cab forward

(rail transport) a design of steam locomotive with the cab at the front, mainly built for the Southern Pacific Railroad, which at one time had a large fleet of oil-fired articulated locomotives.


Pennsy

[page 32, caption] Pennsy's postwar Q2 employed the duplex-drive layout to ease the main-rod load and improve steam distribution on what otherwise would have been the 4-10-4 wheel arrangement.
[page112] The role of unifying the insolvents into a truly national system fell to U.S.-born and Pennsy-trained Sir Henry Thornton (who went to Canada via the Long Island and England's Great Eastern).

1959, David P. Morgan, editor, Steam's Finest Hour, Kalmbach Publishing Co., pages 32, 112:

(rail transport, dated) a nickname for the Pennsylvania Railroad.


water trough

water troughs (plural)
water-trough (alternative)
watertrough (alternative)

From Middle English water trouȝ, equivalent to water + trough. Cognate with West Frisian wettertroch (“water trough”), Dutch watertrog (“water trough”), German Wassertrog (“water trough”), Danish vandtrug (“water trough”), Swedish vattentrog (“water trough”).

cog

No water troughs are provided on any part of the Southern Railway. Even on the West of England and Bournemouth main lines, the tenders of the locomotives can carry sufficient water for the longest regular non-stop runs, such as London to Bournemouth (107.9 miles), London to Salisbury (83.8 miles), and Salisbury to Exeter (88 miles).

1946 November and December, “The Why and The Wherefore: Water Troughs on the S.R.”, in Railway Magazine, page 391:

(rail transport, UK) a long trough placed between the rails in a railway track, which enabled a steam locomotive to replenish its water supply without stopping by lowering a scoop. They were removed at the end of steam train operation.


track pan

TWENTY-NINE track pan water stations, located at strategic points on the Main Line and on the Michigan Central, play an important part in keeping New York Central Railroad's traffic speeding without the delay caused by locomotives stopping.

1945, Locomotive Engineers Journal - Volume 79:

The New York Central Railroad was the first railway in the U.S.A. to use water troughs, or track pans, as they are called in America.

1949 March and April, “The Why and The Wherefore: Water Troughs in the U.S.A.”, in Railway Magazine, page 137:

In 1870 at Montrose, N.Y., the New York Central made the first installation of a track pan and scoop to permit locomotives to take water on the fly. Since these installations invariably were in tiny communities, and since they permitted locomotives literally to “jerk water”

1979, The Train Dispatcher - Volumes 61-62, page 49:

Towns with track pans no longer had as many trains stop there, and they became derisively known as “jerkwater” towns, where the trains would jerk water and just keep on going.

2016, Kevin EuDaly, Mike Schafer, Steve Jessup, The Complete Book of North American Railroading, page 335:

(rail transport, US) a long trough placed between the rails in a railroad track, which enabled a steam locomotive to replenish its water supply without stopping by lowering a scoop.


TOFC

This explains the railroads' enthusiasm for the astonishing growth of trailer-on-flat-car traffic (T.O.F.C., or more commonly "piggyback").

1960 November, David Morgan, “"Piggyback"—U.S. success story”, in Trains Illustrated, page 681:

(rail transport, US) Initialism of trailer on flatcar. (referring to semi-trailers transported by train)


steam generator

en-noun

steam generator (plural steam generators)

[...] during those ghastly winters of the late 1940's when the smallish steam generators of early diesel passenger units proved inadequate …[...]

1959, David P. Morgan, editor, Steam's Finest Hour, Kalmbach Publishing Co., page 8:

(rail transport) a type of boiler fitted in a diesel locomotive or another rail vehicle, which provided steam heating in steam-heated passenger trains that had previously been hauled by steam locomotives.


diesel locomotive

diesel locomotive (plural diesel locomotives)

(rail transport) a locomotive powered by a diesel engine, often in a genset-like arrangement (i.e., diesel-electric).


sectionman

sectionmen (plural)
section man (alternative)
section-man (alternative)

1916, Annual Report of the Public Utilities Commission, State of Maine, Sentinel Publishing Company https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=hi1FAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA56&lpg=RA2-PA56&dq=%22sectionman%22&source=bl&ots=i9BCwYgdC9&sig=d72pK2gH6efsfs4_I_v6M619s-g&hl=no&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjT1uqotJ_dAhXCCMAKHfhZCTE4ChDoATAEegQIBhAB#v=onepage&q=%22sectionman%22&f=false
... a sectionman was killed when his motor velocipede was struck by an extra freight on a curve; a sectionman was crushed between two cars when working on a track left unprotected; a sectionman was struck by a shifting engine; …

Sectionmen step back to admire a T&P Texas in West Texas as the 2-10-4 comes charging up bad Baird Hill.

1959, Steam's Finest Hour, edited by David P. Morgan, Kalmbach Publishing Co. (photo caption)

Being on the engine when the engineer applied the brakes I asked why he was stopping and he said "there's a sectionman fighting with a wolf". So I backed up to the spot and the fireman and I jumped off with pick and shaker bar. I hit the wolf on the head with the pick and fireman Grier hit it with the shaker bar. This finished the wolf.

2013, Canadian Folk: Portraits of Remarkable Lives, by Peter Unwin, Dundum, →ISBN:

(rail transport, US, Canada) A railroad worker who maintains and patrols the track.


Geep

From GP (general purpose locomotive), usually spelt with a capital G.

Norfolk & Western was a workhorse of another strain. It dieselized in theory if not in practice a couple of decades before the first Geep hit the property.

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

(rail transport, informal) A nickname for the EMD GP series diesel locomotives.


tractive effort

tractive effort (plural tractive efforts)

Consequently, they developed articulateds capable of exerting 7500 drawbar horsepower or a starting tractive effort of 170,000 pounds.

(engineering, rail transport) the tractive force that can be generated by a prime mover to pull a load; cardinal examples are a locomotive pulling a train, a semi-tractor pulling a trailer or a tractor pulling a plow.

thrust

the analogue for aircraft engines, rocket engines, and watercraft propulsion

torque

moment of force; the analogue in rotational reference


Nickel Plate Road

(rail transport, informal) (or more simply, Nickel Plate) A name given to, and actually used by, the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad.


smoke deflector

smoke deflector (plural smoke deflectors)

The unusually handsome "cleaned-up" appearance of these engines, with their shapely smoke deflectors at the front end, is worthy of note.

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

Aside from the air-scoop smoke deflector, GTW's six U-4-b streamlined 4-8-4's were counterparts of CNR's U-4-a's.

1959, David P. Morgan, editor, Steam's Finest Hour, Kalmbach Publishing Co., page 44, photo caption:

A further Class A3 Pacific to be equipped with German-type smoke deflectors is No. 60105, [...] We gather that these deflectors have proved very efficient on the A3s.

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

(rail transport) a device fitted to either side or on top of the smokebox of some steam locomotives, the purpose of which was to lift smoke clear of the locomotive at speed, so it wouldn't obscure the driver's vision.


ruling grade

Homemade No. 6187 climbs the .51 per cent ruling grade west from Fort Wayne, Ind., with 68 cars behind her tender.

(rail transport) synonym of ruling gradient


dieseldom

The Texas J1's were eminently satisfactory, but the railroad's disinclination to buy anybody else's ideas was expressed in a rash of duplex-drive 4-4-4-4 and 4-4-6-4 engines after the war. Their theory was admirable but their performance hastened the day of dieseldom.

The Alco C-628s had arrived, and the Hoosier Line entered the big leagues of dieseldom.

2002, Monon: The Hoosier Line, by Gary W. Dolzall and Stephen F. Dolzall, Indiana University Press, →ISBN:

(rail transport, uncommon, literary) the state of being dieselised, or having achieved dieselisation with the introduction of diesel locomotives.


pilot beam

To comply with restrictive clearances this T-1-a mounts pumps, headlight and bell on the pilot beam and carries a squared-off sandbox and a naked Coffin feedwater heater.

Pilot beams, however, the foremost cross-brace of the frame, continued to be made of wood until almost 1900.

1979, A History of the American Locomotive: Its Development 1830-1880, by John H. White, Courier Corporation, →ISBN:

(rail transport, US) a transverse beam at the end of a locomotive which carries the pilot or cowcatcher.


coaling stage

Handsome 3001 gets away from the coaling stage at Mendota, Ill., in 1958 with a 16-car Illini Club excursion loaded with admirers.

1959, Steam's Finest Hour, edited by David P. Morgan, Kalmbach Publishing Co., page 48 (photo caption)

(rail transport) a structure, which took various forms, used to supply coal to steam locomotives.


Chessie

(rail transport) a nickname given to (and used by) the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.


wheel arrangement

wheel arrangement (plural wheel arrangements)

Among tank engines, the 0-6-2 wheel arrangement was by far the most numerous, there being nearly 450 of this arrangement, which offers the advantage of good power and adhesive weight, coupled with adequate tank and bunker capacity, within a limited compass.

1939 September, D. S. Barrie, “The Railways of South Wales”, in Railway Magazine, page 161:

These were the first class of tender locomotives with this wheel arrangement [4-6-2] in the world, although there is some doubt as to whether the name "Pacific" was given to the type because New Zealand is in the Pacific Ocean or because some similar engines were built a few months later for the Missouri Pacific Railroad.

1954 August, J. B. Snell, “The New Zealand Government Railways—2”, in Railway Magazine, page 559:

Milwaukee Road revived the 4-4-2 type and gave the wheel arrangement its finest hour in 1935 when 7-foot-drivered oil-burners pioneered the Hiawatha.

1959, David P. Morgan, editor, Steam's Finest Hour, Kalmbach Publishing Co., page 42, photo caption:

(rail transport) A system of classifying the way the driving wheels and non-driving wheels are distributed under a locomotive.


Milwaukee Road

(rail transport, informal) The former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad.


time freight

time freight (countable and uncountable, plural time freights)

No. 92 is drifting down into Burlington with time freight in 1946.

1959, Steam's Finest Hour, edited by David P. Morgan, Kalmbach Publishing Co., page 14 (photo caption)

(rail transport, US, uncountable) Freight for movement on regularly scheduled trains providing expedited service and a guaranteed delivery time.


LNER

London North Eastern Railway
w:London North Eastern Railway

(rail transport, British) Initialism of London North Eastern Railway.

London and North Eastern Railway
w:London and North Eastern Railway

(rail transport, British, historical) Initialism of London and North Eastern Railway.


BNSF

(rail transport) BNSF Railway, formerly named the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway, which was formed in a merger from Burlington Northern Railroad and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in 1996.


loading gauge

In Russia, where experiments on a considerable scale have been made with condensing, the railways have the considerable advantage of a loading gauge 17 ft. high (the biggest in the world), as compared with the British 13 ft. or slightly over.

1946 January and February, “The Why and The Wherefore: Condensing Locomotives”, in Railway Magazine, page 62:

The first "K" class 4-8-4 appeared in 1932. Designed and built in New Zealand, these are probably the biggest non-articulated locomotives possible within the loading gauge.

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

The total of wagons generally conforming to Continental standards but specially built to our loading gauge so that they are capable of use on the ferry routes is now 8,000.

1960 March, “Talking of Trains: London-Paris in four hours”, in Trains Illustrated, page 134:

The coaches are similar to those of the Hampshire diesel-electric units, which went into service in September, 1957, but have 8ft 6in wide bodies, instead of 9ft, because of loading gauge limitations on the South Eastern Division.

1962 December, “The Oxted Line diesel-electric multiple-units”, in Modern Railways, page 383:

But there is a continuing distinction between the loading gauge (the size of the trains) of the deep-level Tube trains and the loading gauge of the cut-and-cover trains. The latter are bigger - as big as main-line trains.

2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 33:

(rail transport, UK) The maximum permitted height and width for a rail vehicle, governed by clearances in tunnels, under bridges and past lineside structures.

(rail transport) A physical structure, often a metal frame above a railroad track, to check the maximum height and width of a vehicle.


coal train

Some interesting facts have recently been made known by the L.N.E.R. concerning the 178-ton Garratt 2-8-0 + 0-8-2 engine No. 2395, which since construction in 1925 has spent the whole of its working life banking coal trains up the 3 miles of 1 in 40 between Wentworth junction and West Silkstone, on the Worsborough branch, near Barnsley.

1942 March, “Notes and News: Locomotive Notes”, in Railway Magazine, page 93:

Out in Ohio on test on level, tangent track a single 2-6-6-6 once moved a 160-car, 14.083-ton coal train to 19 miles per hour from a standing start in 1 mile and 6 minutes, and had it rolling 29 miles per hour within a total elapsed time of 11 minutes.

1959, David P. Morgan, editor, Steam's Finest Hour, Kalmbach Publishing Co., page 61:

One of the biggest flows of traffic through Trent consists of coal trains from Toton to Castle Donington or Willington power stations (on the Castle Donington branch) or to the Birmingham area, with two or three trains to Chaddesden.

1961 March, Warren Smith, “The problems of train regulation - a study of operation at Trent”, in Trains Illustrated, page 169:

(rail transport) a freight train which carries a single commodity: coal.


mail clerk

Flange-stacked and cone-nosed, a Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis J-3 4-8-4 gives the mail clerks a look at the trim Alco as she leads the Dixie Limited out of Smyrna, Ga.

1959, Steam's Finest Hour, edited by David P. Morgan, Kalmbach Publishing Co., page 74 (photo caption)

(rail transport) a person who sorts mail in a mail car on a train.


mail car

mail cars (plural)
mailcar (alternative)

(rail transport, US) A railroad car in which mail is carried and sorted.


travelling post office

travelling post office (plural travelling post offices)

One of the important railway facilities which disappeared on the outbreak of war was the travelling post office. […] T.P.Os. have now been resumed, with the reinstatement on October 1 of those between Euston and Aberdeen, and between Paddington and Penzanze.

1945 November and December, “Return of the T.P.O.”, in Railway Magazine, pages 311–312:

From its pre-Second World War boom of 130 Travelling Post Offices (TPOs) that sorted mail on the move, Royal Mail has slowly (but progressively) shifted its mail operations to other modes of transport.

2024 July 24, Richard Wilcock, “Royal Mail's switch to road a body blow for rail freight sector”, in RAIL, number 1014, page 26:

(rail transport, UK) A type of railway coach designed for the carriage and sorting of mail en route.


coal pusher

The M-1's had roller bearings on all axles, high-speed Franklin boosters, steam lines, tender coal pushers - all the gadgets one could ask.

1959, David P. Morgan, editor, Steam's Finest Hour, Kalmbach Publishing Co., page 71:

(rail transport) a device used to push coal forward in the tender of a steam locomotive.


axle loading

Engine designers could and did specify axle loadings in excess of 80,000 pounds.

1959, David P. Morgan, editor, Steam's Finest Hour, Kalmbach Publishing Co., page 60:

(transport, rail transport) the weight placed on each axle of a vehicle.


common carrier

Baldwin built the biggest by virtue of its rapport with the U.S. Steel roads. The largest of these properties is the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range. The Missabe is, to be sure, no granger; indeed DM&IR is only technically a common carrier.

1959, David P. Morgan, editor, Steam's Finest Hour, Kalmbach Publishing Co., page 41:

Equally to be expected, in view of the trend of Government legislation and pronouncements over the past few years—but no less epoch-making for that—is the proposal that the railways and canals shall cease to be common carriers and be entirely free to fix their own passenger and freight charges, [...].

1961 December, “Editorial: Führerprinzip for nationalised transport”, in Trains Illustrated, page 705:

The railways were 'common carriers' - they had to move any load they were offered, even if it was uneconomic to do so. Road hauliers could pick and choose their loads.

2021 August 25, Richard Foster, “The rise and fall of railway's Big Four...”, in RAIL, number 938, page 56:

(transport, rail transport) A person or company that undertakes to transport goods for the general public or passengers on regular routes at agreed rates.


bridge route

A decade later D&H began buying fast, high-horsepower locomotives in the interest of lucrative bridge-route traffic.

1959, David P. Morgan, editor, Steam's Finest Hour, Kalmbach Publishing Co., page 34:

(rail transport, US) a railroad which provides a link from one major carrier (railroad) to another.


locospotter

locospotters (plural)
loco spotter (alternative)

GRAND EASTER HOLIDAY
LOCOSPOTTERS' EXCURSIONS
from LONDON
on Wednesday April 5th 1961 to
ASHFORD and EASTLEIGH WORKS
Fare: 18/- Under 16; 34/- Adult

1961, March, Trains Illustrated, Ian Allan Ltd., advertisement

(rail transport) a railfan who is interested in locomotives, and notes down those that have been seen (spotted).


elevated railway

elevated railway (plural elevated railways)

(rail transport) A rapid transit railway with tracks above street level on a viaduct or other elevated structure.


staff system

(rail transport, historical) A block system in use on single-line railways, in which the stationmaster gives the driver a staff authorizing the driver to proceed over a given portion of track.


headchair

I desire to be understood'as disclaimin g the broad features, first, of making a railway headchair with bearing-cheeks of different heights, one for the flange and the other for the tread of a car-wheel, whereby, in passing over theswitch on either the main or the side track rail, the wheel will have bearing upon respective cheek of the chair; and, second, of providing such side bearings with detachable wearing surfaces, either inclined, plane, or grooved.

1878, Specifications and Drawings of Patents Issued from the U.S. Patent Office:

The defendant's roadmaster testified that the flanges of the car wheels would constantly wear the blocking until it got beyond their reach; that frequently the blocking was split the same day that it was put in; and that in the course of two or three days the blocking would be worn down, through its entire length, so that its surface would be practically level with the headchair, which was two inches below the surface of the rail, and an inch and a quarter below the bottom of the head of the rail.

1895, Michigan Reports: Cases Decided in the Supreme Court of Michigan:

(railways) Part of a block switch on a railway line that the ends of the moveable rails rest on, and to which the stationary rails are attached.


drag-chain

(railways) The chain that connects together engine and tender, or carriages and wagons.


train ferry

Pack ice, at times mounting to a height of 35 ft., snow, fog, and floating mines all played their part in the disorganisation of railway services, and most of the train ferry services were completely suspended for a month or more; [...].

1940 May, “Overseas Railways: Icebound Denmark”, in Railway Magazine, page 302:

Even without the Channel tunnel, British Railways carry on a substantial exchange of traffic with the Continent by the various train ferries, which handle some 500,000 tons of cargo annually.

1960 March, “Talking of Trains: London-Paris in four hours”, in Trains Illustrated, page 134:

(nautical, rail transport) A ferry used to transport rail vehicles from one railway line to another across a stretch of water.


rail spike

The company use on the outside of both rails, on all sharp curves, a cast iron brace nearly the same height as the rail, and secured to tie with three rail spikes.

1887, Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners of the State of New York, page 147:

(rail transport) A type of large nail with an offset head used to fasten a rail or base plate to a wooden railroad tie/sleeper.

犬釘

a large nail used to fasten a rail base plate to a tie/sleeper


SPAR

Coordinate term: SPAD

(rail transport, UK) Initialism of signal passed at red.


break of gauge

breaks of gauge (plural)
break-of-gauge (alternative)

The first through consignment ever to travel to Russia by way of the Eastern Region's Harwich-Zeebrugge train ferry - two tons of furniture and other household items - left London early in March on a 1,850-mile journey to Moscow; [...] being transferred to a Russian wagon at the Polish frontier because of the break of gauge.

1960 May, “Talking of Trains: News in brief”, in Trains Illustrated, page 265:

(rail transport) an occurrence where a railway with one track gauge meets another railway of a different gauge, thus requiring transhipment of goods and passengers, or a change of bogies on the train.


break-of-gauge station

break-of-gauge station (plural break-of-gauge stations)

(rail transport) a railway station where railways of different track gauges meet, and where transhipment of goods and passengers takes place. Some of these stations have a bogie changing facility.


GTR

Grant Road railway station
w:Grant Road railway station

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


bimode

(rail transport) Of a train: designed to be powered either by electricity or by a diesel generator (on unelectrified track).


Sherman necktie

Sherman necktie (plural Sherman neckties)

Sherman neckties (plural)
Sherman's necktie (alternative)

/ˈʃɜːmən ˈnɛktaɪ/

From Sherman, the surname of Union Army general William Tecumseh Sherman (1820–1891) + necktie. During the American Civil War, Sherman ordered the destruction of the rails of railways in order to obstruct the Confederate States Army.

We were compelled to go by carriage, as the railroads had been destroyed, the fat-pine cross-ties burned to heat the rails and the red-hot rails wrapped around the trees growing near the track. We used to call these iron rails "Sherman's neckties," and the solemn-looking chimneys standing guard over the former sites of once happy homes were called by the natives "Sherman's monuments."

[1917, James Morris Morgan, chapter XXVIII, in Recollections of a Rebel Reefer, Boston, Mass., New York, N.Y.: Houghton Mifflin Company […], →OCLC, page 244:

As the Democrats met in Chicago to declare the war a failure, northern soldiers 700 miles away were making "Sherman neckties" out of the last open railroad into Atlanta by heating the rails over a bonfire of ties and twisting the iron around trees.

1988, James M. McPherson, “We are Going to be Wiped Off the Earth”, in Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era (The Oxford History of the United States; 6), New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN; paperback edition, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, 2003, →ISBN, page 774:

I break camp and push down the road to the tiny town of Lithonia. It was here that [William Tecumseh] Sherman saw the first homes on the March to the Sea go up in flames as his men wrecked the railroad, twisting the iron rails into Sherman's Neckties.

1995, Jerry Ellis, chapter 11, in Marching through Georgia: My Walk with Sherman, New York, N.Y.: Delacorte Press, →ISBN; Marching through Georgia: My Walk along Sherman’s Route, paperback edition, Athens, Ga.: University of Georgia Press, 2002, →ISBN, page 74:

Sherman's army cut a swath of destruction fifty miles wide as it marched leisurely through Georgia without any meaningful Confederate resistance. The men destroyed nearly all property in their path, famously twisting railroad tracks around tree trunks—"Sherman neckties"—so they would never be usable again.

2006, Christopher J. Olsen, “Confederate Families at War in 1864–1865”, in The American Civil War: A Hands-on History, New York, N.Y.: Hill and Wang, →ISBN; paperback edition, New York, N.Y.: Hill and Wang, 2007, →ISBN, page 214:

Sherman, however, had grown to hate the Confederate trains running into Atlanta almost as much as the armies behind the city's earthworks. He declared, "Let the destruction be so thorough that not a rail or tie can be used again." The troops had a two-day-long Sherman necktie party.

2009, Marc [Josef] Wortman, “The First Bonfire”, in The Bonfire: The Siege and Burning of Atlanta, New York, N.Y.: PublicAffairs, →ISBN, part VI (War is Cruelty, and You Cannot Refine It), page 306:

The Road to Tara Museum had a lot of Gone with the Wind and almost no Sherman, except for one twisted Sherman's necktie.

2014, Anne Sarah Rubin, “Conclusion: Rubin’s March”, in Through the Heart of Dixie: Sherman’s March and American Memory, Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina Press, →ISBN, page 232:

(US, rail transport, historical, chiefly in the plural) A segment of rail that has been heated and twisted into a loop, as a means of destroying a railway.

Confederate States Army
Fort McAllister Historic State Park
Union Army
William Tecumseh Sherman


cross-sill

(railways) A railroad sleeper lying under the rails transversely as a support to the stringer.


return tag

(railways, historical) A tag attached to a railway car as evidence of its due arrival.


engine shed

Modern engine sheds of advanced design have also been built at Radyr, Abercynon, and elsewhere, whilst other depots have been remodelled and re-equipped.

1939 September, D. S. Barrie, “The Railways of South Wales”, in Railway Magazine, page 161:

Tons of engine sheds would bite the dust with the end of steam, and many would be demolished with their time in the spotlight over. We're lucky that the one at Didcot survived into preservation.

2021 December 29, Stephen Roberts, “Stories and facts behind railway plaques: Didcot (1932)”, in RAIL, number 947, page 61:

(rail transport, dated) A building for housing railway locomotives.


edge rail

(railways) A rail designed so that the carriage wheels roll on its edges, being held there by flanges.


p way

(rail transport, UK) Abbreviation of permanent way.


seat lock

(railways) The lock of a reversible seat in railroad cars.


ticket barrier

The modernisation of Limerick is approaching completion [...]. A new ticket barrier painted black and white divides the concourse from the platforms.

1962 July, “The Irish Scene”, in Modern Railways, page 11:

(rail transport) A manned barrier at which travel tickets are presented. Modern barriers are machines which can read tickets or where cards can be scanned before allowing passengers through.


cattle truck

cattle trucks (plural)
cattle-truck (alternative)

It would be fair to say that seats have become smaller - and an Underground manager once told me that the ideal train would have no seats, and the whole platform-side of it would roll up and down like a venetian blind. It would be a cattle truck, in other words.

2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 211:

(rail transport) A wagon used to transport livestock.

karjavaunu

wagon used to transport livestock — see also cattle wagon


DOO

driver-only operation
driver-only operation#English

(UK, rail transport) Initialism of driver-only operation.


drag bolt

(railways) A strong bolt passing through the drawbar of railway carriages, and serving to fasten the coupling.


bi-mode

The EMR [East Midlands Railway] bi-modes will be able to run at 125mph in diesel mode, matching Meridian performance, in a step-up from the capabilities of the existing 80x units in service with other franchises.

2019 October, Tony Miles, Philip Sherratt, “EMR kicks off new era”, in Modern Railways, page 54:

(rail transport) a bi-mode multiple unit which can operate either as a normal electric train or as a diesel-electric train (on unelectrified track), with the power coming from diesel generators.


line speed

line speeds (plural)
linespeed (alternative)

NR had introduced [a] speed restriction for the 400 trains that pass daily on this section of the West Coast Main Line between Rugby and Milton Keynes, but since the work the full 110mph line speed has been reinstated.

2020 June 3, “Network News: Kilsby Tunnel closure allows essential repair work”, in Rail, page 16:

(rail transport) The maximum speed at which trains can run on a given railway line, or section of line.


linespeed

(Discussing a speed restriction under an overbridge) Analysis of real-time data from test runs at 125mph showed that operation at linespeed would, indeed, not be sustainable in terms of both contact wire life and pantograph wear. However, 110mph turned out to be acceptable, at a cost of only seven seconds' delay.

2019 October, “Deliveries running late”, in Modern Railways, page 37:

(rail transport) alternative form of line speed


contact wire

Overhead electric equipment generally stood up well both to the weight of vertically falling snow and to the effects of snow on contact wires; [...].

1962 March, “The New Year Freeze-up on British Railways”, in Modern Railways, page 158:

(rail transport) A bare wire conducting electricity, often the lower part of the catenary, which comes into contact with a raised pantograph or other form of current collector.


ground frame

ground frames (plural)
groundframe (alternative)

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

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

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

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

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


re-tractioning

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

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

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


dual-voltage

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

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

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

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

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

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


track pizza

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


fogman

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

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

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


ticket hall

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

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

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


ticket gate

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

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


empty stock working

empty stock working (plural empty stock workings)

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

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

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


metroisation

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

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

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

捷運化 /捷运化

The process of converting a railway to a metro service


double-tracking

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

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

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


semaphore signal

semaphore signal (plural semaphore signals)

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

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

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

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

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


signal cabin

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

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

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

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

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

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


running rail

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

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

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

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

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


signal bridge

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


ROSCO

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

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

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


cab signalling

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

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

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

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

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


reballasting

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

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

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

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

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


reballast

en-verb

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

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

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

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

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


read through

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

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

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


shedmaster

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

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

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

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

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


test track

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

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

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

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

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


Bo-Bo

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

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

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


Co-Co

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

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

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


motor coach

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

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

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


motor-coach

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

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

(rail transport) Alternative form of motor coach.


diesel multiple unit

en-noun

diesel multiple unit (plural diesel multiple units)

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

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

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


locomotive shed

locomotive shed (plural locomotive sheds)

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

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

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

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

Short form: locoshed

(rail transport) Synonym of engine shed.


Westinghouse brake

Westinghouse brake (plural Westinghouse brakes)

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

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

All goods vehicles are fitted with the Westinghouse brake, with the exception of those on the isolated railway serving Nelson. However, as some compensation for this deficiency, the four 2-6-4 tanks on this section are fitted with steam smokebox-ash blowers, which are unique, useful, and awe-inspiring pieces of apparatus.

1954 August, J. B. Snell, “The New Zealand Government Railways—2”, in Railway Magazine, page 562:

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

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

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


firehole

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

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

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

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

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


well wagon

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


sand dome

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


driving trailer

driving trailer (plural driving trailers)

The motor coaches will have no driving compartments, and the end vehicles of every unit will be driving trailers.

1954 November, “Trains for Southend Electrification”, in Railway Magazine, page 737:

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


nose-suspended

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


home signal

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


running line

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


starting signal

starting signal (plural starting signals)

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

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

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


starter signal

(rail transport) Synonym of starting signal.


colour light signal

colour light signal (plural colour light signals)

colour light signals (plural)
colour-light signal (alternative)
color light signal (alternative)
color-light signal (alternative)

Colour-light signals, for both day and night work, came into use at a much later date, and their first use on any scale in this country was on the London underground railways, where the principle adopted was largely American in origin. But although light signalling is credited to America, one of the first instances of its use was an experimental installation at Herne Hill, although it did not find favour in this country for overground working until some fifty years later.

1955 April, R. H. Warring, “Some Early Railway Signals”, in Railway Magazine, pages 231-232:

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


route indicator

route indicator (plural route indicators)

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


special saloon

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

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

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

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

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


steam-hauled

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

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

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

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

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


stopping train

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

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

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

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


long-welded

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

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

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

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


diesel-hydraulic

(rail transport) A diesel-hydraulic locomotive.


coupling rod

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


maiden run

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

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

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


tank locomotive

tank locomotive (plural tank locomotives)

(rail transport) Synonym of tank engine.


wheel shop

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

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

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


dragbox

dragboxes (plural)
drag box (alternative)

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

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

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


box van

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


tube train

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

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

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

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


non-corridor

No non-corridor coaching stock remains in normal service.

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

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

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


smoking carriage

smoking carriage (plural smoking carriages)

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

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

(rail transport, British) Synonym of smoking car.


Metropolitan

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


parliamentary train

parliamentary train (plural parliamentary trains)

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

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

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

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


condensing locomotive

condensing locomotive (plural condensing locomotives)

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

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

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


Hammersmith & City

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

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

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


Overground

From overground, in contrast to the Underground.

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

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

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


fourth rail

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

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

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

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

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


dead man's handle

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

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

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

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

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

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

VACMA

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


tripcock

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

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

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

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

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


walk-through

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

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

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

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

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


heritage railway

heritage railway (plural heritage railways)

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

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


track worker

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

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

(rail transport) Alternative form of trackworker.


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


Network Rail

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


dome car

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

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

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

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

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


grab iron

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

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

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


slumbercoach

slumbercoaches (plural)
slumber coach (alternative)

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

(rail transport) A type of sleeping car.


dive-under

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

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

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


shunting neck

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

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

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


signal check

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

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

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


baggage car

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


track plan

track plans (plural)
trackplan (alternative)

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


contact shoe

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


running shed

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

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

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

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

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


mineral wagon

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


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.


Beeching

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

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

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

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


rail trail

rail trails (plural)
rail-trail (alternative)

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

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

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


automatic half-barrier level crossing

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

automatic half-barrier level crossings (plural)

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

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

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


Fenchurch Street

Fenchurch Street
Fenchurch Street railway station

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


reversing siding

reversing siding (plural reversing sidings)

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

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

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


on-train

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

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

(rail transport) Taking place on a train.


pilotman

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Fairlie

Class "R" 0-6-4 single Fairlie No. 28, built by Avonside in 1879, as working for the Timaru Harbour Board in 1940

1954 August, J. B. Snell, “The New Zealand Government Railways—2”, in Railway Magazine, page 559, photo caption:

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


resleeper

en-verb

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

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

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

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

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


stopblock

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

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

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


Severn Tunnel Junction

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


block post

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

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

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


tamping machine

en-noun

tamping machine (plural tamping machines)

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

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

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

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

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


right-away signal

right-away signal (plural right-away signals)

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

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

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


point heater

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

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

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


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.


block train

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

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

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


railborne

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

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

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


triple valve

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

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

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

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

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


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.


road slug

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


hump slug

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


saddle tank

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

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

(rail transport) Alternative form of saddletank.


headcode

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

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

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

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

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


warm storage

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

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

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


catch points

catch points (plural)
catchpoints (alternative)

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

railtours (plural)
rail tour (alternative)

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

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

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


rail-served

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

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

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


WHA

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


joint line

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

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

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


double-headed

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


mixed-traffic

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


stabling siding

stabling siding (plural stabling sidings)

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

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

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


double-heading

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


shunting engine

shunting engine (plural shunting engines)

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

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

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


motive power depot

motive power depot (plural motive power depots)

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

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


secondman

secondmen (plural)
second man (alternative)

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

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

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

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

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


train order

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


block instrument

block instrument (plural block instruments)

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

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

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


one engine in steam

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

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

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

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

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


cantrail

cantrails (plural)
cant rail (alternative)

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 joints (plural)
railjoint (alternative)

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


neutral section

neutral section (plural neutral sections)

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

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

electrical engineering
electrical engineering

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


slab track

slab track (countable and uncountable, plural slab tracks)

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

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

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


gate box

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

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

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


dynamic braking

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

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

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

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

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


track-circuited

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

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

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

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

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


stringline

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


stringline

en-verb

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

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

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

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

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