives.

2023 June 28, Ben Jones, “Are we getting rid of our (still useful) rolling stock too early?”, in RAIL, number 986, page 28:

(rail transport, UK) Abbreviation of rolling stock (leasing) company.


reballast

en-verb

reballast (third-person singular simple present reballasts, present participle reballasting, simple past and past participle reballasted)

reballasts (present singular third-person)
reballasting (participle present)
reballasted (participle past)
reballasted (past)

Another pressing requirement is to reballast the line as at present nearly all of the track is on ash ballast; some 15 years' hard work should see the line on stone ballast.

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

(rail transport) To renew the ballast under railway track.


cab signalling

Now, a century later, semaphores and discs are giving place to colour and position lights. What will be the fashion in 2041? Universal continuous cab signalling?

1941 April, “Centenary of the Semaphore Signal”, in Railway Magazine, page 171:

It's easy enough to calculate that even at higher speeds - 360 km/h to pluck a figure out of the air - the signalling headway can be as low as 120 seconds given the benefit that follows from cab signalling such as European Train Control System (ECTS) Level 2.

2019 October, William Barter, “West Coast capacity study”, in Modern Railways, page 66:

(rail transport, British spelling) A rail safety system installed in the driving cab of a train, which gives information to the train driver on track status and condition.


reballasting

Repair of the many tunnels and high masonry viaducts on the eastern side of Semmering, appears to have necessitated this single-line working, although complete rerailing with long welded rails and resleepering and reballasting are being undertaken.

1951 June, John L. Buckland, “The Semmering Line and its Traffic”, in Railway Magazine, page 414:

The most welcome progress from a short-term viewpoint, however, is that reballasting of the Trent Valley section is almost completed and as a result accelerations of express passenger trains are likely in this summer's timetable; we hear that over this section alone it should be possible to cut 20min from the timings of three Anglo-Scottish day trains and that other services will be speeded up by 8-15min.

1961 March, “Talking of trains”, in Trains Illustrated, page 130:

(rail transport) The process of renewing the ballast under railway track.


read through

read through (third-person singular simple present reads through, present participle reading through, simple past and past participle read through)

reads through (present singular third-person)
reading through (participle present)
read through (participle past)
read through (past)

(intransitive, rail transport) To read and obey a signal that is beyond the applicable one (often mistakenly)


shedmaster

It is impossible not to feel sympathy with shedmasters in the difficulty they experience in obtaining cleaners.

1953 October, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 686:

Much earlier than that, in the small hours, taxis had been sent out to collect key officers, shedmasters and traffic staff for an immediate start on the reorganisation.

1961 March, “Talking of trains”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 130–131:

(rail transport, UK) The person in charge of an engine shed (or locomotive shed).


Bo-Bo

The Lötschberg had always been in the forefront of electric locomotive development and their 4,000 h.p. Bo-Bo design, introduced in 1944, was the first of its particular type in Europe, if not in the world. Shortly afterwards in 1946, the very successful Swiss Federal Bo-Bo type was introduced and for many years undertook the working of the high speed lightweight trains over the Geneva-Zurich, Geneva-Basle and other main lines.

1961 March, “Talking of trains”, in Trains Illustrated, page 136:

(rail transport) A wheel arrangement for diesel and electric locomotives signifying that a locomotive has four axles, each powered by a motor, on two bogies.


Co-Co

With their high horsepower, the new Bo-Bos, of which six are on order for trial purposes, but which should ultimately number 50, will take over most of the Gotthard passenger workings from the 6,000 h.p. Co-Cos, permitting the latter to take a greater share of the steadily increasing freight workings over this route, the aim being to work 1,200-ton freight trains up the long 1 in 38-40 approaches to the Gotthard tunnel with 6,000 h.p. Co-Cos in pairs.

1961 March, “Talking of trains”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 136–137:

(rail transport) A wheel arrangement for diesel and electric locomotives signifying that a locomotive has six axles, each powered by a motor, on two bogies.


motor coach

It will be recalled that the units are formed of three-car sets, with driving trailers on either side of the motor coach. The motor coach, which has a nose-suspended motor on each axle, carries the pantograph above the guard's van.

1961 March, “Interim report on the Glasgow suburban electric train failures”, in Trains Illustrated, page 175:

(rail transport) A powered railway vehicle, designed for passenger transport, capable to pull (or push) other railroad cars (compared to a railcar which only consists of a single railway vehicle with a driver's cab at both ends).


diesel multiple unit

en-noun

diesel multiple unit (plural diesel multiple units)

On January 23, diesel multiple-units began working some of the Marylebone suburban services.

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

(rail transport) A multiple-unit train of two or more coaches powered by diesel engines, usually installed underfloor.


test track

Research would be facilitated if a test track of suitable length and characteristics for coach running tests at speeds up to "90 m.p.h.-plus" were on offer, as there are obvious difficulties in making available a regularly used main line for such purposes; but B.T.C. plans in this respect have apparently suffered under the economy axe.

1961 March, “Talking of Trains: Hunting bogies”, in Trains Illustrated, page 136:

The dynamic tests at Wildenrath use continuous test tracks built on the site of a former Royal Air Force station that was vacated after the end of the Cold War.

2023 November 29, Philip Haigh, “New Piccadilly Line trains put to the test”, in RAIL, number 997, page 26:

(rail transport) A railway track for the purpose of testing trains.


locomotive shed

locomotive shed (plural locomotive sheds)

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:

The locomotive shed at Portadown is gradually becoming the principal Great Northern section steam motive power depot.

1961 March, “The Irish scene”, in Trains Illustrated, page 138:

Short form: locoshed

(rail transport) Synonym of engine shed.


motor-coach

At present certain of these trains, most of which are operated on the push-and-pull principle with up to 12 coaches, are handled by the recent RBe 4/4 type motor-coaches of 2,700 h.p.;- this class also is to be augmented considerably.

1961 March, “Talking of Trains”, in Trains Illustrated, London: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 137:

(rail transport) Alternative form of motor coach.


firehole

A rolling grate in two sections is fitted; there are two injectors and an A.C.F.I. pump, and the usual firehole door.

1961 March, ""Balmore"", “Driving and firing modern French steam locomotives”, in Trains Illustrated, page 150:

(rail transport) An opening fitted with a door, giving access to the firebox of a steam locomotive, through which coal can be shovelled and the fire tended.


Westinghouse brake

Westinghouse brake (plural Westinghouse brakes)

Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that the Westinghouse brake has been retained as standard for all passenger trains, and that certain services still afford regular work for some of the survivors of the once-numerous Stroudley "Terrier" tank engines.

1946 March and April, “Railways of the Isle of Wight”, in Railway Magazine, page 67:

The Westinghouse brake operation is interesting, but unusual if one happens to be used to Westinghouse working in this country. [...] The essence of the use of the Westinghouse brake is confidence and - for want of a better word - dash; the sooner the feeling stage is over the better for all concerned.

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

(rail transport) A proprietary air brake designed for railway use by George Westinghouse.


well wagon

(rail transport, British) An open goods wagon with a well (depressed loadbed) between the bogies or axles.


sand dome

(rail transport) A sand reservoir mounted on top of the boiler of a steam locomotive. The sand was used on wet rails to prevent slipping.


nose-suspended

(rail transport, of a traction motor) suspended by a "nose" on the motor from the bogie frame.


driving trailer

driving trailer (plural driving trailers)

(rail transport) An unpowered coach fitted with a driving cab and placed at one or both ends of a train.


home signal

(rail transport) A railway signal controlling entry to the next section of line. Originally it meant a signal governing entry into a station.


running line

(rail transport) A railway line used to operate trains on, as opposed to a siding.


starter signal

(rail transport) Synonym of starting signal.


route indicator

route indicator (plural route indicators)

(rail transport) A panel attached to a colour light signal situated just before a junction, which when lit up indicates that a diverging route has been set for the next train.


colour light signal

colour light signal (plural colour light signals)

(rail transport, British spelling) An electric railway signal with colour aspects, showing either red or green in a 2-aspect signal, with the addition of a yellow or double yellow aspect (meaning caution) in 3- and 4-aspect signals.


special saloon

The failure of a new Brush 1,600 h.p. diesel on the down "Fenman" when it was conveying the Queen in a special saloon was an unfortunate piece of bad publicity for B.R.

1961 March, “Talking of trains”, in Trains Illustrated, page 135:

After the war, the GWR restored its royal train, in reality special saloons provided for its directors and important guests, but the SR had finally discarded its ancient train, employing Pullman-cars where necessary.

2014, Bill Horsfall, London Midland & Scottish, Author House, page 75:

(rail transport, UK) A special railway carriage reserved for royalty and other dignitaries.


steam-hauled

Meantime, some trains continue to be steam-hauled between Oslo and the frontier.

1952 January, “Electrification Progress in Norway”, in RAIL, page 55:

From January 2, writes L. J. Jennings, diesel multiple-units took over completely the local service between Leicester, Hinckley, Nuneaton and Birmingham, except for the 3.10 a.m. Nuneaton Trent Valley-Leicester London Road and the 9.18 p.m. in the reverse direction, which remain steam-hauled.

1961 March, “Talking of trains”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 134–135:

(rail transport, of a train) Pulled by a steam locomotive.


stopping train

Most of the through Leicester-Birmingham workings are non-stop between Leicester and Hinckley, leaving the intermediate stations to be served by the largely hourly stopping trains between Leicester and Nuneaton.

Another view of Ashchurch station on August 18, 1961, with "Royal Scot" 4-6-0 No. 46148 The Manchester Regiment restarting a Worcester-Cheltenham stopping train and a Class 4 2-6-0 at the branch platform on a train from Redditch.

1962 May, “Ashchurch to lose another branch service”, in Modern Railways, page 299, photo caption:

(rail transport) A passenger train that stops at most, if not all, of the stations on the route in the course of its journey.


long-welded

Rail joints affect it but do not in themselves cause bad riding, which may indeed be aggravated on long-welded track.

About 20 per cent of the Federal Railways' main-line track has been laid with long-welded rail by the beginning of this year; further progress is hindered by the many curves.

1964 July, “Beyond the Channel: Switzerland: Long-welded rails”, in Modern Railways, page 64:

(rail transport) Of rails for railway track, welded into longer lengths, usually before they are laid, to help eliminate jointed track.


starting signal

starting signal (plural starting signals)

As it happened, however, it was clear enough, when the platform starting-signal was lowered, for the signalman in box No. 5 to see his advance-starting signal, and he was therefore justified in allowing the train to go forward, and it was not until it had passed his box that, upon looking out, he saw that it had disappeared into the bank of fog, which had by that time hidden the advanced starting-signal from his view.

1882 June, “Official Reports on Recent Accidents”, in The Railway Engineer, page 157:

(rail transport) A railway signal controlling the starting of trains from a station or some other location, nowadays usually a colour-light signal.


coupling rod

(rail transport) A rod that couples the driving wheels of a locomotive, a steam locomotive in particular, so that the driving wheels act together as a unit.


diesel-hydraulic

(rail transport) A diesel-hydraulic locomotive.


maiden run

On February 17, 1956, the first one, No. 35018, left Eastleigh on its maiden run with a Bournemouth stopping train.

1961 March, C. P. Boocock, “The organisation of Eastleigh Locomotive Works”, in Trains Illustrated, page 160:

(rail transport, of a locomotive, train, etc.) Its first trip in service, in some cases after a rebuild.


tank locomotive

tank locomotive (plural tank locomotives)

(rail transport) Synonym of tank engine.


wheel shop

In the wheel shop a wheel-welding machine, the first of its kind on British Railways when it was installed in 1955, uses a "Lincoln" submerged arc welding head to build up the diameter of old wheel centres (from the 1880 to 1910 era).
 [p162] Eastleigh Locomotive Works: Layout and functions of shops [...] Wheel Shop: Preparation and assembly of wheel and axle sets.

1961 March, C. P. Boocock, “The organisation of Eastleigh Locomotive Works”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 159, 162:

(rail transport) A workshop where wheels of locomotives and other railway vehicles are maintained.


dragbox

Under British Railways management, a large number of fabricated dragboxes for Class 9 2-10-0s were made at Eastleigh, for use in other Regions' works.

1961 March, C. P. Boocock, “The organisation of Eastleigh Locomotive Works”, in Trains Illustrated, page 163:

(rail transport) A substantial, often cast metal, part of a locomotive to which the coupling mechanism is attached to allow the locomotive to pull a train.


non-corridor

No non-corridor coaching stock remains in normal service.

Because of the transfer of some multiple-units to the Great Eastern line to make good the latter's deficiency in North-East London since the troubles with G.E.C. electrical equipment, a number of local services on the Manchester-Crewe line have lately been worked with locomotive-hauled non-corridor stock of G.E. Line origin.

1961 March, “Motive Power Miscellany”, in Trains Illustrated, page 180:

(rail transport, dated) Of a train or railway coach, not having a corridor running the length of the coach providing access to the passenger compartments; each compartment would have an outside door on each side.


box van

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


tube train

Probably named after the shape of the tunnels; the Tube is an informal name for London Underground which has been trademarked.

I took a tube train through the subway systems / I rode those tunnels like a six-foot mole

1979, The Boomtown Rats (lyrics and music), “Wind Chill Factor (Minus Zero)”, in The Fine Art of Surfacing:

(rail transport, UK) A smaller-profile underground train which operates through the tube tunnels under London, which have a small cross section.


smoking carriage

smoking carriage (plural smoking carriages)

The trains then still had smoking carriages, and I would sit in these because their passengers seemed the friendliest - and I would smoke in the smoking carriage, because it seemed the done thing.

2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page xiii, Preface:

(rail transport, British) Synonym of smoking car.


Metropolitan

(rail transport) The Metropolitan Line of London Underground, which has its ancestry in the Metropolitan Railway.


parliamentary train

parliamentary train (plural parliamentary trains)

He [Gladstone] also required the operators to run 'Parliamentary Trains' - one each day calling at every station at a fare of not more than a penny per mile for Third Class.

2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 34:

1885, W. S. Gilbert, The Mikado, Act II, in The Mikado, and Other Plays, New York: Modern Library, 1917, p. 42, https://archive.org/details/mikadootherplays00gilb
The idiot who, in railway carriages, / Scribbles on window panes, / We only suffer / To ride on a buffer / In Parliamentary trains.

(rail transport, UK, chiefly historical) Originally a requirement in the Railway Regulation Act 1844 for railways to run at least one train a day each way, at a cost to passengers of no more than one penny a mile, on every railway line in the country. Presently the term is used for passenger trains that serve a line or station only once a day or week to avoid the cost of applying for closure.


condensing locomotive

condensing locomotive (plural condensing locomotives)

In July 1864 the Metropolitan took delivery of some more condensing locomotives: beautiful green brass-bound tank engines from Beyer, Peacock & Co. of Manchester.

2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 43:

(rail transport) A steam locomotive which condenses exhaust steam by directing it into the water tank(s).


Hammersmith & City

Before we reach the Circle saga, two other extensions of the Met need to be mentioned. The first is the Hammersmith & City Railway - now the western part of the Hammersmith and City Line. It was built and jointly funded by the Metropolitan and the Great Western, even as they were arguing over operation of the Metropolitan.

2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 49:

(rail transport) A London Underground line which runs from Hammersmith to Barking via Paddington and King's Cross.


Overground

From overground, in contrast to the Underground.

Yes, it was rather bizarre to make a former underground line into part of a network called London Overground, and at Whitechapel the Overground goes under the Underground. But let's not spoil our happy ending for the East London Line.

2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 94:

(rail transport) The London Overground, a counterpart of London Underground operated by TfL (Transport for London), which operates some of the various lines around London which are mainly above ground.


fourth rail

It was the only line to operate by means of the third-rail system (as distinct from the fourth-rail system now universal on all London's Underground railways) and its coaches were of different design and appearance from those on other systems.

1948 January and February, C. R. L. Coles, “The Grouping Era”, in Railway Magazine, page 21:

The railway used the 'Third Rail' system of electrification, like all the early Tubes. (But it would soon be replaced across the network by another system even more exciting - Fourth''' Rail!)

2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 103:

(rail transport) An extra rail in addition to the third rail (live rail) which is used for current return purposes, mainly by London Underground, because of problems caused by using the running rails for current return underground.


dead man's handle

dead man's handle (plural dead man's handles)

Dead-man's handle, automatic train stop, quick-acting compressed-air brake specially suited for high-speed working, and regenerative braking are among the features of the new locomotives.

1947 March and April, “Swiss High-Speed Electric Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 94:

There were two engine men in case one of them fainted or died, the 'dead man's handle' of the later Tubes (a fail-safe device that stops the train if the driver does not maintain manual pressure on a lever) not having been perfected.

2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, pages 103–104:

(rail transport) A lever used as a safety device, typically on trains, which shuts off power if the operator releases their grip.

VACMA

safety device on trains — see also dead man's switch


tripcock

When a train runs onto the track, thus connecting the two rails, a short circuit is created, the current drops out and the signal switched to red. The system operates in conjunction with a lever on the tracks. If a train should pass a red light, the lever, which is called a tripcock, comes into play. The tripcock releases the air from the train's air-braking system, thus causing the brakes to come on and stopping the train.

2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, pages 136–137:

Chiltern Class 165s are fitted with tripcocks to allow them to operate on LU infrastructure between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Amersham.

2020 July 1, Richard Clinnick, “Network News: '165' runs through points and into path of LU service”, in Rail, page 20:

(rail transport) A train-mounted safety device which interacts with a trackside device to stop a train automatically if it passes a signal at danger (showing a red light).


walk-through

The new trains will also be fully 'walk-through', with no carriage end-doors. Travelling on them is like riding on a sinuous, moving corridor. It's less claustrophobic than the old arrangement, but now you can no longer choose the carriage not occupied by the declaiming loony.

2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 277:

Unlike the older trains, the new units have walk-through carriages and longitudinal rather than transverse seating.

2023 February 22, Paul Stephen, “TfL reveals first of new B23s for Docklands Light Railway”, in RAIL, number 977, page 12:

(rail transport) Of passenger carriages in a train, having no doors in gangway connections between the carriages, often in combination with longitudinal seating, creating a "see-through" effect through the train.


track worker

Essentially, our point is that while Britain's railways are seen as among the safest in the world, that situation is now seriously under threat by a combination of a rise in the number of near misses that are occurring as well as an increase in incidents arising from line blockages. In both these areas, the safety of track workers is put at risk.

2019 October 23, “Network News: TSSA raises safety concerns to Williams Review”, in RAIL, number 890, page 19:

(rail transport) Alternative form of trackworker.


heritage railway

heritage railway (plural heritage railways)

The heritage railway [Isle of Wight Steam Railway] argued that passenger numbers on both operators would increase, bringing economic benefit to a deprived area of the town [of Ryde].

(rail transport, UK) A railway operating a line with preserved and restored locomotives, trains and infrastructure, and usually providing train services for visitors; in effect a working open-air museum.


freight wagon

ROL saw a potential market for the movement of intermodal traffic at speeds of up to 100mph, which would be easier to path alongside passenger services, using a new design of freight wagon.

2023 July 26, David Clough, “Technology progression defines Class 93”, in RAIL, number 988, page 52:

(rail transport, UK) A railroad car used to carry freight.


driver-only operation

This taps into issues such as driver-only operation, on which Labour has been outspoken in supporting striking union members.

(rail transport) The operation of a train without a conductor or guard as a cost-cutting measure; one-man operation.


heavy rail

As with all Metrolink routes on the network, the Oldham-Rochdale line is performing well. Passenger usage is now considerably higher than when it was in use for heavy rail services, [...]

2019 October 23, Andy Coward, “New acclaim for Oldham Loop”, in RAIL, number 890, page 63:

This section of line is a rarity, with heavy rail passenger and freight services sharing tracks with the Tyne and Wear Metro as far as Pelaw, where the Metro services run onto dedicated tracks.

2022 November 30, Paul Bigland, “Destination Oban: a Sunday in Scotland”, in RAIL, number 971, page 75:

(rail transport) A term generally applied to main-line railways, but this varies from country to country. It has no relation to the weight of the rails used.


tram-train

One million passengers have used the Sheffield tram-train in the first year of its trial, according to South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE). [...] Tim Bilby, Stagecoach Supertram Managing Director, said passenger numbers and customer satisfaction had exceeded expectations, showing that tram-trains offer an affordable and efficient way to connect Sheffield city centre and Rotherham.

2019 November 6, “Sheffield lays groundwork for tram-train schemes”, in Rail, page 24:

(rail transport, UK) A design of tram which can operate over standard railway track as well as tram track.

tren tramvia

Verknüpfung zwischen Straßenbahn und Eisenbahn


Network Rail

(rail transport, UK) The government-owned company that owns and manages the infrastructure on the railway network in Britain used by TOCs (train operating companies).


dome car

The Canadian Pacific Railway is about to introduce dome cars, already popular in the United States, which will add, if possible, to the scenic delights of the journey through the Rockies.

1954 February, Trevor Holloway, “Canada's Transcontinental Routes”, in Railway Magazine, page 130:

The "Rheinpfeil", from Dortmund to Munich, with which the "Rheingold" exchanges coaches at Duisburg, is now composed of similar air-conditioned stock, apart from a dome car, which continues to operate only between Dortmund and Basle; [...].

1963 June, “The "Rheingold" beats the "Mistral"”, in Modern Railways, page 385:

(rail transport) A railroad passenger car with a glass observation dome.


grab iron

These alterations included a bevelled nose, modifications to the footsteps, grab irons, and lower cowls around the fans in the roof, to overcome height restrictions on some Southern Pacific lines in the east.

1985, Rodger Bradley, Amtrak: The US National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Blandford Press, pages 71–72:

(rail transport, US) A metal bar attached to the side of locomotives and railroad cars for use as a handhold.


slumbercoach

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

(rail transport) A type of sleeping car.


dive-under

Services from Heathrow would use the existing Byfleet Junction, enabling trains to join the slow line of the South Western Main Line to Woking. The junction already has a dive-under.

2019 November 20, “Government delays Heathrow rail to consider other modes”, in Rail, page 25:

(rail transport) A railway junction where at least one track passes under other lines instead of crossing them on the same level, in order to avoid conflicting movements; an underpass.


shunting neck

This tunnel was 326 yd. long, and the portals were designed by Brunel to represent Norman archways. It was converted into an open cutting, between 1887 and 1889, to make room for the shunting necks of the sidings at Bristol East Depot.

1949 May and June, “A Middlesex Inn Sign”, in Railway Magazine, page 142:

(rail transport) A length of dead-end track, e.g. alongside a main line, used for the purpose of allowing a train to shunt back into a siding or rail yard without the need for the train to occupy a running line.


signal check

Of the failures to do so on the 23 other occasions, six only were attributed to the performance of the locomotives and the remainder to signal checks and permanent way cautions, particularly in the week following a parcels train derailment at Northallerton.

1961 April, G. Freeman Allen, “The planning and execution of the new Leeds-Manchester service”, in Trains Illustrated, page 204:

(rail transport) An instance where a train must stop at a red signal, or slow down before passing a signal displaying a yellow aspect.


baggage car

(especially US, rail transport) A railway vehicle in passenger trains used to carry passengers' heavy luggage; a luggage van.


track plan

(rail transport) A diagram of the track layout at a particular place.


contact shoe

(rail transport) A current collector on an electric train which is in contact with the live rail.


running shed

The running sheds consist of four round-houses, and still bear traces of the notorious "Baedeker" raid on the City of York itself.

1949 November and December, O. S. Nock, “Twenty-Four Hours at York—2”, in Railway Magazine, page 358:

A correspondent points out that the new diesel depot at March is being fashioned by conversion of the former steam and repair depot; two roads in the running shed have now been adapted for such steam locomotive repair work as remains.

1963 January, “Motive power miscellany”, in Modern Railways, page 65:

(rail transport) A building used for the maintenance and preparation for service of locomotives.


mineral wagon

(rail transport, UK) An open goods wagon with relatively high sides for the transport of minerals such as coal or iron ore.


Beeching

Topographic surname from either Old English bæc (“stream, brook”) or bēċe (“beech”).

Nationally, there were relatively few closures after Beeching and more recently some lines have reopened to passenger traffic, such as the Cannock Chase line, which for a number of years had been freight only.

2014 March 31, Geoff Cryer, Shropshire Railways, Crowood, →ISBN:

(UK, rail transport) The Beeching Axe; the closure of many branch lines in the UK in the mid-20th century.


Thus, in the diesel-electric Type 4 range, B.R. have progressed from the early 2,000-2,300 h.p. 1Co-Co1s of 130-140 tons to the latest Brush/Sulzer 2,750 h.p. Co-Co of about 114 tons weight; [...].

1963 January, G. Freeman Allen, “Why B.R. are dropping high-power diesel-hydraulics”, in Modern Railways, page 25:

(rail transport) A wheel arrangement for diesel-electric locomotives signifying that a locomotive has eight axles on two bogies, six axles are powered by electric motors, with one outer axle on each bogie unpowered.


rail trail

As railroads fell into disuse, they left behind thousand of miles of corridor and, of course, potential trails. Today, the Great Lakes region of the Midwest boasts 381 rail-trails, and Wisconsin and Michigan are constantly vying for the most rail-trail miles of all 50 states and the more than 1500 rail-trails across the United States […]

2009, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Rail-Trails Midwest Great Lakes: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, Wilderness Press, →ISBN, page 1:

(rail transport) A former railway track converted into a multi-use path, typically as a greenway for walking and cycling.


automatic half-barrier level crossing

automatic half-barrier level crossing (plural automatic half-barrier level crossings)

automatic half-barrier level crossings (plural)

The incident occurred when the 1111 Fenchurch Street-Southend Central passed over Mucking automatic half-barrier level crossing (between East Tilbury and Stanford-le-Hope) just six seconds after a lorry partially loaded with concrete had reversed off the crossing. The train was travelling at 57mph at the time.

2020 January 2, “Safety procedures addressed after Essex level crossing near-miss”, in Rail, page 15:

(rail transport) A level crossing with a single barrier on each side of the railway line, the barriers when lowered only block half of the road.


Fenchurch Street

Fenchurch Street
Fenchurch Street railway station

(rail transport) A relatively small railway terminus near the above street, which has train services to southern Essex.


reversing siding

reversing siding (plural reversing sidings)

Help could also come from adding reversing sidings east of Victoria. This would cut the number of trains running on towards Rochdale or Stalybridge, which might ease the contraints of those single-ladder junctions.

2020 January 2, Philip Haigh, “Is there relief to congestion along Castlefield Corridor?”, in Rail, page 23:

(rail transport, UK) A siding provided for terminating passenger trains, usually at a through station, where a train can lay over between journeys before heading back in the opposite direction.


on-train

Cost analysis revealed that on-train catering lost money and Travellers Fare, the BR division that dealt with all the railway's catering, commissioned consultants to report on options.

2020 January 2, David Clough, “How InterCity came back from the brink”, in RAIL, page 65:

(rail transport) Taking place on a train.


pilotman

However, as soon as they are inside the dock territory, at the Canute Road crossing in the case of the Old Docks and Millbrook in the case of the New Docks, incoming main line trains must slow down to take on a pilotman, who directs the train on the instructions of Operational Control, either to one of the yard reception roads, or, if it is a boat train, to the appropriate quayside.

1959 February, G. Freeman Allen, “Southampton—Gateway to the Ocean”, in Trains Illustrated, page 92:

These points will be padlocked, a green hand-signal will be shown and the keys handed to the pilotman, who will be expected to make a periodical examination of the points to see that they are secure and that the hand-signal is still properly displayed.

1963 September, “Change of single-line rules”, in Modern Railways, page 147:

Alongside its vital role of maintaining and reviewing each of the rail industry's 294 technical and safety standards, the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) is about to turn its attention to how to make the term 'pilotman' gender-neutral.

2022 April 20, “Network News: RSSB to explore new terms to replace 'pilotman'”, in RAIL, number 955, page 16:

(rail transport, UK) A railway employee who directs operations over a section of railway line temporarily reduced to single track, e.g. during maintenance work, or within an unsignalled area.


Fairlie

(rail transport) A design of steam locomotive with the driving wheels on one or two bogies.


resleeper

en-verb

resleeper (third-person singular simple present resleepers, present participle resleepering, simple past and past participle resleepered)

resleepers (present singular third-person)
resleepering (participle present)
resleepered (participle past)
resleepered (past)

The last winter's bad weather meant that only 1,500 sleepers were renewed but it is hoped that the increased programme will see the line resleepered in about seven years' time.

1979 August, Michael Harris, “A line for all reasons: the North Yorkshire Moors Railway”, in Railway World, pages 411–412:

(rail transport, transitive, UK) To replace the sleepers of (a track).


stopblock

[...] we were losing speed for the descent into King's Cross Platform 8, where a large crowd had gathered. For the last time, an HST braked gently and smoothly to a stand at the stopblock, and it was all over.

2020 January 15, Nigel Harris, “HST's East Coast Farewell Tour”, in Rail, page 34:

(rail transport, especially US) An obstruction placed at the end of a railway track to prevent rail vehicles from going any further.


Severn Tunnel Junction

(rail transport) A railway station and junction in Rogiet community, Monmouthshire, Wales, on the west side of the Severn Tunnel, which serves the village of Rogiet (OS grid ref ST4687).


block post

As the new year dawned, Network Rail operated 562 SBs [signal boxes] of all shapes and sizes. The majority (473) are block posts, which carry out the primary role of signalling trains. [...] While most block posts often also control level crossings, crossing boxes are dedicated to crossing control. [...] Swing bridge boxes are an interesting category. Some, such as Trowse Swing Bridge in Norfolk, combine the role of block post with supervising level crossings and operating a swing bridge. [...] In common with crossing boxes, swing bridge boxes carry out their role under the supervision of a block post. For example, Keadby Canal SB needs to communicate with Scunthorpe PSB. When the resignalling of the Lowestoft line is completed, Reedham and Somerleyton Swing Bridges will no longer be block posts. [...] Records suggest that 100 years ago, there were around 12,000 block posts.

2020 January 15, David Allen, “Signalling survivors into the 2020s”, in Rail, page 68:

(rail transport) In signalling, a signal box at one end of a block section.


tamping machine

en-noun

tamping machine (plural tamping machines)

The BRB has ordered from Plasser & Theurer, through Plasser Railway Machinery (GB) Ltd., a total of 27 Plassermatic VKR-05-E hydraulic track levelling and tamping machines with electronic-beam levelling units.

1964 October, “News: New tamping machines for WR”, in Modern Railways, page 277:

A near-miss between a tamping machine and a passenger train at Balham Junction on April 20 2019 was caused by a lack of information, lack of querying instructions and poor safety-critical communications.

2020 February 12, “Network News”, in RAIL, page 24:

(rail transport) A self-propelled rail-mounted machine used to pack or tamp ballast under railway tracks; a ballast tamper.


right-away signal

right-away signal (plural right-away signals)

Travelling porters do not ride in the trains at off-peak times, when guards supervise boarding and alighting and give the right-away signal if no station staff is available, for if only there is only one station porter on duty he may be on the opposite platform.

1963 October, “News and Comment”, in Modern Railways, page 228:

(rail transport, UK) A signal given to a train driver by the guard of the train, or a member of station staff, that the train is ready to depart.


point heater

Measures adopted by B.R. to offset the effects of another hard winter include modifications to steam heating and water pipes on main-line ordinary coaches and sleeping cars, and to diesel locomotive steam-generators, the supply of additional point heaters and the provision of larger and more effective snowploughs. [...] This winter B.R. will have 2,180 point heaters in operation, at a cost of roughly £105 a unit, compared with 766 last year, and the Board hope to install another 300 during the course of the winter.

1963 December, “News and Comment”, in Modern Railways, pages 369, 370:

(rail transport, UK) A heating device used in freezing weather to keep points (US: switches) free of ice and snow.


ferry van

More than one exporter had complained that ferry vans were in desperately short supply and that the B.R. fleet of 400 new vans (over 150 of which are now in service) would fall far short of immediately foreseeable requirements. [...] The solution to the exporters' demand for more stock of this kind, it was said, lay in the quicker turnround of the Continental ferry wagons bringing imports to this country.

1964 January, “News and Comment: Dr. Beeching and the exporters”, in Modern Railways, page 2:

A grey morning in Tonbridge in 1977 sees No. 33208 rattle through the station with a long train of ferry vans and wagons from the train ferry at Dover.

2018, Andy Gibbs, The Southern Region in the 1970s and 1980s, Amberley Publishing →ISBN https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=oK-IDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1975&lpg=PA1975&dq=%22ferry+vans%22+%22train+ferry%22&source=bl&ots=ZbB1tER9GV&sig=ACfU3U15HhlmwEplxh66aMkzkE8upxS6Cg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwixvtWXjKToAhXKYcAKHRarCToQ6AEwEXoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22ferry%20vans%22%20%22train%20ferry%22&f=false:

(rail transport, UK, dated) A railway goods van intended for train ferry traffic to and from continental Europe.


block train

Steel billet traffic in block trains from Briton Ferry to Langley Green has developed from an initial service of one train three times a week [...]. In addition, plans are now being formulated for the operation of numerous block trains formed exclusively of the new 32.4-ton BR brake-fitted hopper wagons, permanently coupled, from South Wales collieries to Swansea Docks, [...].

1964 March, “News and Comment: More block trains in South Wales”, in Modern Railways, page 152:

(rail transport) A freight train that carries only one commodity.


railborne

In 1962, 34m tons of coal were railborne to CEGB power stations in England and Wales.

1964 March, “Power station coal by rail - the BR-CEGB agreement”, in Modern Railways, page 179:

(rail transport) Carried by train, transported by rail.


triple valve

By 1873, the triple valve had been developed satisfactorily in a form which it retained for many years, and by it the automatic character of the brake was ensured. The valve got its name from its triple function of applying the brakes, releasing them, and re-charging the auxiliary reservoirs.

1946 November and December, “George Westinghouse, 1846-1914”, in Railway Magazine, pages 374–375:

The basic equipment on each vehicle consists of the auxiliary reservoir, the triple valve and the brake cylinders. When the train pipe pressure is reduced, the triple valve spills air out of the auxiliary reservoir until its pressure becomes equal to that of the train pipe; this air is passed into the brake cylinders.

1964 March, “Train braking - the next steps”, in Modern Railways, page 186:

(rail transport) In railway air braking systems, a valve that performs three functions.


road slug

(rail transport) A kind of slug (locomotive accessory) intended to serve as part of a regular locomotive consist for road haulage.


yard slug

(rail transport) A slug (locomotive accessory) designed for switching; it has a low body, and no cab, in order to allow an engineer or driver in a powered unit to the rear to see past it.


hump slug

(rail transport) A kind of slug (locomotive accessory) designed for even slower operation than a yard slug, and able to push a long cut of cars over a hump at very low speed.


saddle tank

In 1863 the Furness Railway purchased its last batch of 0-4-0 tender engines from Sharp Stewart & Co. of Manchester. [...] These locomotives had only a short life with the F.R., for the railway sold them in 1870 to Schneider & Hannay, now the Barrow Haematite Steel Co., and the latter converted them into saddle tanks.

1939 June, “Pertinent Paragraphs: Furness Railway Veterans”, in Railway Magazine, page 458:

(rail transport) Alternative form of saddletank.


headcode

Another appendix elucidates the S.E.C.R. headcode system.

1961 July, “New reading on railways: The Locomotives of the South Eastern & Chatham Railway, by D. L. Bradley”, in Trains Illustrated, page vii:

Gaining a new headcode, it is then rebranded as the 2103 Carmarthen-Fishguard Harbour - a place I'd never visited by rail.

2022 November 2, Paul Bigland, “New trains, old trains, and splendid scenery”, in RAIL, number 969, page 59:

(rail transport, UK) A code used to distinguish classes of train for the benefit of signalmen, formerly by using white oil lamps (or white discs) placed on brackets on the front of the locomotive. The various lamp positions defined the class of train.


warm storage

However, operators including LNER, Chiltern Railways and East Midlands Railway have already indicated that some of their fleets will be temporarily placed into warm storage until the Coronavirus crisis is over.
What does warm storage mean?
Warm storage means that trains are maintained and kept powered at all times in order to keep all systems working.

2020 April 8, “Network News: COVID-19: Questions and Answers”, in Rail, page 10:

(rail transport, UK) Storage of a train taken out of service temporarily, which is kept powered and maintained.


catch points

Many freights were not fully braked, and catch points were provided on steep gradients to derail runaway wagons. The points cost money to maintain and were a hassle when wrong-line working was needed. With the Settle-Carlisle Line available as an alternative, all catch points were removed over Shap, which meant only fully braked trains could traverse the route.

2020 April 8, David Clough, “How the West Coast wiring war was won”, in Rail, page 63:

(rail transport, UK) A set of points provided to derail rail vehicles out of control on a steep gradient.


non-platform

A single through non-platform line helps to keep freight and passenger trains segregated at Ipswich station. It is particularly useful for Felixstowe-bound trains, which have to cross the Norwich-London main line.

2020 April 22, Paul Shannon, “Felixstowe: Is 47 trains a day achievable?”, in Rail, page 54, photo caption:

(rail transport) Of a railway lines at a station: not serving a platform, typically on a through line used by non-stopping trains.


railtour

The town's [(Consett's)] final rail passengers came and went on March 17 1984, with a railtour from Newcastle organised by the Derwent Rail Action Group.

2020 April 22, Philip Haigh, “Rethinking, rather than reopening, is the catalyst for growth”, in Rail, page 56:

(rail transport) A special excursion by train which is run in order to allow people to experience rail travel which is not available using timetabled passenger services.


rail-served

Rotherham is not the only rail-served site the business once had, but the additional one at Doncaster no longer operates.

2020 May 6, “Mk 3s reach the end of the line at Rotherham”, in Rail, page 44:

(rail transport) Having a connection to the railway network, such as a siding.


WHA

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


joint line

The engine was No. 60920, which was seen passing southbound through Preston and then at about 1.0 p.m. heading its train over the former joint line from Warrington via Helsby to the Chester district; [...]

1959 April, “Motive Power Miscellany: London Midland Region”, in Trains Illustrated, page 221:

(rail transport) A railway that is or was owned and operated by more than one company.


double-headed

(rail transport) Of a train, hauled by two locomotives.


mixed-traffic

But it is the joy of running Britain's railways that we are the busiest mixed-traffic railway probably in the world, and the way we've ended up interacting freight and different classes of passenger traffic does mean that it's very hard to give anyone priority - [...]

2020 May 20, Andrew Haines talks to Stefanie Foster, “Repurpose rail for the 2020s”, in Rail, page 32:

(rail transport) Of a railway, one that caters for both passenger and freight traffic.

Thirty mixed-traffic 4-8-2 locomotives recently completed by the Vulcan Foundry Limited for the 3 ft. 6 in. gauge Gold Coast Government Railway have all their axles, big ends, and coupling and eccentric rods fitted with British Timken roller bearings.

1952 February, “New Locomotives for the Gold Coast [now Ghana]”, in Railway Magazine, page 74:

The first of a class of powerful mixed-traffic electric locomotives have already been delivered and are undergoing tests on a special four-mile oval test track near Peking.

1961 February, “The 6,000 h.p. French electric locomotives for China”, in Trains Illustrated, page 91:

(rail transport) Of a locomotive, one intended for both passenger and freight trains.


stabling siding

stabling siding (plural stabling sidings)

The area now has an even more impressive web of railway junctions and lines than ever - especially as new stabling sidings have been added to take the pressure of [sic] the cramped Overground depot site at New Cross, which is hemmed in between running lines ([...]).

2020 May 20, Paul Bigland, “East London Line's renaissance”, in Rail, page 48:

(rail transport, UK) A storage siding for rolling stock, in particular passenger trains not being used in service.


double-heading

Mr. S. T. Yaxley recalls that the Garratts were first placed in service on the Toton-Brent and Toton-Wellingborough coal trains and empties back, eliminating much of the double-heading which prior to their introduction was so prevalent in Midland freight train operation.

1959 March, “Talking of Trains: The L.M.S. Beyer-Garratts”, in Trains Illustrated, page 122:

There appeared to be no restrictions on single-manning of locomotives in Belgium, but multiple-unit control of two locomotives by one driver has not been adopted; when double-heading is required a driver is put in charge of each locomotive.

1960 February, A. S. Gillitt, “The operation and maintenance of Belgian main line diesels”, in Trains Illustrated, page 88:

[...] Fowler was responsible for a conservative small engine policy at the LMS, previously adopted on the Midland, which led to much double-heading - although the Royal Scot 4-6-0 express passenger locomotive was also introduced on his watch in 1928.

2021 December 29, Stephen Roberts, “Stories and facts behind railway plaques: Evesham (1870)”, in RAIL, number 947, page 59:

(rail transport) The use of two locomotives at the front, or head, of a train.


shunting engine

shunting engine (plural shunting engines)

Seven shunting engines are employed in Euston sidings and are responsible for the transfer trips.

1960 February, R. C. Riley, “The London-Birmingham services - Past, Present and Future”, in Trains Illustrated, page 99:

(rail transport, UK) A locomotive that carries out shunting duties.


motive power depot

motive power depot (plural motive power depots)

Camden motive power depot has been much criticised for its emission of smoke in a residential neighbourhood and its complete dieselisation is rapidly taking place.

(rail transport) A place where locomotives are housed, maintained and repaired.


secondman

The secondman looks back from 'Slim Jim' Class 33 No. 33211 as it trundles through Gravesend station with a permanent way train in 1977. The first wagon's sides are literally bulging at the seams with ballast spoil.

2018, Andy Gibbs, The Southern Region in the 1970s and 1980s, Amberley Publishing →ISBN, page 12, photo caption:

And instead of carrying commuters, the only people on many evening trains between Hatfield and St Albans were the driver and secondman.

2023 March 8, Howard Johnston, “Was Marples the real railway wrecker?”, in RAIL, page 50:

(rail transport, UK) A driver's assistant on a diesel or electric locomotive.


train order

(rail transport, US, Canada) Formerly, a telegraphed or written instruction issued by a dispatcher to train crews and other railroad employees, concerning changes in operation of a particular train.


block instrument

block instrument (plural block instruments)

The line is signalled with upper quadrant semaphores and Sykes lock and block three-wire two-position block instruments. [...] The Inspecting Officer concludes that both signalmen must share responsibility for the accident by the irregular release of the block instrument, but remarks that the two-position Sykes instruments, although ample for maintaining safety under normal working, do not show clearly the state of the block section ahead.

1960 March, “Talking of Trains: Collision at Slade Green”, in Trains Illustrated, page 133:

(rail transport, UK) An instrument installed in a cabinet, used in block signalling installations.


one engine in steam

There are eight 4-wheel coaches of the open toastrack type, but provided with roofs, and during the holiday season, usually beginning at Whitsuntide, trains are run as required on the one-engine-in-steam principle.

1941 July, “The Isle of Man Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 315:

A change seems likely on the Axminster-Lyme Regis branch [...]. We hear also that one-engine-in-steam operation will probably be introduced on this line.

1960 March, “Talking of Trains: S.R. branch report”, in Trains Illustrated, page 135:

(rail transport, UK) A principle in railway signalling where only one train or locomotive is allowed to run on a section of single-track line, such as a branch line, at any one time.


cantrail

As was briefly reported last month, the S.R. is experimenting with the Continental method of making the class of train accommodation more conspicuous by painting a coloured strip below the cantrail of the coaches.

1960 March, “Talking of Trains: "Rainbow" trains on the S.R.”, in Trains Illustrated, page 135:

(rail transport, UK) A length of metal (earlier timber) supporting the outer edge of the roof of a railway carriage; also found on locomotives, buses and coaches.


rail joint

(rail transport) A join between two rails in a railway track placed end to end; the rails are joined by fishplates where joints are not welded.


neutral section

neutral section (plural neutral sections)

When a driver approaches a neutral section separating sections of 25 kV. and 15 kV. overhead catenary, he trips the main circuit-breaker but keeps his pantographs up; as soon as the next section of live wire is reached, he re-sets his contact-breaker, whereupon voltage-sensitive relays automatically make appropriate connections to the auxiliary circuits.

1960 March, “Silicon Rectifiers for a French dual-frequency Bo-Bo locomotive”, in Trains Illustrated, page 166:

electrical engineering
electrical engineering

(rail transport, electrical engineering) A dead section of overhead line for supplying power to trains between two live sections, used to separate two power supplies, different phases and supply voltages.


slab track

slab track (countable and uncountable, plural slab tracks)

When the railway is built, Phase 1 and Phase 2A will use slab-track. Rayner says this decision has been driven by the tonnages that 18 trains per hour will produce.

2020 July 1, Chris Rayner tells Richard Clinnick, “High Speed 2 is speeding up...”, in Rail, page 65:

(rail transport) Railway track mounted on a concrete (or asphalt) base, without the use of ballast.


gate box

This 142-year-old tiny ex-LNWR SB [signal box, at Batley] is an amazing survivor, probably owing its longevity to its location alongside a level crossing. Indeed it started life as a gate box with the delightful name of Lady Ann's Crossing.

2020 July 1, David Allen, “Signalling from Leeds along the S&C”, in Rail, page 74:

(rail transport, UK) A signal box that controls a level crossing.


dynamic braking

The traction motors serve as generators when dynamic braking is used, the generated output being dissipated in fan-cooled resistance banks mounted in a removable roof section. The degree of dynamic braking is under the control of the driver.

1960 April, “English Electric diesels for the Sudan Railways”, in Trains Illustrated, page 218:

On the long, continuous downgrades of East Africa dynamic braking is of special value; the traction motors are used as generators and their energy output dissipated in force-ventilated banks of resistors. This facility enables a 700-ton trailing load, for example, to be brought down a 1 in 66 gradient at any selected speed between 14 and 25 m.p.h. without use of the air brakes.

1961 February, “New English Electric diesels for East Africa”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 90–91:

(rail transport) Braking by the use of an electric traction motor as a generator when slowing a vehicle such as an electric or diesel-electric locomotive.


track-circuited

In recent issues two replies have been given to correspondents concerning the function of the diamond-shaped enamelled white plates fixed to signalposts, which are to indicate to enginemen that the section of line is track-circuited, so that action under Rule 55 of the Rule Book is unnecessary.

1943 March and April, “Notes and News: White Diamonds on Signalposts”, in Railway Magazine, page 116:

Some 60 miles of single line (with long and short crossing loops at suitable intervals) will be continuously track-circuited and colour light-signalled under the control of one signalbox at Llandrindod Wells, enabling 18 existing signalboxes to be closed.

1960 April, “Talking of Trains: C.T.C. for Central Wales”, in Trains Illustrated, page 194:

(rail transport) Of a section of railway line, provided with track circuits.


stringline

(rail transport) Describing a derailment typically occurring when a train having improperly distributed weight starts or accelerates on sharply curving track


stringline

en-verb

stringline (third-person singular simple present stringlines, present participle stringlining, simple past and past participle stringlined)

stringlines (present singular third-person)
stringlining (participle present)
stringlined (participle past)
stringlined (past)

The train stringlined on a curve when the engineer increased power at the front.

2007 July 11, Allan Dowd, “CN Rail criticized by Canadian derailment probe”, in Reuters:

(rail transport) To derail on sharply curving track, usually due to incorrectly distributed weight


premetro

(rail transport) A suburban-urban tramway or light rail system partially built with subway standard but not fully converted to subway


rail-motor

There was a time when the Adams 0-4-4 tanks then working the Exmouth branch were supplemented by steam rail-motors. [...] As built they were under-boilered, but as a result of the experience gained from them fifteen more steam rail-motors had been put into service by 1906.

1960 May, R. C. Riley, “The coastal branches of South-East Devon: Part One”, in Trains Illustrated, page 292:

(rail transport) Alternative form of railmotor


rail fare

(rail transport) The cost (to be) paid to travel by train; a train fare.


four-tracking

Arlesey: Demolition of Three Counties station in connection with four-tracking through Arlesey.

1960 June, “Talking of trains: Sunday on the G.N. line”, in Trains Illustrated, page 322:

DfT said the £589m that has been released will be used on design and enabling works for TRU. This includes partial electrification, a new through platform at Huddersfield, and around eight miles of extra four-tracking.

2020 August 12, “Network News: Release of £589 million kick-starts Trans-Pennine Route upgrade”, in Rail, page 9:

(rail transport) Provision of four running lines on a stretch of railway track, usually two in each direction.

viergleisiger Ausbau

(rail transport) provision of four running lines


camping coach

All regions of British Railways are offering camping coach accommodation to holidaymakers this summer. Since the war until this year, camping coaches (24 in number) have been available only on the Southern Region, but a programme of converting 89 vehicles has enabled coaches to be sited in attractive holiday areas in East Anglia, North Wales, the Peak District, the West Country, the South of England, Yorkshire Coast and Dales, and in Scotland.

1952 August, “Notes and News: Camping Coaches on British Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 565:

At Littleham, a pleasant little station with three camping coaches, the token was exchanged.

1960 June, R. C. Riley, “The coastal branches of South-West Devon: Part Two”, in Trains Illustrated, page 337:

After renovation at Preston Park works, they will replace the 52 wooden-bodied cars still working south of the Thames, one of which dates back as far as 1906; some 20 of the latter will be converted to camping coaches.

1960 November, G. Freeman Allen, “New Pullman Cars for the East Coast Route”, in Trains Illustrated, page 666:

(rail transport, UK, dated) A retired passenger coach converted into accommodation for holidaymakers, and placed in a station siding in an area frequented by holidaymakers.


mixed train

On both the Gothland and the Öland Railway, a spanking railcar provides an alternative to riding in the wayward, steam-driven mixed train, but the latter is the proper conveyance for a real railway lover, even over the flat, limestone plains which form much of the Baltic island scenery.

1939 July, “Overseas Railways: Baltic Island Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 51:

One passenger train in each direction can run as a mixed train, and by this means the empty wagons are returned.

1960 June, R. C. Riley, “The coastal branches of South-East Devon: Part Two”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 343–344:

(rail transport) A train consisting of both passenger coaches and freight vehicles.


match wagon

Match wagons are provided to support the jib when the crane is travelling in train formation between locations and roller bearing axleboxes enable speeds of up to 60 m.p.h. to be maintained.

1960 July, “Talking of Trains: New breakdown cranes”, in Trains Illustrated, page 392:

(rail transport, UK) A wagon attached to a rail-mounted crane to support the jib when the crane is being hauled in a train.


buffer beam

This locomotive was fitted experimentally with a seat on the front buffer beam, for the inspection of station gardens.

1948 November and December, “The Holden 2-4-0 Locomotives of the L.N.E.R.”, in Railway Magazine, page 374, photo caption:

(rail transport) A transverse metal beam at each end of a rail vehicle on which buffers, couplings, brake pipes etc. are mounted.


take water

take water (third-person singular simple present takes water, present participle taking water, simple past took water, past participle taken water)

takes water (present singular third-person)
taking water (participle present)
took water (past)
taken water (participle past)

The engines took water at Dingwall, the junction for the cross-country line to Kyle of Lochalsh, and again at Tain, 44 miles from Inverness.

1950 January, Arthur F. Beckenham, “With British Railways to the Far North”, in Railway Magazine, page 6:

(rail transport, of steam locomotives) To top up the water tanks.


cab signal

As we sped effortlessly along at a steady 75-80 m.p.h., with the three vertical lights of a clear aspect shining unwinkingly on the ground glass of the cab signal, our engineer lolled back in his chair and leisurely lit a huge cigar; [...].

1961 June, J. Geoffrey Todd, “Impressions of railroading in the United States”, in Trains Illustrated, page 357:

(rail transport) A device in the cab of a locomotive or train which displays the status of signals along the track.


double-head

double-head (third-person singular simple present double-heads, present participle double-heading, simple past and past participle double-headed)

double-heads (present singular third-person)
double-heading (participle present)
double-headed (participle past)
double-headed (past)

For an excursion organised by the publishers of this journal to Eastleigh and Ashford on April 5, Class T9 4-4-0 No. 30117 and E1 4-4-0 No. 31019 were provided to double-head a special from Charing Cross to Ashford via Maidstone East.

1961 June, “Motive Power Miscellany: Southern Region”, in Trains Illustrated, page 380:

(rail transport) To haul a train with two locomotives at the head end.


second man

I should imagine that the smooth riding and the quietness of the diesel or electric cab, coupled with the effect on the eyes of endless successions of sleepers disappearing from sight immediately under the driver's eyes, might in time have a soporific effect, so that the company of a second man, who can assist in signal observations when he is not at work in the engine cab, seems highly desirable in such conditions. In most countries using these forms of power, a second man is provided for on any train on which the maximum distance between stops exceeds a certain predetermined distance or time.

1961 July, Cecil J. Allen, “Locomotive Running Past and Present”, in Trains Illustrated, page 401:

(rail transport) Alternative form of secondman.


USRA

(rail transport, historical) United States Railroad Administration.


wheel flat

Severe wheel flats caused by locking brakes led to the derailment of DB Cargo UK's 2152 Robeston-Theale oil train near Llangennech, in South Wales, on August 26.

2020 October 7, “Network News: Severe wheel flats caused Welsh oil train derailment”, in Rail, page 14:

(rail transport) A flat spot on a railway wheel caused when a wheel, or both wheels on the same axle, in a moving train stop rotating.


LOW

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


Rollbock

From German Rolle (“roll”) + Bock (“buck”); the term originated in Switzerland in the early 1880s.

(rail transport) A bogie used to carry a railway carriage on a line of different gauge to the one it was built for, usually a narrower gauge.


bar car

(rail transport) A railroad passenger car where drinks are served, typically with seating arranged around cocktail tables.


twin-track

Crossgates to Garforth (Project E3) is the subject of fresh development work, with the DfT interested in TRU Option G. This has the potential to deliver a very different railway to the twin-track one that's there today.

2022 November 16, Philip Haigh, “Trans-Pennine... transformative”, in RAIL, number 970, page 41:

(rail transport) Synonym of double-track.


somersault signal

en-noun

somersault signal (plural somersault signals)

Realising their shortcomings, BR stripped out most of the smaller wayside stations between Peterborough and Grimsby on September 11 1961, although not those on the branches because there would have been nothing left to sustain them. Those that survived were working museums right to the end, with somersault signals and original interior fittings and signage.

2020 November 18, Howard Johnston, “The missing 'Lincs' and the sole survivor”, in Rail, pages 58–59:

(rail transport) A semaphore railway signal that is pivoted in the centre of its arm.


trackwoman

(US, rail transport) A female railway employee who inspects and maintains the permanent way of a railway installation.


CSX

(rail transport) CSX Transportation, an American Class I freight railroad that operates in the eastern United States and in the southern parts of Ontario and Québec. Its chief competitor is the Norfolk Southern Railway. This railroad formed from a merger with the Chessie System and Seaboard System railroads in the nineteen eighties.


four-tracked

The existing railway is already four-tracked and rather underused. And while separating out the two separate fast and slower tracks will be complicated, it is by no means impossible - or even that expensive.

2020 December 2, Christian Wolmar, “Wales offers us a glimpse of an integrated transport policy”, in Rail, page 57:

(rail transport) Having four running lines, usually two in each direction.

viergleisig

(rail transport) having four running lines


rail wagon

For general liquids other than those pre-heated or highly inflammable, these 1,030gal containers may be filled either on rail wagons or on the Bulkrane.

1961 November, “Talking of Trains: The "Bulkrane" project of British Railways”, in Trains Illustrated, page 656:

(UK, rail transport) Any railway goods wagon.

(UK, rail transport) A flat wagon used for carrying railway rails.


track panel

NR staff used 50 engineering trains to replace over 5km (3.1 miles) of track, install more than 300 track panels, and lay down around 26,000 tonnes of ballast stones to support the track.

2021 September 22, “Network News: Track relaying removes Temple Meads bottleneck”, in RAIL, number 940, page 20:

(rail transport) An assembled section of railway track.


slow speed control

Slow-speed control was fitted to Class 37/7s in South Wales, to permit diagramming on the coal circuits between pit and power station.

2020 December 16, David Clough, “Class 37s at 60: the great survivors”, in Rail, page 56, photo caption:

(rail transport) An electronic device fitted to locomotives which enables them to operate at a very slow speed when their train is loaded or unloaded on the move.


autoballaster

DB Cargo UK 66162 [...] and 66176 propel a train of autoballasters into Toton North Yard on July 20.

2020 December 30, Rail, page 30, photo caption:

(rail transport) A type of ballast wagon, used to carry new ballast and then spread it along a section of railway track.


tri-mode

Testing of a five-car Hitachi Class 802/0 tri-mode unit will begin in 2022, and the train could be in traffic the following year. It is expected the train will save more than 20% of fuel on Great Western Railway's London Paddington-Penzance route. The plan is for the '802' to use battery power in and out of stations, and through urban areas. Of the 305-mile route, only 53 miles as far as Newbury are electrified (17%).

2020 December 30, Richard Clinnick, “Network News: Hitachi targets 2022 for testing of tri-mode trains”, in Rail, page 12:

(rail transport) Of a train or locomotive: Designed to operate on electricity on electrified lines, or diesel-electric power (from a diesel generator) or battery power on non-electrified lines.


booking hall

In 1958, it was reported that for "the fourth year in succession, staff of four South London stations have combined to decorate the booking hall at Peckham Rye station". They installed a nativity scene, models of Father Christmas, and a sleigh driven by huskies, and Christmas trees were placed around the station.

2023 December 27, David Turner, “Silent lines...”, in RAIL, number 999, page 29:

'Halls' and 'offices' are more distinct, with some stations featuring a booking hall as well as a booking office. As Bill Fawcett notes in a 2015 architectural history of British railway stations, booking halls sometimes doubled as waiting rooms and were accompanied by a booking office.

2024 March 6, Dr Joseph Brennan, “England's booking offices of distinction”, in RAIL, number 1004, page 56:

(rail transport, UK) Synonym of ticket hall.


banner repeater

banner repeater (plural banner repeaters)

Banner-Repeater signals tend to be provided in locations where drivers receive insufficient warning of the main signal, thereby effectively increasing the sighting distance for the main signal.

2020 December 30, David Allen, “Unusual signals...”, in Rail, page 64:

(rail transport, UK) A type of railway signal which shows the aspect of a signal ahead of it, normally used in a situation where the main signal is hidden from view, for instance where there is a curve in the track.


loose-coupled

It consists exclusively of loose-coupled open mineral wagons and a guard's brake van; owing to the isolation of the branch the last-named is equipped with a first aid box and a jack, to enable any emergency to be dealt with rapidly.

1940 December, Charles E. Lee, “The Wenford Mineral Line”, in Railway Magazine, page 643:

The line here rises in the up direction, for the most part on a 1 in 132 gradient, and three spring-operated catch points—Basildon West, Basildon and Vange—are provided at intervals on the up line between the two stations, to derail any runaway wagons of a loose-coupled freight train.

1961 December, “Talking of Trains: Derailment near Laindon”, in Trains Illustrated, page 717:

(rail transport, UK, historical) Of older railway wagons, having a chain coupling between them, without the buffers on each wagon touching those of the next wagon when the train was in motion.


reversing loop

Reversing loops at each terminal would obviate turning the car-carrying trains.

1961 December, “The Channel Tunnel—a realistic proposal”, in Trains Illustrated, page 724:

(rail transport) A loop provided for the purpose of turning a train or tram round to face in the opposite direction. The vehicles themselves do not have to reverse.


crossrail

A crossrail link to Aberdeen and Stonehaven is planned.

2004, Bernard Ingham, Gerry Hassan, The Political Guide to Modern Scotland: People, Places and Power, Politico's Publishing:

We need to change the name of the Manchester Hub. Crossrail for the north of England is a better term, otherwise people will view it as a Greater Manchester project and will miss out on exactly what it is actually going to do.

2010 February 15, Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee, quoting Professor Begg, Priorities for investment in the railways: third report of session 2009-10, Vol. 2: Oral and written evidence, The Stationery Office, →ISBN, page 7:

The proposal to build a second Crossrail line would create a new high-frequency, high-capacity rail line running south west to north east across London.

2013 June 27, Great Britain: H.M. Treasury, Investing in Britain's future, Stationery Office, →ISBN, page 25:

(UK, rail transport) A commuter rail line that crosses a major city through a tunnel and which continues for a significant distance into the surrounding areas, generally with relatively high speeds and widely spaced stations compared to an underground or metro.


rail brake

The locomotive is fitted with disc air brakes, and in addition magnetic rail brakes are fitted to each bogie for emergency.

1962 April, “Beyond the Channel: Western Germany: The Henschel 4,000 h.p. V320 diesel”, in Modern Railways, page 274:

(rail transport) A type of brake, often magnetic or electromagnetic, which is pressed against the rail in railway track.


railway key

It was more like a model of an antediluvian railway key than anything else.

1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:

(rail transport) A key that allows one to lock and unlock doors to railway carriages and compartments, typically only permitted to railway employees.


NSWR

(Australia, rail transport) Abbreviation of New South Wales Government Railways.


sanding gear

The provision of sanding-gear on brake vans operating over such lines should be compulsory (this old Highland brake was not so fitted); [...].

1940 November, “Notes and News: A Highland Collision”, in Railway Magazine, page 612:

Foot pedals in the driving cabs operate electro-pneumatic sanding gear to provide sand for the leading wheels of each bogie in each direction of travel.

1962 June, “The 2,800 h.p. Brush "Falcon" diesel-electric”, in Modern Railways, page 379:

(rail transport) Equipment for applying sand onto rails, to aid adhesion in slippery conditions.


collector shoe

The collector shoes are automatically retracted when the electric handle is moved from "service off" to "lock off".

1962 June, “The design of the S.R. electro-diesels”, in Modern Railways, page 393:

(rail transport) A current collector on an electric train or locomotive which is in contact with the live rail.


multiple-aspect

The new signalling controls 40 track miles; 31 multiple-aspect signals are operated by the new control panels and a further 31 signals are automatic.

1962 October, “Talking of Trains: New signalbox at Twyford”, in Modern Railways, page 227:

(rail transport) Designating a colour-light railway signal which displays at least three aspects.


multi-aspect

A total of 155 route-settings in this area, which has been equipped with multi-aspect colour-light signalling and continuous track circuiting, is available on the new signalbox's console, which is designed for one-man operation.

1962 June, David Walters, “The new station and layout at Coventry”, in Modern Railways, page 407:

(rail transport) Synonym of multiple-aspect.


wood burner

A considerable number of engines are wood-burners, although with ample supplies of soft coal from Russia, the adherence to wood-burning may be nothing more than a form of Government subsidy to the timber trade.

1962 June, “Beyond the Channel: Finland: The V.R in their centenary year”, in Modern Railways, page 418:

(rail transport, chiefly historical) A steam locomotive fuelled with wood instead of coal or oil, mainly used in areas with a plentiful supply of wood.


brakegear

At the same time, the valves, pistons, motion and brakegear plus ancillary equipment is overhauled, putting the locomotive out of commission for about 26 to 30 days.

1962 June, “Diesel economy analysed—a postscript”, in Modern Railways, page 422:

(rail transport) The mechanical parts of the braking system on locomotives and other rolling stock.


brake tender

By the beginning of April at least seven green-liveried diesel brake tenders had been delivered to Toton depot and were being tested with B.R. Sulzer Type 4 diesels.

1962 June, “Motive Power Miscellany: London Midland Region”, in Modern Railways, page 423:

(rail transport, UK) A railway vehicle which provided extra braking on freight trains with unfitted wagons (without automatic brakes) hauled by diesel locomotives, which being generally lighter than steam locomotives had less braking power. With the phasing out of unfitted wagons the brake tenders became redundant.


local train

For all the attention on express trains, it's often local trains that tip the railway into congestion.

2021 June 30, Philip Haigh, “Regional trains squeezed as ECML congestion heads north”, in RAIL, number 934, page 53:

(rail transport) A train (either the service or the train itself) making stops at all stations along its route.

regionaltog

train or train service serving all or almost all stations along its route

各駅停車 (kakueki teisha, literally “stopping at every station”)

普通列車 (futsū ressha, literally “ordinary train”)

commuter train

esp. if primarily used by or intended for commuter

parliamentary train

especially if stops are made for legal reasons and not any actual/significant passenger demand


tracklifting

Track-lifting began from Kirkby Stephen towards Stainmore at the beginning of May, writes A. G. S. Davies, and Class Q6 0-8-0s returned to the line to haul the demolition trains.

1962 July, “Talking of Trains: Barnard Castle trains withdrawn”, in Modern Railways, page 9:

(rail transport) The process of removal of railway track, in particular from a railway line permanently closed to traffic.


destination board

destination board (plural destination boards)

[...] why not show in the train columns and notes the four-character code numbers, which are so useful, amongst other purposes, in helping the passenger identify his train at stations, now that fewer coaches bear destination boards?

1962 July, “Talking of Trains: The new all-line timetable”, in Modern Railways, page 11:

(rail transport) A board attached to the side of a railway carriage which indicates where the train is going to. More modern variants can be a dot-matrix display panel.


loopline

[…] with the necessary looplines to avoid the broad gauge points at the intermediate stations, with a view to the direct transit of goods traffic along the Northern Railway and its extensions.

1882, Proceedings of the Parliament of South Australia, volume 1, page 237:

In settling the 1925–26 General Strike-Boycott, the British offered a $ 10 million loan to develop Whampoa Port, conditional upon the chief engineer and accountant being British, and upon the construction of the loopline.

1995, R. Yin-Wang Kwok, The Hong Kong-Guangdong Link: Partnership in Flux:

Between Raniganj railroad and the Rajmahal loopline a number of coal mines existed.

2006, Bhagawati Sharan Singh, Aspects of Industries in Bihar During the 19th Century, page 37:

It might be hidden away but it actually covers 30 hectres in all and can be reached from Salford's network of looplines or the historical Bridgewater Canal.

2020 February 25, Emma Gill, “The best family parks and walks in Salford”, in Manchester Evening News:

(rail transport) Alternative form of loop line


car-sleeper

The Car-Sleeper is a British Railways ingenuity that has caught the Continental fancy. The convenience of the car for the short-distance journey is undeniable—but not so its comfort and relaxation for the long haul. The Car-Sleeper doesn't attempt to challenge the car's attractions for the start of the journey or its usefulness at destination; but it relieves driver and passengers of the strain of a gruelling long-distance drive, [...].

1962 July, Marcus Newman, “By Car-Sleeper to Switzerland”, in Modern Railways, page 48:

(rail transport, UK) A sleeping car train which also includes vehicles for carrying passengers' motor cars.


bakehead

(rail transport, informal) A fireman (person who keeps the fire going underneath a steam boiler on a railroad locomotive).


Gronk

(British, rail transport) A British Rail Class 09 locomotive.


signal lad

Signal lads are employed at the panel-operated boxes to record train times. A small replica of the track diagram with simplified track circuit indications and the general circuit telephone concentrators are incorporated in their desk, as here at Tonbridge.

1962 August, G. M. Kichenside, “Resignalling for the Kent Coast electrification—Phase II”, in Modern Railways, page 113, photo caption:

(rail transport, UK) A young man employed in a signalbox to record the times of trains as they pass through the area served by the signalbox.


platform loop

Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Paddock Wood, Headcorn and Ashford stations have platform loops and there is a short four-track section between Cheriton and Folkestone Central.

1962 August, G. M. Kichenside, “Resignalling for the Kent Coast electrification—Phase II”, in Modern Railways, page 110:

(rail transport) A short stretch of railway line at a railway station which leaves a through line to serve a platform, before rejoining the through line beyond the station.


loop line

(rail transport) A secondary route which leaves a mainline, following a different route to the main line, before rejoining it several miles further on.


tender-first

In spite of their small size and low weight, many technical developments which have proved themselves in main-line service have been incorporated, and a novelty in the 2-6-0-type is a tender cab to improve the conditions of tender-first running.

1947 March and April, “L.M.S.R. Locomotive Developments”, in Railway Magazine, page 66:

For the first time known in over 10 years, a Stanier Pacific travelled the Windermere branch on June 23, when 46255 (12A) was seen at Aikrigg on an early afternoon local; it had to return tender-first as the Windermere turntable could not accommodate it.

1962 August, “Motive Power Miscellany: London Midland Region: Central Lines”, in Modern Railways, page 136:

(rail transport, also used adverbially) Of a steam locomotive with a tender (a tender locomotive), when it is operating in reverse, with the tender leading.


ferry wagon

One train ferry wagon, with the inscription "On hire to L.N.E.R.," was carrying British prisoners; and another odd sight was an L.N.E.R. container on a German flat wagon, offering "Door to Door Transport."

1946 March and April, “Notes and News: Train Watching in a P.O.W. Camp”, in Railway Magazine, page 117:

The first of 150 Continental-type four-wheel ferry wagons ordered by B.R. have been received for the Harwich/Zeebrugge train ferry service. Built by the Pressed Steel Co., the vans have a maximum capacity of 20½ tons in ordinary and 18 tons in express freight service.

1962 October, “New ferry wagons for B.R.”, in Modern Railways, page 225:

(rail transport, UK, dated) Any type of goods wagon built for train ferry traffic to and from continental Europe.


block section

"Permissive" working allows more than one train to be in a block section at one time but trains must be run at low speed in order to stop on sight behind the train in front. Such working is often authorised to allow freight trains to "bunch" together to await a path through a bottleneck instead of being strung out over several block sections, as would be necessary if absolute working were in force.

1962 October, “Talking of Trains: The collisions at Connington”, in Modern Railways, page 232:

(rail transport) In railway signalling, a section of track on which, in normal circumstances, only one train is allowed at one time.


steeple cab

All main line work is carried out by the Type 1s, whose principal design fault is offside "blindness", due to the position of the driving cab behind a long, high nose; a steeple cab would obviously be preferable.

1962 October, M.J. Wilson, “Three years of dieselisation at Devons Road depot”, in Modern Railways, page 265:

(rail transport) A centrally placed cab on some early electric locomotives.


trip working

trip working (countable and uncountable, plural trip workings)

The provision of the new yard permitted closure of four existing installations, between which there was a great deal of trip working.

1962 October, G. Freeman Allen, “The New Look in Scotland's Northern Division—II”, in Modern Railways, page 267:

(rail transport, UK, uncountable) The operation of short-distance freight trains, e.g. between goods yards.


brake fade

To help prevent a runaway caused by brake fade, heavy trucks are required to stop at the top of the downgrade to give their brakes time to cool.

mechanical engineering
mechanical engineering

(automotive, rail transport, mechanical engineering) Partial or total loss of braking force with prolonged continuous or repetitive application of a heavy vehicle's brakes, due to the effects on the brake system of the heat generated by heavy braking.


cattle dock

The depot covers an area of 57 acres and consists of a shed 480ft by 207ft to handle both forwarded and received traffic, a combined office and amenities block, weighbridge and a cattle dock.

1962 December, “Talking of Trains: Walsall sundries concentration depot”, in Modern Railways, page 367:

(rail transport, UK, dated) A pen on a platform in a railway goods yard for cattle travelling by rail.


loading bank

(rail transport, UK, dated) A platform, often with a ramp at one or both ends, provided in a railway goods yard for the purpose of loading and unloading goods wagons.


union station

The Burlington had built a union station at the junction, but the Union Pacific refused to stop its trains there until it received an interest in the townsite.

1978 May, Alice Howell, “Railroads in Buffalo County”, in Buffalo Tales [a newsletter of the Buffalo County Historical Society, Buffalo County, Nebraska], volume 1, number 5, archived from the original on 2016-06-24:

(rail transport, US, Canada) A railroad station shared by more than one railroad company, usually to spread the costs and ease the logistics of serving a particular town by rail.


regenerative braking

Dead-man's handle, automatic train stop, quick-acting compressed-air brake specially suited for high-speed working, and regenerative braking are among the features of the new locomotives.

1947 March and April, “Swiss High-Speed Electric Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 94:

Regenerative braking, whereby the car's kinetic energy is fed back to the supply line, has recently been introduced on the Kei-Han-Shin Kyuko Railway's commuter services feeding Osaka, instead of resistor braking, and on 52 lightweight cars built in 1960 and 1961 advantage has been taken of this feature to install constant speed controls.

1962 December, “Constant-speed electric multiple-units in Japan”, in Modern Railways, page 404:

Regenerative braking is retained. Like rheostatic braking, this uses the traction motors to provide a braking effort, but the current developed is fed back into the overhead catenary rather than dissipated through resistance banks.

2023 July 26, David Clough, “Technology progression defines Class 93”, in RAIL, number 988, page 54:

(rail transport, automotive, electrical engineering) A form of braking used on some electric vehicles in conjunction with the main braking system, where kinetic energy from braking is converted into electricity and fed back into the power supply by using the traction motors as generators.


burrowing junction

burrowing junction (plural burrowing junctions)

The latter and the Basle-Gotthard freight traffic will both pass through Othmarsingen, but an additional line here and a burrowing junction will keep the Gotthard freights clear.

1962 December, “Beyond the Channel: Switzerland: Transformation at Zurich”, in Modern Railways, page 417:

(rail transport) A junction where the diverging line descends to a level where it can pass under the main line, the purpose being the avoidance of conflicting movements.


Trans-Siberian Railway

Over the Trans-Siberian Railway, although the journey from Moscow to Vladivostock or Pekin, 5,800 and 5,629 miles distant respectively, still extends into the ninth day, it has been cut by about 10hr.

1962 December, “Beyond the Channel: U.S.S.R.: Train speeds still rising”, in Modern Railways, page 418:

(rail transport) A network of Russian railway lines which stretch from Moscow in the west to Vladivostok in the Far East.


user-worked

A near-miss between a Greater Anglia Class 755 and two cars on a user-worked level crossing near Wroxham is being investigated by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB).

2021 March 10, “RAIB investigates near-miss at user-worked crossing”, in RAIL, number 926, page 18:

(rail transport, UK) Of a level crossing, one where a railway crosses a right of way such as a road on private land, a footpath or a bridleway. Any gates or barriers provided often need to be operated manually, with some crossings requiring users to telephone a signaller to check that it is safe to cross.


non-bogie

A limit of 75 m.p.h., therefore, is reasonable—and will give wagon designers enough to keep them busy, he thinks, as the problems of stability for all categories of freight traffic are far from being solved at present, especially with non-bogie wagons.

1963 April, “Beyond the Channel: France: Freight stock of the future”, in Modern Railways, page 269:

(rail transport, of a vehicle) Not mounted on bogies; having wheels and axles not incorporated in bogies.


flying junction

flying junction (plural flying junctions)

At the same time, NR will remodel two tracks to form the 75mph slow lines, with a flying junction at Thornhill where the lines from Wakefield Kirkgate and Leeds meet.

2021 April 21, Philip Haigh, “NR submits detailed plans for TransPennine Upgrade”, in RAIL, number 929, page 12:

(rail transport) A junction where the diverging line crosses the main line on a bridge, the purpose being the avoidance of conflicting movements.


HKU

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