| TERM | DEFINITION |
|---|---|
| accept a train (v) | To tell a signalman to let the train enter the section |
| attention (n) | A single beat bell signal to see if another signalman is ready |
| automatic brake (n) | A brake that applies itself if a broken coupling divides the train |
| banking engine (n) | An engine coupled to the rear of a train to help it over a hill |
| bell, belling (v) | A signalman sending bell code block signals to other signalmen |
| bell code (n) | A set of sequences of bell beats and pauses - block signaling code |
| block indicator (n) | A device that indicates whether a block is occupied or clear |
| block instrument (n) | A device containing the signal keys, bells, and block indicators for one track section |
| block post (n) | A place where trains are stopped when the track is not clear ahead |
| block system (n) | Dividing a railroad into sections, with each allowing only one train at a time |
| blocking back (ph) | A bell signal stating that the station is blocked and no train can come toward it |
| bogie (n) | A set of wheels on a pivoted frame, to make train cars better follow the track (U.S. truck) 1 |
| brake van (n) | A special car that has brakes (pre-continuous brakes) - a caboose |
| brakesman (n) | The person who operates the manual brakes (pre-continuous brakes) |
| buckeye coupling (n) | A coupling that works like clasped hands, common on US railways and UK passenger trains 2 |
| buffer (n) | A bumper designed to reduce impact |
| caution (a) | The yellow aspect of a distant signal, saying the next signal is red |
| clear (signal) (a) | The green or go aspect of a signal |
| clear (track)(a) | A section of track with no train on it |
| coach (n) | A passenger car |
| color light signal (n) | A track signal that indicates aspects by changing color |
| consist (n) | A document listing the vehicles of a train and their contents |
| continuous brake (n) | A system that works brakes on all cars at the same time |
| #-coupled engine (n) | An engine with # wheels linked together and to the driving cylinders with rods (# is a number) |
| coupling (n) | A device that couples railway vehicles together to form a train |
| crossing gate (n) | A gate that closes across either the road or the railroad. |
| crossover (n) | A number of sets of points used to switch a train on a different track |
| danger (a) | The red or stop aspect of a signal |
| detonator (n) | An explosive device clipped to a rail that warns a train driver that something is wrong ahead |
| distant signal (n) | The signal that tells the engine driver the next signal is red |
| down (a) | Denoting a track or train with a direction of motion away from London |
| engine driver (n) | The person who operates the engine (a better term than the American term "engineer") |
| engineer (n) | A person who designs tracks, train equipment or signals (not an engine driver) |
| entering section (n) | A bell signal that a train is actually entering a section |
| express train (n) | A fast train - priority over all except mail and military trains |
| fireman (n) | The person who keeps the fire of a steam locomotive going |
| flyover (n) | A bridge built to take a track or road over other traffic |
| gas lighting (n) | Using flammable gas to operate lights (pre-electric lighting) |
| guard (n) | The person who does the business of the train (U.S. conductor) |
| guard's van (n) | The car where the guard does the business of the train (U.S. caboose) |
| goods train (n) | A freight train - has low priority |
| home signal (n) | The signal that admits a train from a section into station limits |
| is line clear? (ph) | A bell signal asking if the line is clear (same as offering a train) |
| interlock | A system in a signal box to prevent signalmen from making dangerous point and/or signal settings |
| level crossing (n) | A railroad crossing - where a road crosses a railroad |
| lever (n) | A signal box control a signalman uses to operate points or signals |
| lever collar (n) | A device intended to prevent a signalman from pulling a lever |
| light engine (n) | A small, light-duty engine, or an engine running without a train |
| line (n) | One set of rails forming one track |
| line clear (n) | A bell signal saying that there is no train in the section |
| local train (n) | A stopping train - stops at many stations and has low priority |
| loop, passing loop (n) | A siding or passing track where slow trains wait for faster trains to pass |
| mail train (n) | A fast train carrying mail - priority over all except military trains |
| martial (v) | To make up a train by coupling up cars in a specified order |
| martialed order (v) | The order the cars are placed in a train |
| military train (n) | In wartime, a troop or supplies train that has highest priority |
| nearside (a, n) | On the left side - the side away from oncoming traffic |
| occupied (a) | The state of a section of track with a train on it |
| off (a) | The green or go aspect of a signal |
| offer a train (v) | To tell a signalman that a train wants to enter a section |
| offside (a, n) | On the right side - the side close to oncoming traffic |
| on (a) | The red or stop aspect of a signal, or the caution of a distant signal |
| out of section (n) | A bell signal stating that a train has left the section |
| overbridge (n) | A bridge that passes over the track in question |
| piece box (n) | A lunch box |
| pilot engine (n) | The engine out in front when multiple engines are used |
| points (n) | A railway switch (turnout) |
| priority (n) | The right of a train to make lower priority trains wait until they pass |
| pull off (v) | To pull a signal box lever to change a signal to green or go |
| put on (v) | To push the signal levers back to set the signals to danger and caution |
| railway (n) | A railroad |
| section (n) | A length of track between block posts that can have only one train in it |
| semaphore (n) | A track signal that indicates aspects by the position of a moving arm |
| shunt (v) | 1. To switch a low speed train onto a siding to let a high speed train pass
2. To switch cars in a shunting yard to make up new trains |
| shunting yard (n) | A set of sidings where rail cars are marshalled into new trains |
| siding (n) | A passing loop (see loop) |
| signal (n) | A trackside device track that tells train drivers to stop, slow, or go |
| signal box (n) | A building, usually high, where the signalman works |
| signalman (n) | The person who operates the points (switches) and the signals |
| sleeper (n) | A railroad tie - holds the rails a specific distance apart |
| starting signal (n) | The signal that admits a train from station limits to a section |
| station limits (n) | Track for trains in stations or block posts - not sections |
| stopping train (n) | A train that stops at many stations and has low priority |
| tank engine (n) | An engine that holds all of the supplies to run it without a tender |
| tender (n) | A train car that carries all of the supplies the locomotive needs |
| tender engine (n) | An engine that needs a tender car to carry its coal and water |
| track circuit (n) | A device that detects the presence of a train on a track section |
| train engine (n) | The engine closest to the train when more than one engine is used |
| train on line (n) | A bell signal stating that a train is actually in a section |
| train pipe (n) | The pipes and hoses connecting the train together to work the brakes |
| Train Register (n) | A book kept by signalmen to record times of events of each train |
| train stop (n) | A device that applies the brakes if a train passes a caution signal. |
| trap points (n) | Special switches that keep runaway cars from entering the main line |
| underbridge (n) | A bridge that takes the track in question over something else |
| up (a) | Denoting a track or a train with a direction of motion toward London |
| vacuum brake (n) | A system where vacuum on the train pipe releases the brakes |
| wagon (n) | A freight car, especially a boxcar |
1 Probably named for a coal mining wagon made to turn in tight spaces
2 So named because they were originally made in Ohio, the "Buckeye State"