(automotive) an AC (“alternating current”) charging and charger standard for charging plug-in electrified-drive vehicles developed by SAE (“Society of Automotive Engineers”) and implemented across the automotive industry in North America.

SAE Surface Vehicle Recommended Practice J1772

SAE Electric Vehicle Conductive Charge Coupler


CHAdeMO

Blend of charge + de + move (charge and then move). Punning on the Japanese abbreviated phrase. From Japanese 茶でも (cha-demo, “Tea?”), from Japanese お茶でもどうですか (O-cha demo ikaga desu-ka, “How about a cup of tea?”).

der

(automotive) a DC (“direct current”) fast charging and charger standard for charging plug-in electrified-drive vehicles created by a consortium of Japanese automakers and promulgated by the Japanese and South Korean automotive industry, spread worldwide.


DCFC

en-noun

DCFC (countable and uncountable, plural DCFCs)

DC fast charging
DC fast charging#English

(uncountable, automotive) Initialism of DC fast charging. (DC = direct current)

(countable, automotive) Initialism of DC fast charger. (DC = direct current)

(countable, automotive) Initialism of DC fast charge. (DC = direct current)


DCFC

en-verb

DCFC (third-person singular simple present DCFCs, present participle DCFCing, simple past and past participle DCFCed)

DCFCs (present singular third-person)
DCFCing (participle present)
DCFCed (participle past)
DCFCed (past)

(automotive) Initialism of DC fast charge. (DC = direct current)


whistle post

(railways) A sign marking a location where a locomotive engineer is required to sound the horn or whistle.


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


light line

From light (“lacking weight”, adjective) + line (noun).

affix

(nautical) The waterline at which a vessel floats when at light displacement; the light waterline.


light waterline

en-noun

light waterline (plural light waterlines)

From light (“lacking weight”, adjective) + waterline (noun).

affix

(nautical) The waterline at which a vessel floats when light or unladen.


froot

"There’s a tiny froot (front boot), and a long if not particularly deep actual boot with 656 litres of lugging capacity.")

2018 June 4, “Jaguar i-Pace review: at last we drive Jag's first EV!”, in Car Magazine, archived from the original on 2019-12-18:

"In Australia, we like ‘froot’, for front boot.")

2014 December 9, “The Tesla Model S ‘Skateboard’ Rolling Chassis Is A Thing Of Beauty”, in Gizmodo, archived from the original on 2022-01-26:

"There is so much luggage space in the boot as well as under the bonnet, in the US that’s called the front trunk or “Frunk”, we call it the “Froot”. ")

2012 June 22, “S”, in Electragirl, archived from the original on 2022-01-26:

(automotive) A boot (storage compartment) located at the front rather than the rear of a car, especially an electric vehicle.


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 "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.


corticene

(nautical, historical) A kind of linoleum decking used to provide a grip for the feet.


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.


line gun

(nautical, orienteering, search and rescue) A firearm designed to shoot a rope across a distance, usually used to pass lines from one ship to another.

harpoon gun

those that fire harpoons attached to lines


light along

en-verb

light along (third-person singular simple present lights along, present participle lighting along, simple past and past participle lighted along)

lights along (present singular third-person)
lighting along (participle present)
lighted along (participle past)
lighted along (past)

Phrasal verb from light (“to make less heavy”, verb) + along (“forward”, adverb).

affix

to light along a cable or sail

(transitive, nautical) To lift or carry anything along the deck; to help in hauling along.


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.


solepiece

(architecture, nautical) Synonym of sole


glasspack

That's an illegal muffler, Alan thought. A glasspack. I could cite him for that.

(automotive) A kind of automobile muffler in which the exhaust gas passes straight through the center of the muffler. It consists of a smaller tube centered inside a larger tube that is enlarged or swollen in the middle, the gap between tubes being filled with fiberglass.


ship a sea

en-verb

ship a sea (third-person singular simple present ships a sea, present participle shipping a sea, simple past and past participle shipped a sea)

ships a sea (present singular third-person)
shipping a sea (participle present)
shipped a sea (participle past)
shipped a sea (past)

[…] VVaterman, ſays I, vvhat are you doing? vvhat did you ſhip a Sea? ay, ſays the VVaterman, and a great one too; vvhy it blovvs a Frett of VVind; […]

1724, [Daniel Defoe], “Letter V”, in The Great Law of Subordination Consider’d; or, The Insolence and Unsufferable Behaviour of Servants in England Duly Enquir’d into. […], London: Sold by S. Harding, […], →OCLC, page 134:

Thus we scudded before the wind […] and at nine shipped a sea in the poop, as we in the cabbin were going to supper.

1774, David Henry, “The Voyages of Captain Cooke”, in An Historical Account of All the Voyages Round the World, Performed by English Navigators, volume 2, London: F. Newbery, page 19:

At almost every roll to leeward she shipped a sea, several of which came partially down into the cabin during our scuffle, the hatchway having been left open by myself when I descended.

1838, [Edgar Allan Poe], chapter VIII, in The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 81:

Once I shipped a sea so heavy that I had to stop and bail, with my heart fluttering like a bird […]

1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, chapter XXIV, in Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC, part V (My Sea Adventure), page 196:

(intransitive, nautical) To have a large wave wash over one's vessel.


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.


chest becket

(nautical) An intricately woven handle for a sea chest.


sea chest

I remember him as if it were yesterday, as he came plodding to the inn door, his sea-chest following behind him in a hand-barrow — a tall, strong, heavy, nut-brown man, […]

1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:

Now and then he slipped down into the hold and looked at his watch, which he had shut up in a large, red-painted sea-chest.

1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 183:

(nautical) A box or case used to store a sailor's property.

(nautical) A recess in the hull of a ship, usually rectangular or cylindrical.


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.


mineral wagon

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


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

en-noun

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.


swab hitch

(nautical) A becket hitch applied to a swab.


double becket hitch

double becket hitch (plural double becket hitches)

(nautical) A becket hitch with an extra turn, for security. Often used to hitch a line to a harpoon.


steering wheel becket

steering wheel becket (plural steering wheel beckets)

(nautical) A rope with a becket at one end and a hook at the other, used to hold the ship's wheel (the helm) in fixed position. Normally used in pairs, with the becket on a spoke and the hook on a ring in the deck.


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.


parcel shelf

Coordinate term: decklid

(automotive) A usually removable shelf lying behind the back seats or over the trunk of a car.


beef chit

Give me the beef-chit, and let me see if the chef 'as got the chow right.

1935, Ian Hay, Sir Stephen King-Hall, Admirals All: An Amphibious Adventure in Three Acts, page 10:

The tombstone is another name for the beef chit, or menu, while a Bombay Duck is a bloater, a two-eyed steak a kipper, and the bags of mystery or links of love are sausages.

1962, John O'London's, volume 6, page 571:

(nautical, slang) The menu in a ship's wardroom.


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).


electric bus

(transport) A passenger bus powered by electricity via an electric motor, with the source of power either from rechargeable batteries or by drawing power from overhead wires. The latter form is generally called a trolleybus.


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.


schooner on the rocks

en-noun

schooner on the rocks (plural schooners on the rocks)

(nautical slang) A meal of roast beef served on a bed of potatoes.


tamping machine

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.


PIT maneuver

(law enforcement, automotive) A technique in which a pursuing car bumps the rear fender of a pursued car, causing it to spin out, in order to terminate a car chase.


Georgia overdrive

Most likely an allusion to hillbilly culture, whether in a derogatory way or in a celebratory way, depending on the perspective of the speaker. See more at Mexican overdrive § Etymology.

(US, slang, automotive) Synonym of angel gear


riding sail

So called because it was devised for keeping the vessel's head to the sea when riding at anchor.


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.


blue-water navy

blue-water navy (plural blue-water navies)

(military, nautical) A naval force capable of independent military operations on the open sea with a global reach.


spring saddle

(railways, historical) A bent metal bar on the top of a railway carriage journal-box, surrounding the arch-bar and supporting the spring.


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.


weather helm

(nautical) A keeping of the helm somewhat aweather when a vessel shows a tendency to come into the wind while sailing.


quadrofoil

(nautical) A hydrofoil (vessel) that has four wings.


letter of countermarque

letter of countermarque (plural letters of countermarque)

his Majesty likewise foreseeing of what mischievous consequence it would be to all his loving subjects if the States General, upon the execution of the said Letters of Reprisal (contrary to the meaning of the said Treaties, and after the annulling of them by the same), should grant Letters of Countermarque against the said subjects and their goods, to the hindering of commerce and the ruin and damage of many particular men, although unconcerned in the case of such Reprisal :

1903, Sir Ralph Winwood, Edward Montagu Baron Montagu, Report on the Manuscripts of the Duke of Buccleuch and Wueensberry Preserved at Montagu House Whitehall:

(nautical, historical) An official commission from a government authorizing someone to seize the property or people of another nation in reprisal for a similar seizure by a ship from the other nation.


R/V

(nautical) Initialism of research vessel;


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.


sjark

From Norwegian sjark, from Russian, from English shark.

(nautical, fishing) A Norwegian fishing boat classification, for boats around 10 metres in length, between 25 and 40 feet, and with a particular hull style, used in northern Norway.


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.


HTMS

(military, nautical) Initialism of His Thai Majesty's Ship., a ship prefix for the Royal Thai Navy.

HBMS

HMS (“His/Her Majesty's Ship”) (non-specific use)

His/Her Britannic Majesty's Ship; dated American English

HNMS

His/Her "N" Majesty's Ship; Netherlands or Norway


HMSAS

(military, nautical) Initialism of His or Her Majesty's South African Ship., a ship prefix for the South African Naval Forces or its predecessor South African Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, of the Dominion of South Africa, used from WWI through WWII


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.


yard-rope

Trice down the jack-block, by letting go the halyards and hauling down on the yard-rope. Cast off the yard-rope from the slings of the yard, and hook the tye to its thimble; haul taut the halyards, and square the yard by the lists and braces.

1841, Benjamin J. Totten, Naval Text-book: Letters to the Midshipmen of the United States Navy, page 57:

Have hands by the braces and lifts , man the yard-rope, and when ready, sway up on the yard-rope, and lower lift, steadying the yard by the braces.

1866, Stephen Bleecker Luce, Seamanship:

But this plan is manifestly too expensive and troublesome to meet with much encouragement in the merchant service —a yard-rope being also requisite, in case of sending the yard up or down.

2012, John M'Leod Murphy, W. N. Jeffers, Spars and Rigging: From Nautical Routine, page 1849:

(nautical) A rope that goes through a block or sheave at the top of a mast that is used for hoisting or lowering a yard; gantline.


Maierform

From German Maier + Form, after Austrian engineer Fritz F. Maier.

The latest steamer built for these passages is worthy of more than a passing reference in that she is a pioneer. Isle of Sark is the first cross-channel steamer to have a Maierform hull. The bows are so shaped as to reduce the resistance of the ship in calm weather, while enabling a higher speed to be maintained in heavy seas.

1939 June, G. W. Tripp, “The Modern Railway Steamer”, in Railway Magazine, page 342:

(attributive, nautical) A design of hull for a ship.


AGV

(transport) Initialism of Automated Guided Vehicle.


shelter deck

Her saloons are luxurious, and there are a number of cosy alcoves, as well as a spacious shelter deck surrounded with large plate glass windows, enabling passengers to sit in arm chairs and at the same time enjoy an unobstructed view.

1939 June, G. W. Tripp, “The Modern Railway Steamer”, in Railway Magazine, page 392:

(nautical) A lightly-constructed deck over the main deck of a ship covering a space open to the weather; offering some protection from the weather but not completely enclosed.


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.


back-seat driving

(automotive) Excessive commenting on the actions and decisions of someone operating a motor vehicle by a person who is not operating the vehicle.


weather roll

(nautical) The lurch of a vessel to windward when in the trough of the sea.


riding light

(nautical, historical) A light hung out in the rigging at night when a vessel is riding at anchor.


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.


body in white

(automotive) The cabin skeleton of a motor vehicle; without the frame or subassemblies extending from the front and back and below; without finishes, furnishings, accoutrements. This body is at a stage in the assembly process before such is attached.


body in black

Coined in reference to body in white.
* (carbon fibre composite): Blend of black + body in white. From the fact that carbon fibre reinforced composites are typically black in colour, and not whitish (bare wood, bare metal, gray primer coat)
* (body shell): From being the skin of the vehicle, opposite to the body in white, the skeleton of the bodycabin, as black is opposite to white.

(automotive) A body in white composed of carbon fibre composites.

(automotive) A fully-proportioned full-sized skin shell of the body design prototype


BIW

(automotive) Abbreviation of body in white.


Portus Julius

From Latin Portus Iulius (Port Julian).
From Iulius (“Gaius Julius Caesar (Gaius Iulius Caesar)”) + portus.
From the gens Iulia (Julii clan).

(historical, nautical, military) A port on the Gulf of Naples, Mediterranean in Baiae, Italia, Roman Empire, the primary naval base of the Western Empire


mainpiece

(nautical) The principal part of a ship's head; the principal piece of timber in a rudder.


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.


Metroliner

(historical, railways) A kind of high-speed train that operated between Washington, D.C. and New York City from 1969 to 2006.


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.


abackstays

(obsolete, nautical, of sails) Lined up in the direction of the wind and thus not propelled by the wind


harpoon gun

(nautical) A small gun, on a whaler, that fires harpoons


breast line

(nautical) A rope used to tie a small ship to a dock, keeping it close to the pier


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.


AVS

angle of vanishing stability
angle of vanishing stability#English

(nautical) Initialism of angle of vanishing stability.


trim one's sails

en-verb

trim one's sails (third-person singular simple present trims one's sails, present participle trimming one's sails, simple past and past participle trimmed one's sails)

trims one's sails (present singular third-person)
trimming one's sails (participle present)
trimmed one's sails (participle past)
trimmed one's sails (past)

(nautical) To adjust a ship's sails to make the best of wind conditions.


motor cruiser

(nautical) A small pleasure craft that is fitted with an engine


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.


a taunto

French autant (“as much (as possible)”).

She was a noble vessel. Trim, ship-shape, all a taunto, as Captain Swosser used to say. You must excuse me if I occasionally introduce a nautical expression; I was quite a sailor once.

1852 March – 1853 September, Charles Dickens, chapter 11, in Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1853, →OCLC:

(nautical) Of a ship, especially a tall square-rigged one: in which all running rigging is hauled taut; having all spars hoisted aloft; having all sails set.


congestion charge

en-noun

congestion charge (plural congestion charges)

In a paper published for an emergency finance committee meeting on May 12, TfL says it costs around £600 million a month to run its network, but that income has fallen by 90% since the lockdown began. As well as a decline in public transport revenue, London's congestion charge has been suspended to allow key workers to use the road network.

2020 May 20, Andrew Roden, “Transport for London fears £3.2bn funding gap”, in Rail, page 8:

(UK, transport) A charge made on the vehicles of road users who enter a designated zone where traffic congestion can occur, in order to discourage this congestion, typically in the centre of a large city such as London.


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.


arrester bed

(transport) A short, gravel filled, uphill exit ramp from a freeway or motorway designed to reduce the speed of an out of control vehicle.


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.


GAWR

gross axle weight rating
gross axle weight rating#English

(automotive) Initialism of gross axle weight rating.


dino juice

BTW, I can buy Mobil 1 for about $3.25/qt. Assuming that I get 2% better gas mileage with it, my ~20 mpg van saves about $3 of gas during the 3000 mile change interval. In other words, the cost differential between dino juice and Mobil1 is .... $16.25 (Mobil 1) - $5 (dino juice) - $3 (fuel savings) = $8. Maybe it's not so expensive after all.

1994 October 27, jason douglas, “Re: Switching to Mobil 1 questions”, in rec.autos.tech (Usenet):

Today I paid $2.69 for a gallon of gas. What's worse is that it forced me to face an ugly reality: I'm a stone-cold junkie willing to pay any price for a hit of dino juice.

2001 August, David Seidman, “Following Seas: High Times”, in Boating, volume 74, number 8, →ISSN, page 16:

Should you use synthetic oil or should use you use dino juice—regular, out-of-the-ground “mineral” oil from decomposed dinousaurs? […] Some riders feel that higher-end mineral-based oils do just as well, and certainly for a bike ridden regularly under normal conditions, dino juice will do just fine, especially if you are diligent about changing it.

2005, Shirley Duglin Kennedy, “You Brought It Home, You Take Care of It”, in The Savvy Guide to Motorcycles, Indianapolis, IN: Indy-Tech Publishing, →ISBN, pages 168–169:

(slang, humorous, automotive) Short for dinosaur juice.


all-weather tyre

all-weather tyre (plural all-weather tyres)

(automotive, British spelling, Irish, South African, Australian and NZ spelling) A tyre with rubber that remains soft in below-freezing conditions, but gives longer tread life in warm conditions than winter tyres


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.


fire-escape knot

fire-escape knot (plural fire-escape knots)

(nautical) A series of evenly spaced overhand knots in a rope, which make it more secure for climbing or descending. Often used for fire escapes and jib boom foot ropes on rigged sail ships. Also known as the Philadelphia knot.


Philadelphia knot

Philadelphia knot (plural Philadelphia knots)

fire-escape knot
fire-escape knot#English


aye aye

(nautical) Response to ahoy if a commissioned officer is in the boat.

(nautical) I acknowledge and will comply.


distributorless

distributorless ignition

(automotive) that does not contain a distributor


DKM

From German DKM, from German Deutsche Kriegsmarine, from deutsch+Kriegsmarine, from Krieg+Marine.

(military, nautical, World War II, initialism) A ship prefix used for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine.

H. M. S.

His Majesty's Ship; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland


Andretti

(automotive, motor racing, figurative) Ellipsis of Mario Andretti. (a common noun, not a proper noun) ((A) a street racer; (B) a U.S. racecar pilot outside of the U.S.)


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.


mainlane

(US, transport) A lane of a road used by traffic


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.


weather bow

The schooner was then within two miles, and in another hour came dashing by close to us in a noble style, and hove to upon our weather bow […] .

1808–10, William Hickey, Memoirs of a Georgian Rake, Folio Society 1995, p. 126

(nautical) The bow of a ship that is turned towards the wind.


EVAP

(automotive, attributive) Abbreviation of evaporative emission control system.


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


full clew

That which eſpecialleſt nouriſht the moſt prime pleaſure in me, was after a ſtorme when they were driuen inſwarmes, and lay close peſtred together as thicke as they could packe; the next day following, if it were faire, they would cloud the whole skie with canuas, by ſpreading their drabled ſailes in the full clue abroad a drying, and make a brauer ſhew with them, then ſo many banners and ſtreamers diſplayed againſt the Sunne on a mountaine top.

1599, [Thomas] Nashe, Nashes Lenten Stuffe, […], London: […] [Thomas Judson and Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] L[ing] and C[uthbert] B[urby] […], →OCLC, pages 5–6:

(nautical) The state of having the bottom corners of a sail (or, by extension, the sail in general) spread wide


aftercabin

I was admitted to the after cabin where Mr Suffren was sitting at a table, having a number of papers upon it which he appeared to be inspecting […] .

1808–10, William Hickey, Memoirs of a Georgian Rake, Folio Society 1995, p. 342

(nautical, now chiefly historical) The cabin in the stern of a vessel, typically used by the captain or senior officers.


boatmaster

From Middle English botmeyster, equivalent to boat + master.

(nautical) A person officially qualified to be in charge of a vessel of a specified category.

laivuri

person qualified to be in charge of a vessel


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


passive restraint

en-noun

passive restraint (plural passive restraints)

(automotive) A device such as an airbag that is automatically deployed when needed to protect the occupant.


rail fare

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


CEL

(automotive) Acronym of check engine light.


brake light

(transport, automotive) A light on the rear of a vehicle that is activated when braking.

(transport, automotive) A light on a vehicle's instrument panel indicating a failure or malfunction of the vehicle's brake system.


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


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.


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.


pitchmeter

(nautical, aviation) A device, encompassing a clinometer, used for measuring the pitch of a vehicle, especially a ship or aircraft.


pitchometer

For years, repairing a prop has involved the use of pitch blocks, similar to specially shaped anvils, and pitchometers. Placed under propeller blades, pitch blocks give the prop repairman a surface against which to restore the blade to factory shape and angle. The repaired blade is then checked with a pitchometer to determine how close to specification it is.

2001 January, Dudley Dawson, “Spin Control: When damage needs repair, place your props in good hands”, in Yachting, volume 189, number 1, page 38:

(nautical) A pitchmeter, especially on a ship.


port of registry

port of registry (plural ports of registry)

(nautical) The port where a boat or ship is officially registered, which determines legal consequences such as taxation.


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.


guarda costa

[…] I vvas attacked by one of thoſe curſed Guarda-Coſtas, vvho took our Ships before the Beginning of the VVar; […]

1742, Henry Fielding, “A Dialogue between Mr. Abraham Adams and His Host, […]”, in The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews, and of His Friend Mr. Abraham Adams. […], volume I, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book II, page 301:

While we were employed in this manner, our vessel went northward to Black River to trade. While she was there, a Spanish guarda costa met with and took her.

1789, Olaudah Equiano, chapter 11, in The Interesting Narrative, volume I:

(nautical, historical) A Spanish vessel used to protect the coast.


dehost

en-verb

dehost (third-person singular simple present dehosts, present participle dehosting, simple past and past participle dehosted)

dehosts (present singular third-person)
dehosting (participle present)
dehosted (participle past)
dehosted (past)

(transitive, aviation, travel) To separate (a CRS or GDS) from the internal reservation system of an airline.


nautical chart

(nautical) A map of a maritime area showing characteristics which are relevant for navigation.


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.


quadreme

(history, nautical, archaic) A galley with four banks of oars, one above the other


astream

1892, E. F. Qualtrough, The Sailor’s Handy Book, New York: Scribner, Section 3, p. 145,
Icebergs should always be passed to one side to avoid the detached fragments, lying low in the water, which are often found astream of the berg in masses sufficiently great to stave in the bows of the strongest ship.

1896, Claud Worth diary entry dated 24 September, 1896, in Yacht Cruising, J.D. Potter, 1910, cited in J.O. Coote (ed.), The Norton Book of the Sea, New York: Norton, 1989, p. 138,
After she was once fairly astream of her drogue she shipped no more heavy water.

The ship was pitching with an unsteadiness which meant they were now well astream; their charges could not get away.

1945, Thomas B. Costain, The Black Rose, Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Doran, Book 2, Chapter 11, p. 286:


swim platform

(nautical) A board sticking out from the stern of a yacht, allowing people easy access to swim into the water or come aboard.


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.


soft tack

(UK, nautical, slang, obsolete) Synonym of soft tommy (“bread”)


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.


automated manual transmission

en-noun

automated manual transmission (plural automated manual transmissions)

automatic transmission
automatic transmission

(automotive) A type of single-clutch automatic transmission that is closely based on the internal design and mechanical build and of a conventional manual transmission; but is computer-controlled, and does require any manual input from the driver to change gear or actuate the clutch.


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.


paddlebox

(nautical) The upper covering of a paddle wheel.


Harriet Lane

Named after the mistress of Henry Wainwright (1832–1875), whom he murdered, storing her body parts in parcels. Compare Fanny Adams.

(UK, nautical slang, obsolete, derogatory) Tinned meat.


oversheeted

en-adj

oversheeted (comparative more oversheeted, superlative most oversheeted)

more oversheeted (comparative)
most oversheeted (superlative)


honey barge

(nautical) A vessel that transports lavatory waste.


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.


topgallant sail

en-noun

topgallant sail (plural topgallant sails)

(nautical) square-rigged sail immediately above topsail -- sometimes divided in two


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.


channel money

(nautical) Money paid to sailors before completion of a voyage, when reaching a port.


hooden

From hood + -en or a reduced form of hood-end(s).

By means of a diver a bad place was found in the after hooden ends, and the vessel was dipped by the head to bring it out of the water.

1872, The London and China Telegraph, page 48:

Show by a sketch how the tenons in the body-post of a screw ship should be placed in relation to the rabbet of the hooden ends. Give the reason for so placing them.

1882, Great Britain. Education Department. Department of Science and Art, Examination Papers for Science Schools and Classes, page 21

Judging by the greatness of the leake, it must have been some Butt or Hoodens end started her lying swadling with her lee Gunnhill in the Sea, & almost ungovernable by her helm, and that it was impossible to keep her up long enough to get ...

1929, Madras (India), Diary and Consultation Book, 1672-1756

But for deep and narrow vessels you must line your hooden-ends wider to get up faster, and consequently the lower ends of the after-hoods will come round, […]

1940, Lauchlan McKay, Richard Cornelius McKay, The Practical Ship-builder, page 62:

(nautical) Pertaining to a hood (end of a plank, which fits into the rabbet).


rail replacement service

rail replacement service (plural rail replacement services)

If there's one phrase that deters people from taking the train, it is: "A rail replacement service will operate on this route."

2020 November 18, Christian Wolmar, “Rail replacement buses: the system needs changing”, in Rail, page 34:

bus replacement service
bus replacement service#English

(UK, transport) Synonym of bus replacement service.


fit and finish

(automotive) The cosmetic quality of an automobile, in terms of the spacing and alignment of parts.


somersault signal

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.


KPRA

kingpin to rear axle
kingpin to rear axle#English

(transport) Initialism of kingpin to rear axle (“length measurement of a semi-trailer truck”).


scupper plug

(nautical) a plug used to close a scupper hole


scupper hole

(nautical) a scupper on a ship, canoe or other vessel


scupper nail

(nautical) a nail with a broad head used to fix a scupper hose to the vessel


semi-automatic transmission

semi-automatic transmission (plural semi-automatic transmissions)

(automotive) A multi-speed motor vehicle transmission where part of its operation is automated (typically the clutch actuation; partially automated) but the driver's input is still required to manually operate a gearshift and to change gear by hand/foot; i.e., not fully-automatic. Names for specific types of semi-automatic transmissions include clutchless manual, auto-manual, auto-clutch manual, and paddle-shift transmissions. These systems facilitate gear changes for the driver by operating the clutch system automatically, usually by means, or under control of an actuator or servo, sensors, a solenoid, and an integrated electronic control module, while still requiring the driver's input to manually shift gears.


clutchless manual transmission

clutchless manual transmission (plural clutchless manual transmissions)

clutchless manual transmissions (plural)

sequential manual gearbox
sequential manual gearbox

semi-automatic transmission
semi-automatic transmission

(automotive) A manual transmission or a sequential manual gearbox without a manually-operated clutch (i.e., with an automatic clutch) system; used in both automobiles and motorcycles (i.e., mechanically the same as a conventional manual transmission, but lacks a physical clutch pedal). These systems facilitate the driver by automating the clutch system, but still require the driver's input to change gear manually, by means of a conventional manual gearshift. It is a form of semi-automatic transmission.


Alfa

(automotive, informal) A car made by Alfa Romeo.


trackwoman

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


e-turbo

(automotive) An electrified turbocharger; a turbo with electrically assisted ramp-up, using an accessory electric motor, to bring the turbine up to speed, reducing turbo lag. (When operating in electric mode, the turbo functions like a supercharger, driven by input power instead of exhaust gas.)


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.

(automotive) A Chrysler and Carroll Shelby car that was manufactured from 1987 to 1989

(automotive) An Acura car that was produced from late 2005 to late 2011. It was replaced by the Acura ILX.


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


corbita

From Latin corbita (“sailing freight ship”).

The corbita was heading directly back to Chalcedon, on the Asian side of the Straits.

1998, Eric Flint, David Drake, In the Heart of Darkness:

The reverse depicts a Roman corbita of the third century CE against the background of a map of the Mediterranean Sea from Tunisia and Sicily in the west to the eastern end of that sea and two lions in the foreground.

2007, Yossi Dotan, Watercraft on World Coins: Europe, 1800-2005, page 51:

Two corbitas have arrived at the shipwright in Pompeii, back from Persia; on board are the fine silks and spices that I ordered.

2013, Coulsdon Writers, Back to the Writing, page 48:

(historical, nautical) A two-masted merchant ship of Ancient Rome.


two-block

en-verb

two-block (third-person singular simple present two-blocks, present participle two-blocking, simple past and past participle two-blocked)

two-blocks (present singular third-person)
two-blocking (participle present)
two-blocked (participle past)
two-blocked (past)

He cleared one of the tangled halyards and swiftly two-blocked the flag.

[…] wore a perfectly two-blocked field scarf and had razor-sharp creases that cut with a surgeon's precision right through the center of seven chevrons and the embroidered emblems on his sleeves.

1992, The Leatherneck, volume 75, page 12:

(nautical, colloquial) To rearrange (one's clothing) to make it look more tidy.


throw-weight

en-noun

throw-weight (countable and uncountable, plural throw-weights)

(military, nautical) A measure of the total weight of projectiles that can be delivered by a single broadside.


courtesy light

(automotive) A small light inside a motor vehicle that automatically switches on when a door is opened.


diesel exhaust fluid

diesel exhaust fluid (plural diesel exhaust fluids)

From diesel exhaust + fluid. From being a liquid, which is a class of fluid, used for the treatment of the exhaust from diesel internal combustion engines.

(automotive) A liquid used to reduce controlled emissions from the exhaust of diesel engines


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.


all change

A request for all passengers to change trains.

(transport) An announcement, heard especially on trains, instructing passengers to alight because the last stop has been reached.


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.


point of departure

point of departure (plural points of departure)

[…] the point of departure is Hong Kong International Airport.

2021 January 23, 刘强, “Greater Bay Airlines applies to HKSAR for routes”, in China.org.cn, retrieved 2021-02-01:


afterbrow

(nautical) A gangway positioned aft of midship


archboard

(nautical) The board, on the stern of a ship, on which its name is painted


barrelman

(nautical) A sailor keeping a lookout from the crow's nest (often in the form of a barrel)


boatsteerer

(dated, nautical) The person, in a whaleboat, who manned the forward oar and whose task was to harpoon whales


bugeye

(nautical) A sailboat once used for oystering out of Chesapeake Bay


charthouse

(nautical) The place on a (Royal Navy) ship in which the course is plotted manually on charts


cottonclad

(nautical) A wooden warship, of the Confederate States during the American Civil War, that used bales of cotton to protect it from enemy fire.


daybeacon

(nautical) An unlighted sea mark typically used to identify navigable channels


Chadburn

* (surname): Variant of Chatburn.
* (telegraph): From the name of the manufacturing company, Chadburn's Telegraph Company of Liverpool.

engine order telegraph
engine order telegraph#English

(nautical, historical) Synonym of engine order telegraph


engine order telegraph

engine order telegraph (plural engine order telegraphs)

(nautical) A device used by the pilot in the bridge to communicate the desired speed of the engines to the people manning the engine room.


footboat

(nautical) A dinghy or similar small boat attached to a barge


foretack

(nautical) The fore tack (part of a sail)


decky

(nautical) Alternative form of deck hand


foretruck

(nautical) A truck on the foremast (from which the Blue Peter is hoisted)


dorey

(nautical) Alternative form of dory (“boat”)


fifie

(nautical) A small fishing boat that operated out of Fife in Scotland


foulies

(informal, nautical) Synonym of oilskins


huffler

(nautical) An unqualified pilot, typically employed by the crew of a barge


jackline

(nautical) A strong line, fixed fore-and-aft on a yacht, to which the crew are clipped for safety


hawsepiper

(informal, nautical) A merchant navy sailor promoted to be an officer without attending an academy


gurdy

(nautical) A manual crank used on fishing lines


crankwalk

From crank + walk. From crankshaft drifting around alignment.

(automotive, engineering) The condition of having excessive play in the crankshaft alignment, letting it drift back and forth, allowing off-alignment interaction with the rest of the engine.

crankwalking

The action of off-alignment activity due to the condition


lazyjacks

(nautical) Alternative form of lazy jacks


jibstay

Jollies? Lord help such jollies! Crish, crash! there goes the jib-stay! Blang-whang! God!.

1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 40, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC:

(nautical) A stay (normally the forestay) to which the jib is attached


oreboat

(nautical) A vessel used to transport iron ore on the Great Lakes


swimmie

(nautical) A barge with a square overhanging bow.


pinrail

(nautical) A rail, at the base of a mast, to which halyards are fixed using belaying pins


skaffie

(nautical) A small Scottish fishing boat that was used in the Moray Firth region


sprittie

(nautical) A barge rigged with a spritsail


predreadnought

(nautical) Alternative form of pre-dreadnought.


mulie

(nautical) A barge rigged with a spritsail main, and a large gaff rigged mizzen afore the steering wheel


stackie

(nautical) A barge used to transport hay or straw on its deck


stanliff

(nautical) A wire cable used to support a spritsail


sternwalk

(nautical) A gallery on the stem of a British warship for the use of officers


stayfall

(nautical) A wire cable used to support the mainmast when it is lowered


swatchway

(nautical) A twisting channel amongst sandbanks that is only navigable at high water


tailshaft

(nautical) A shaft that connects a propeller to its engine


kaep

(nautical) A type of proa native to Palau


trailboard

(nautical) A decorative board at the bow of a ship, sometimes bearing the ship's name


tweendecker

(nautical) A merchant ship that has one or more tweendecks


tweendeck

(nautical) A deck on some merchant ships between the maindeck and the hold.


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.


Jack Nasty-Face

Jack Nasty-Face (plural Jack Nasty-Faces)


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.


V-

internal combustion engine
internal combustion engine#English

(automotive, engineering) Referring to an internal combustion engine piston cylinder configuration, where the cylinders are aligned in a V-like shape, in which there is an acute angle between the cylinders, and the bottom of the cylinder, where the crank is, is the bottom of the V, and the top of the cylinder is where the fuel, intake and exhaust ports are located.

W-

like the V-, but with an additional cylinder row up the centre

Y-

like the V-, but with an additional cylinder row down the centre

T-

like the H-, but with an additional cylinder row up the centre


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.


bite point

(automotive) The position on releasing a clutch pedal that the gear engages.


engine braking

(automotive) The act of slowing down a motor vehicle using the retarding forces of the engine rather than the normal braking mechanism.


hill start

(automotive) The act of starting a motor vehicle moving forwards from a complete stop when going uphill, typically requiring the use of the handbrake.


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.


'bout ship

en-verb

'bout ship (third-person singular simple present 'bout ships, present participle 'bout shipping, simple past and past participle 'bout ship or 'bout shipped)

'bout ships (present singular third-person)
'bout shipping (participle present)
'bout ship (participle past)
'bout ship (past)
'bout shipped (participle past)
'bout shipped (past)

`Very well, then; there are two alternatives before us. One is to 'bout ship, and try and run for some port in the whale-boat, which would be a sufficiently risky proceeding, and the other to sail or row on up the river, and see where we come to.'

(intransitive, nautical) Alternative form of about ship (“to tack through 180 degrees”)


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.


impaired driving

(law, automotive, chiefly Canada) A criminal offense; the act of driving while impaired (such as by alcohol or drugs).


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.


capshore

(nautical) A support for the cap of a mast


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.


cliff lift

A branch of rail transport that seems to been rather neglected by historians is that concerned with cliff railways, of which a fair number exist in Great Britain. This is probably because these lines are overshadowed by the more spectacular funicular railways in Switzerland and other mountainous regions; perhaps, too, because of the general habit of referring to them as "cliff lifts," which tends to associate them with the vertical indoor type.

1951 August, P. W. Gentry, “Cliff Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 514:

(transport, UK) A funicular that runs between the top and the bottom of a cliff, usually at a seaside location.


Rope Yarn Sunday

en-noun

Rope Yarn Sunday (plural Rope Yarn Sundays)

(nautical, historical) A period, traditionally a Wednesday afternoon, set aside for the repair of uniforms, hammocks, etc. instead of normal duties.

(nautical) In modern times, a period of free time for the crew.


pipe the side

en-verb

pipe the side (third-person singular simple present pipes the side, present participle piping the side, simple past and past participle piped the side)

pipes the side (present singular third-person)
piping the side (participle present)
piped the side (participle past)
piped the side (past)

(UK, nautical) To salute a distinguished visitor arriving on a warship by playing the boatswain's pipe.


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

en-noun

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.


sail-by salute

(nautical) A close passage by a nautical vessel to a fixed point (on shore), to "salute" the location or persons assembled at the location.


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.


protected cruiser

protected cruiser (plural protected cruisers)

(military, nautical) A type of cruiser (the warship) carrying moderately-heavy main guns (although considerably lighter than those of a battleship) in armored turrets or other enclosures and having the machinery and magazine spaces protected by an armored lower deck, but leaving the sides of the ship unarmored (relying on the ship's coal bunkers to absorb hits to the sides of the hull) to save weight and allow for a high speed and long range; common in the late 19th century, but rendered obsolescent by the armored cruiser around 1900 as technological advances reduced the weight penalty of a side-mounted armor belt and made warships lacking belt armor increasingly vulnerable to enemy gunfire.


codman

(nautical) A fishing boat that fishes for cod; a fisherman on such a boat


FGS

Federal German Republic
Federal German Republic#English

(military, nautical) Initialism of Federal Germany Ship. A ship prefix used for naval ships of the Federal German Republic, both West Germany and unified Germany.


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.


autovac

(automotive, historical) A device that uses vacuum to raise fuel from the main tank to a small auxiliary tank, from which it flows by gravity to the carburetor, eliminating the (then often unreliable) fuel pump.


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.