0-9, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, [Contents]
0-9,
A,
B,
C,
D,
E,
F,
G,
H,
I,
J,
K,
L,
M,
N,
O,
P,
Q,
R,
S,
T,
U,
V,
W,
X,
Y,
Z,
[Contents]
ABCL
An automatic level crossing equipped with half barriers and road traffic
light signals at which the correct operation of the crossing equipment is
monitored by the train driver.
Warrant: The History & Development of
Railway Signalling in the British Isles, Friends of the National Railway Museum
Plural form: ABCLs
USE automatic barrier crossing locally monitored
CL Control and communications
BT automatic barrier crossing
absence switch
A switch which, when operated, allows a signal box to be destaffed for a
period, by registering telephone calls to that signal box.
Warrant: The
History & Development of Railway Signalling in the British Isles, Friends of
the National Railway Museum
Plural form: absence switches
CL Control and communications
BT <telephone exchanges, switchgear, etc.>
Abt rack locomotive
A locomotive operating on a type of rack railway patented by R. Abt in 1882
with teeth cut in narrow vertical bars, 2 or more bars being mounted side by
side with their teeth stepped.
Warrant: Science Museum Catalogue
Plural form: Abt rack locomotives
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT rack locomotive
abutment
The supporting structure on each side of an arch or bridge.
Warrant:
Encyclopedia of Railways, O S Nock, 1977
Plural form: abutments
CL Built works and components
BT bridge component
access agreement
An agreement regulated under the Railway Act 1993 setting out the terms and
conditions under which companies/operators obtain access to railway track,
stations and depots.
Warrant: Railtrack Jargon Buster, 1999
Plural form: access agreements
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <administration>
access component
A railway vehicle component that allows access to and from the vehicle
interior.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: access components
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT bodywork component
NT gangway component
NT hatch component
NT mail exchange apparatus (vehicle assembly)
NT traductor
NT vehicle door
NT vehicle door component
NT <foot and hand holds>
<access tools and equipment>
Equipment used for gaining access to places that can not be reached without
help.
Plural form: <access tools and equipment>
CL Tools and equipment
BT <general tools and equipment>
NT access tower
access tower
A mechanical personnel lift for enabling access to signals, lamps and other
equipment situated high off the ground.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: access towers
CL Tools and equipment
BT <access tools and equipment>
accommodation bridge
A bridge connecting two areas of land which were under common ownership but
separated when the railway was built.
Warrant: Railtrack Jargon Buster,
1999
Plural form: accommodation bridges
CL Built works and components
BT <bridges by origin>
accommodation level crossing
A private level crossing provided for the use of the landowner or his
tenants when a parcel of land under single ownership has been severed by
construction of a railway.
Warrant: The Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of
Railway Terminology, Alan A Jackson, Alan Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: accommodation level crossings
CL Control and communications
BT <level crossings by type>
accompanied article ticket
A ticket for an article accompanying a passenger on their journey.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: accompanied article tickets
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT travel ticket
NT accompanied dog ticket
NT accompanied luggage ticket
accompanied dog ticket
A ticket for a dog travelling with a passenger.
Literary warrant
required.
Plural form: accompanied dog tickets
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT accompanied article ticket
accompanied luggage ticket
A ticket for an object carried by a passenger, not covered by the normal
luggage allowances (e.g. a musical instrument).
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: accompanied luggage tickets
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT accompanied article ticket
NT commercial travellers luggage and samples ticket
<accounting plates, etc.>
Plates attached to wagons (usually on the solebars) in order to indicate
their status for RCH accounting purposes.
Plural form: <accounting plates, etc.>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <vehicle identity and instruction plates>
NT commuted charge plate
NT commuted empty haulage plate
<accounting records and equipment>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <accounting records and equipment>
CL Commercial records and equipment
NT <parcel and freight traffic accounting>
NT <passenger traffic accounting>
accumulator (locomotive)
An apparatus for storing electricity chemically (i.e. a secondary battery).
Warrant: Electric Locomotives and Railways, H Greenly, no date p292
Plural form: accumulators (locomotive)
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <ancillary electrical equipment>
active suspension
Suspension using microprocessor control to detect changes in track
formation or direction and signal changes in the suspension configuration.
Warrant: Railway Technical Web Pages, Piers Connor, 2000
Plural form: active suspensions
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT suspension component
adaptor vehicle
A wagon or carriage fitted with dual or multiple coupling systems to allow
non-standard rolling stock (e.g. vehicles built for overseas railway systems) to
be hauled by British locomotives or marshalled in trains next to rolling stock
equiped with normal buffing and drawgear. Sometimes referred to 'barriers' but
in this thesaurus that term is reserved for vehicles surrounding dangerous
loads.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: adaptor vehicles
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT runner (vehicle)
NT adaptor wagon
NT barrier coach
adaptor wagon
A wagon fitted with dual or multiple coupling systems to allow non-standard
rolling stock to be hauled by British locomotives or marshalled in trains next
to rolling stock equipped with normal buffing and drawgear.
Literary
warrant required.
Plural form: adaptor wagons
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT adaptor vehicle
adhesion railway
The basic railway, i.e. a flanged steel wheel travelling a plain steel
rail.
Warrant: Phil Atkins, National Railway Museum
Plural form: adhesion railways
CL Railway types
BT <self-propelled railways by adhesion method>
adjustment switch
A device which allows longitudinal rail movement to dissipate thermal
forces when continuous welded rail is adjacent to jointed track.
Warrant:
Railtrack Jargon Buster, 1999
Plural form: adjustment switches
CL Track and track components
BT rail joint
<administration>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <administration>
CL Commercial records and equipment
NT access agreement
NT boiler certificate
NT qualified take over certificate
NT share offer
Adriatic locomotive
A steam locomotive with 2-6-4 wheel arrangement.
Warrant: The Railway
Dictionary, An A-Z of Railway Terminology, Alan A Jackson, Alan Sutton
Publishing, 1996
Plural form: Adriatics locomotive
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT six coupled locomotive
advanced starter
A stop signal placed in advance of the starting signal.
Warrant: The
Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of Railway Terminology, Alan A Jackson, Alan Sutton
Publishing, 1996
Plural form: advanced starters
CL Control and communications
BT starting signal
advert
A colloquial abbreviation for advertisement.
Warrant: Oxford English
Dictionary
Plural form: adverts
USE advertisement
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <advertising and publicity>
advertisement
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: advertisements
UF advert
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <advertising and publicity>
NT enamel advertising sign
<advertising and publicity>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <advertising and publicity>
CL Commercial records and equipment
NT advertisement
NT advertising poster
NT advertising sign
NT handbill
NT handbill rack
NT map
NT poster
NT prospectus
NT timetable
NT timetable frame
NT timetable holder
NT timetable leaflet
NT timetable notice
NT <destination, etc. indicating labels>
advertising poster
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: advertising posters
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <advertising and publicity>
advertising sign
A commercial advertisement made for display on railway premises.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: advertising signs
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <advertising and publicity>
advice note
Accounting form or docket used to record and communicate the existence of a
financial obligation owed to or by the company.
Warrant: Lexique General de
Termes Ferroviares, Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer, 1975
Plural form: advice notes
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <parcel and freight traffic accounting>
aeroplane truck
A bogie or trestle wagon for transporting aircraft or large aircraft
components.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: aeroplane trucks
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <other special traffic vehicles>
agricultural implement wagon
A railway vehicle intended primarily for the carriage of agricultural
implements.
Warrant: Wagons on the LNER - North British, John Hooper,
Irwell Press, 1991 p60
Plural form: agricultural implement wagons
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <machinery, etc. carrying vehicles>
agricultural railway
A railway built purely for the movement of agricultural produce.
Warrant: The Lincolnshire Potato Railways, S E Squires, The Oakwood Press, 1987
Plural form: agricultural railways
CL Railway types
BT freight railway
NT potato railway
RT estate railway
air assisted discharge vehicle
Freight vehicles, typically for conveying powdered materials in bulk, in
which the load is discharged with the aid of compressed air.
Literary
warrant required.
Plural form: air assisted discharge vehicles
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <rolling stock by access/discharge arrangements>
air brake
A braking system in which brakes are held off by compressed air acting on a
piston and applied by the controlled release of pressure.
Warrant: Great
Western Railway Drawing Registers
Plural form: air brakes
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT braking system
air brake ON indicator
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: air brake ON indicators
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <ancillary gauges and instrumentation>
RT <brake controls>
air brake pipe
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: air brake pipes
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT brake pipe
air braked vehicle
A vehicle fitted with continuous air brakes.
Literary warrant
required.
Plural form: air braked vehicles
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT fully fitted vehicle
NT Westinghouse braked vehicle
air conditioning
The equipment for cleaning and controlliing the temperature and humidity of
the air in a vehicle or room.
Warrant: Encyclopedia of Railways, O S Nock,
1977
Plural form: air conditioning
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <environmental control components>
air horn
An audible warning device operated by compressed air.
Warrant:
Locomotive Cyclopedia 1950-1952, Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation
Plural form: air horns
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT horn (acoustic)
air operated reverser
A reversing mechanism used on locomotives equipped with compressors for air
brake operation.
Warrant: Railway Technical Web Pages, Piers Connor, 2000
Plural form: air operated reversers
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT reverser
<air pipes, reservoirs, etc.>
General purpose air pipes, hoses, reservoirs, etc. that serve a range of
on-train pneumatic systems, not just brakes. For pipes and reservoirs
exclusively for brake operation, see 'braking system component','<brake
pipes, reservoirs, etc>'.
Plural form: <air pipes, reservoirs, etc>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <pneumatic system infrastructure>
NT filtered main line isolating cock
NT main line air gauge
NT main line isolating cock control
NT main reservoir
NT main reservoir pipe
air pump (brake)
A device for maintaining a reservoir of compressed air, fitted to
locomotives to enable the operation of the brakes.
Warrant: Locomotives and
Their Working, C R H Simpson & F B Roberts, Virtue & Co Ltd, 1952
Plural form: air pumps (brake)
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <brake pumps, etc.>
NT steam/air pump
<air pumps, etc.>
General purpose air pumps that serve a range of on-train pneumatic systems,
not just brakes. For pumps exclusively for brake operation, see 'braking system
component', '<brake pumps, etc.>'.
Plural form: <air pumps, etc.>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <pneumatic system infrastructure>
ale truck
A special wagon dedicated to the conveyance of beer (normally in casks).
Warrant: Phil Atkins, National Railway Museum
Plural form: ale trucks
USE beer van
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <beer, etc. carrying vehicles>
ale van
A railway vehicle dedicated to the carriage of ale casks.
Plural form: ale vans
USE beer van
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <beer, etc. carrying vehicles>
ale wagon
A special wagon dedicated to the conveyance of beer (normally in casks).
Warrant: Phil Atkins, National Railway Museum
Plural form: ale wagons
USE beer van
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <beer, etc. carrying vehicles>
alias plate
A plate which indicates the radio identification number for a signal, in
cases where this differs from the signal number.
Warrant: The History &
Development of Railway Signalling in the British Isles, Friends of the National
Railway Museum
Plural form: alias plates
CL Control and communications
BT signal identification plate
Allan valve gear
Valve gear type designed by Alexander Allan, similar to Stephenson valve
gear but the reversing lever moved both the link and the block at the same time
instead of only the link, enabling the link to be made straight and of less
vertical height.
Warrant: Developments in Locomotive Practice, Bowen Cooke,
1910
Plural form: Allan valve gears
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT valve gear
allocation plate
A cast plate that indicates the name or code of the motive power depot or
sub-depot to which the locomotive or unit is currently allocated.
Literary
warrant required.
Plural form: allocation plates
UF shed plate
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <owners identity plates>
alphanumeric route indicator
A route indicator that conveys its information by alphanumeric characters.
Warrant: The History & Development of Railway Signalling in the British
Isles, Friends of the National Railway Museum
Plural form: alphanumeric route indicators
CL Control and communications
BT route indicator
alternator
A machine which converts rotary mechanical energy to electrical energy and
generates alternating current.
Warrant: Encyclopedia of Railways, O S Nock,
1977
Plural form: alternators
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <ancillary electrical equipment>
alumina wagon
A special vehicle dedicated to the conveyance of alumina (bauxite).
Warrant: Phil Atkins, National Railway Museum
Plural form: alumina wagons
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <mineral carrying vehicles>
aluminium works railway
A private mineral railway used to convey raw material materials and
finished products between an aluminium works and the transhipment point.
Warrant: The Lochaber Narrow Gauge Railway, Patrick Howat, Famedram Publishing
Ltd, 1986
Plural form: aluminium works railways
CL Railway types
BT factory railway
ambulance car
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: ambulance cars
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <passenger carriages by function>
ambulance train
A train of passenger railway stock specially converted for the conveyance
of wounded military personnel.
Warrant: Phil Atkins, National Railway
Museum
Plural form: ambulance trains
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT passenger train
anchor link
The link in Joy's valve gear running between a fixed fulcrum point on the
motion bracket and the connecting link.
Warrant: Valves and Valve Gear for
Steam Locomotives, C S Lake & A Reidinger, Percival Marshall & Co. Ltd,
undated
Plural form: anchor links
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT valve gear component
<ancillary controls>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <ancillary controls>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <driving and control components>
NT de-icing control
NT sleet brush manual control
NT train equipment panel
<ancillary electrical equipment>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <ancillary electrical equipment>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT vehicle component
NT accumulator (locomotive)
NT alternator
NT battery (vehicle)
NT bridge rectifier
NT cut out
NT electric motor
NT isolating contactor
NT isolation equipment
NT knife switch
NT tachogenerator
NT <fault detection and safety equipment>
<ancillary gauges and instrumentation>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <ancillary gauges and instrumentation>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <driving and control components>
NT air brake ON indicator
NT aniseed bomb
NT audible alarms indicator
NT cab display unit
NT cab indicator
NT de-icing ON indicator
NT flag switch
NT flag (coast)
NT flag (weak field)
NT line light
NT overload trip and test indicator
NT sleet brush DOWN indicator
angle cock
A pneumatic isolating cock used on railway vehicles to shut off and on, or
drain air pipes between vehicles, normally positioned at vehicle ends to allow
the inter-connecting hoses to be isolated and depressurised before being
uncoupled.
Warrant: Railway Technical Web Pages, Piers Connor, 2000
Plural form: angle cocks
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <brake pipes, reservoirs, etc.>
<animal motive power>
Any animal (including human beings) moving (by propelling or pulling) a
railway or tramway vehicle.
Plural form: <animal motive power>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <off-track motive power>
NT draught animal
NT human prime mover
animal powered railway
A railway on which trains are hauled by animals (including humans).
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: animal powered railways
CL Railway types
BT <traction source moving with train>
NT horse railway
aniseed bomb
A device mounted inside a steam locomotive big end which gives warning of
overheating by emitting a distinctive aniseed smell.
Warrant: Locomotives
of the LNER, Part 2A, The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society, 1973
Plural form: aniseed bombs
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <ancillary gauges and instrumentation>
announcer control unit
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: announcer control units
CL Tools and equipment
BT <station tools and equipment>
annunciator (station announcer)
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: annunciators (station announcer)
CL Tools and equipment
BT <station tools and equipment>
annunciator (track circuit)
A device giving a remote audible indication of the passage of a train at
any given point.
Warrant: The Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of Railway
Terminology, Alan A Jackson, Alan Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: annunciators
CL Control and communications
BT <control displays and indicators>
anticlimb buffer
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: anticlimb buffers
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT buffer
antispall layer
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: antispall layers
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <power collection components>
anti-vacuum valve
A valve provided on engines with piston valves to allow air into the steam
passages while the locomotive is moving with the regulator closed.
Warrant:
Locomotives and Their Working, C R H Simpson & F B Roberts, Virtue & Co
Ltd, 1952
Plural form: anti-vacuum valves
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <cylinders and associated components>
apron (rolling stock)
A metal platform between a locomotive and tender or between passenger cars.
Warrant: The Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of Railway Terminology, Alan A Jackson,
Alan Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: aprons (rolling stock)
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <bodywork areas>
arc protection
Materials used to protect vehicles or other equipment from damage due to
heavy current arcing.
Warrant: LUL Jargon Buster
Plural form: arc protections
CL Unattributed
BT <unattributed>
arc splash protection
Materials used to protect vehicles or other equipment from the effects of
damage caused by incandescent particles.
Warrant: LUL Jargon Buster
Plural form: arc splash protections
CL Unattributed
BT <unattributed>
arch rail
A curved horizontal rail forming the top part of the framing of a vehicle
body end.
Warrant: Railway Carriages and Wagons: Their design and
construction (reprinted articles from The Railway Engineer 1892-7), Sidney
Stone, republished by Peter Kay, circa 1997 Fig 469
Plural form: arch rails
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT end framing
NT deck roof arch rail
area post
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: area posts
CL Unidentified
BT <unidentified terms>
<areas within vehicle body>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <areas within vehicle body>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT bodywork component
NT cab
NT compartment
NT corridor
NT gangway
NT gangway area
NT saloon
NT vestibule
arm repeater
An electrical indicator which shows the position of a semaphore signal arm
to the controlling signalman.
Warrant: Railtrack London & North
Eastern, A Glossary of Railway Terms, October 1998
Plural form: arm repeaters
CL Control and communications
BT <signal confirmation>
armature
The revolving part of a DC electric machine which has fixed poles which are
continually excited in a surrounding frame. Also the moving part of an electric
relay.
Warrant: Electric Locomotives and Railways, H Greenly, no date p52
Plural form: armatures
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <electric motor components>
armorial device
Heraldic or pseudo-heraldic device used as the insignia of the Railway
Company. Often used on locomotives, passenger rolling stock, uniform buttons,
stationery and official publications.
Warrant: Railway Heraldry, G Dow,
David & Charles, 1973
Plural form: armorial devices
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <corporate identity>
armour plate wagon
A special vehicle dedicated to the conveyance of armour plate.
Warrant: The LMS Wagon, R J Essery & K R Morgan, David & Charles, 1977
Plural form: armour plate wagons
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT plate wagon
armoured train
A formation of vehicles armoured for military purposes.
Warrant: The
Armoured Train, G Balfour, B T Batsford Ltd, 1981
Plural form: armoured trains
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <trains by form>
articulated carriage
A railway carriage which shares a single bogie at one or both ends with the
next vehicle in the train.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: articulated carriages
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <passenger carriages by wheel arrangement>
articulated girder wagon set
A set of special freight vehicles for carrying long beams.
Literary
warrant required.
Plural form: articulated girder wagon sets
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT girder wagon
articulated locomotive
A steam locomotive which has two sets of cylinders each driving an
independent group of wheels supporting two sets of frames joined by a pivot or
hinged joint.
Warrant: Encyclopedia of Railways, O S Nock, 1977
Plural form: articulated locomotives
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <locomotives by wheel arrangement>
articulated vehicle
A vehicle consisting of two sections permanently coupled together with a
flexible connection.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: articulated vehicles
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <rolling stock by wheel arrangement>
<artificial lighting components>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <artificial lighting components>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT lighting component (vehicle)
NT cab lighting
NT carriage lamp
NT carriage roof lamp protector
NT coach lamp
NT ducket lamp
NT gas roof lamp
NT headlight
NT locomotive lamp
NT vehicle lamp
asbestos removal staff changing room (vehicle)
A railway vehicle used to provide changing facilities for railway employees
or contractors engaged in the removal of asbestos from railway vehicles or
premises.
Warrant: Departmental Coaching Stock, Roger Butcher & Peter
Fox, Platform 5 Publishing Ltd, 3rd edition, 1987
Plural form: asbestos removal staff changing rooms (vehicles)
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT staff changing coach
ash
The residue remaining from the burning of coal.
Warrant: Locomotives
and Their Working, C R H Simpson & F B Roberts, Virtue & Co Ltd, 1952
Plural form: ashes
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT spent fuel
RT ash ballast
ash ballast
Scope note required.
Warrant: Locomotives and Their Working, C R H
Simpson & F B Roberts, Virtue & Co Ltd, 1952
Plural form: ash ballast
CL Track and track components
BT ballast
RT ash
ash box
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: ash boxes
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT ash disposal component
ash disposal component
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: ash disposal components
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <fuel storage and handling components>
NT ash box
NT ashpan
NT hopper ashpan
ashpan
A box structure fitted below the firebox of a steam locomotive to catch the
hot ashes falling from the grate.
Warrant: Locomotives and Their Working, C
R H Simpson & F B Roberts, Virtue & Co Ltd, 1952
Plural form: ashpans
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT ash disposal component
<asset management>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <asset management>
CL Commercial records and equipment
NT <corporate identity>
NT <ownership markers>
NT <stock registers>
asset plate
A plate attached to equipment to indicate ownership.
Literary warrant
required.
Plural form: asset plates
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <ownership markers>
asset register
A register of equipment owned by a particular company.
Literary
warrant required.
Plural form: asset registers
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <stock registers>
ATC ramp
A train warning ramp laid between running lines indicating the aspect of a
distant signal.
Warrant: Two Centuries of Railway Signalling, G Kichenside &
A Williams, Oxford Publishing Company, 1998
Plural form: ATC ramps
CL Control and communications
BT automatic train control equipment
Atlantic locomotive
A steam locomotive with 4-4-2 wheel arrangement.
Warrant: Locomotive
Cyclopedia of American Practice, 13th Edition, 1947
Plural form: atlantics
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT four coupled locomotive
atmospheric engine house
A building housing the equipment and machinery used for the operation of
the atmospheric propulsion system.
Warrant: Atmospheric Railways, C
Hadfield, David & Charles, 1967
Plural form: atmospheric engine houses
UF engine house (atmospheric haulage)
CL Built works and components
BT <atmospheric propulsion structures and equipment>
RT pumphouse
atmospheric pipe
A pipe utilising negative pressure (vacuum) to propel locomotives affixed
to a piston within the pipe.
Warrant: Atmospheric Railways, C Hadfield,
David & Charles, 1967
Plural form: atmospheric pipes
CL Track and track components
BT vacuum propulsion track component
<atmospheric propulsion structures and equipment>
For vacuum tubes, etc. forming part of the track see Track and track
components.
Plural form: <atmospheric propulsion structures and equipment>
CL Built works and components
BT <stationary propulsion structures and equipment>
NT atmospheric engine house
atmospheric railcar
A vehicle moved by atmospheric propulsion.
Warrant: Atmospheric
Railways, C Hadfield, David & Charles, 1967
Plural form: atmospheric railcars
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT atmospheric railway stock
atmospheric railway
A system of traction tried in the mid 19th century. Air was partially
evacuated from the pipe, in which a piston travelled, by a stationary steam
engine. The train was coupled to the piston carriage. The vacuum created was
sufficient to pull the train forward.
Warrant: The Railway Dictionary, An
A-Z of Railway Terminology, Alan A Jackson, Alan Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: atmospheric railways
CL Railway types
BT <stationary traction source>
atmospheric railway stock
Rolling stock operated upon an atmospheric railway.
Warrant: Phil
Atkins, National Railway Museum
Plural form: atmospheric railway stock
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT fixed propulsion stock
NT atmospheric railcar
atmospheric tube
A pipe utilising negative pressure (vacuum) to propel locomotives affixed
to a piston within the pipe.
Warrant: Atmospheric Railways, C Hadfield,
David & Charles, 1967
Plural form: atmospheric tubes
CL Track and track components
BT vacuum propulsion track component
ATP by-pass switch
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: ATP by-pass switches
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <on-train automatic train protection equipment>
attendant path
On a horse powered railway, the path where the person holding the horse's
head walks at the side of the railway.
Warrant: Jim Rees, Beamish North of
England Open Air Museum
Plural form: attendant paths
CL Track and track components
BT walkway
audible alarms indicator
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: audible alarms indicators
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <ancillary gauges and instrumentation>
audible fog signal
A sound emitting device used to bring the attention of drivers to the
aspect of a distant signal or the presence of a temporary speed restriction.
Warrant: An Illustrated History of Signalling, M A Vanns, Ian Allan Publishing,
1997
Plural form: audible fog signals
CL Control and communications
BT <audible signals>
<audible signals>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <audible signals>
CL Control and communications
BT <signals>
NT audible fog signal
NT detonator
NT detonator container
NT detonator placer
NT fog rattle
NT fogging lever frame
NT shunters bell
auto announcer indicator
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: auto announcer indicators
CL Control and communications
BT <central control>
autocoupler
A device which couples two train units together mechanically, electrically
and pneumatically without the intervention of a shunter or guard.
Warrant:
LUL Jargon Buster
Plural form: autocouplers
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT coupling
autocoupler contact block
An arrangement of spring loaded connections within the autocoupler,
providing the electrical coupling between vehicles.
Warrant: LUL Jargon
Buster
Plural form: autocoupler contact blocks
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT coupling component
autocoupler control
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: autocoupler controls
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <autocoupler controls>
RT autocoupler
<autocoupler controls>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <autocoupler controls>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <driving and control components>
NT autocoupler control
NT uncoupler switch
NT uncoupler unit
NT uncoupler unit control
autocoupler wedge
The mechanical part of the wedgelock autocoupler which locks the adjacent
tongues when coupled.
Warrant: LUL Jargon Buster
Plural form: autocoupler wedges
UF wedge (coupling component)
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT coupling component
autodriver box
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: autodriver boxes
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <unidentified vehicle components>
automatic air brake
An automatic brake system whose control is by means of a compressed air
pipe which must be kept charged to release the brakes.
Warrant: LUL Jargon
Buster
Plural form: automatic air brakes
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT continuous brake
NT Westinghouse brake
automatic barrier
A level crossing barrier which is actuated by approaching trains.
Warrant: Lexique General de Termes Ferroviares, Union Internationale des Chemins
de Fer, 1975
Plural form: automatic barriers
CL Control and communications
BT level crossing barrier
automatic barrier crossing
An automatic level crossing equipped with half barriers and road traffic
light signals.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: automatic barrier crossings
CL Control and communications
BT automatic level crossing
NT automatic barrier crossing locally monitored
NT automatic half-barrier crossing
automatic barrier crossing locally monitored
An automatic level crossing equipped with half barriers and road traffic
light signals at which the correct operation of the crossing equipment is
monitored by the train driver.
Warrant: The History & Development of
Railway Signalling in the British Isles, Friends of the National Railway Museum
Plural form: automatic barrier crossings locally monitored
UF ABCL
UF crossing locally monitored
CL Control and communications
BT automatic barrier crossing
automatic brake
A system of braking some or all vehicles in a train simultaneously under
the control of driver or guard which is also self-applying in the event of
severance of the train or other failure in the normal running pressure.
Warrant: The Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of Railway Terminology, Alan A Jackson,
Alan Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: automatic brakes
USE continuous brake
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT braking system
RT passenger emergency communication
automatic brake valve
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: automatic brake valves
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <slave brake actuators>
automatic coupler
A coupler allowing two vehicles to be attached to each other merely by
pushing the vehicles together.
Warrant: Modern Railway Working, A Practical
Treatise by Engineering and Administrative Experts, John Macaulay (Ed), The
Gresham Publishing Company, 1914
Plural form: automatic couplers
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT coupling
automatic half-barrier crossing
An automatic level crossing equipped with half-barriers, road traffic light
signals and telephones communicating with the supervising signal box.
Warrant: The History & Development of Railway Signalling in the British
Isles, Friends of the National Railway Museum
Plural form: automatic half-barrier crossings
UF half barrier crossing
CL Control and communications
BT automatic barrier crossing
automatic level crossing
A level crossing which is operated by approaching trains and not
interlocked with protecting signals. Road traffic signals are provided.
Warrant: Railtrack London & North Eastern, A Glossary of Railway Terms,
October 1998
Plural form: automatic level crossings
CL Control and communications
BT <level crossings by operation>
NT automatic barrier crossing
NT automatic open crossing
<automatic level crossing actuation equipment>
Train approach detecting equipment for instigating the operation of
automatic level crossings. For manual controls see <point and signal
actuation> - <central control> or <local control>.
Plural form: <automatic level crossing actuation equipment>
CL Control and communications
BT <level crossing operating equipment>
NT Fredy
automatic locomotive superheater flue tube damper motor
A motor, usually steam, which operates the dampers fitted to stop cold air
being drawn through the super heater flues.
Warrant: Steam Locomotion, E C
Poultney & C R H Simpson, Caxton Publishing Company, 1951
Plural form: automatic locomotive superheater flue tube damper motors
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT superheater component
automatic open crossing
An automatic level crossing equipped with road traffic signals only.
Barriers are not provided.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: automatic open crossings
CL Control and communications
BT automatic level crossing
NT automatic open crossing locally monitored
NT automatic open crossing remotely monitored
automatic open crossing locally monitored
An automatic level crossing equipped with road traffic signals at which the
correct operation of the crossing equipment is monitored by the train driver.
Barriers are not provided.
Warrant: The History & Development of
Railway Signalling in the British Isles, Friends of the National Railway Museum
Plural form: automatic open crossings locally monitored
CL Control and communications
BT automatic open crossing
automatic open crossing remotely monitored
An automatic level crossing equipped with road traffic signs but without
barriers which is monitored remotely from a signal box.
Warrant: The
History & Development of Railway Signalling in the British Isles, Friends of
the National Railway Museum
Plural form: automatic open crossings remotely monitored
CL Control and communications
BT automatic open crossing
automatic signal
A signal which operates automatically as trains pass on and off track
circuits ahead.
Warrant: Railtrack Jargon Buster, 1999
Plural form: automatic signals
CL Control and communications
BT <signals by control method>
automatic train control equipment
Scope note required.
Warrant: Lexique General de Termes Ferroviares,
Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer, 1975
Plural form: automatic train control equipment
UF train protection system equipment
CL Control and communications
BT <automatic train protection equipment>
NT ATC ramp
NT Automatic Train Protection (ATP) equipment
NT Automatic Warning System (AWS) equipment
NT transponder
NT <mechanical brake tripping devices>
<automatic train control indicators>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <automatic train control indicators>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <driving and control components>
NT AWS indicator
NT cab signal
NT cancelling indicator (AWS)
NT tripcock delay indicator
automatic train protection
A system which will stop a train automatically or regulate its speed if a
driver fails to respond to signal indication or speed restrictions.
Warrant: The Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of Railway Terminology, Alan A Jackson,
Alan Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: automatic train protection
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <on-train automatic train protection equipment>
<automatic train protection equipment>
Systems that detect the presence of a train on a particular section of
track or detect the aspect of an approaching signal and automatically set
signals to danger or apply brakes to prevent a possible collision.
Plural form: <automatic train protection equipment>
CL Control and communications
BT <train protection equipment>
NT automatic train control equipment
NT <driver warning systems>
NT <train detection systems>
Automatic Train Protection (ATP) equipment
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: Automatic Train Protection (ATP) equipment
CL Control and communications
BT automatic train control equipment
NT balise
NT Q type relay
Automatic Warning System (AWS) equipment
A system that gives the driver an audible and visual confirmation of clear
and caution indications of signals and applies the brake if the caution warning
is not acknowledged.
Warrant: The Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of Railway
Terminology, Alan A Jackson, Alan Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: Automatic Warning System (AWS) equipment
UF AWS equipment
CL Control and communications
BT automatic train control equipment
NT AWS electro-magnet
avoiding line
A railway line diverging from the main line in order to avoid going through
a station or through a town.
Warrant: Gordon Reed, Permanent Way
Institution
Plural form: avoiding lines
CL Track and track components
BT running line
NT goods avoiding line
AWS electro-magnet
The magnet installed between the rails to actuate the automatic warning
system on locomotives in conjunction with a permanent magnet.
Warrant: Two
Centuries of Railway Signalling, G Kichenside & A Williams, Oxford
Publishing Company, 1998
Plural form: AWS electro-magnets
CL Control and communications
BT Automatic Warning System (AWS) equipment
AWS equipment
A system used to give advance warning to drivers of a signal aspect, a
speed restriction more than 30% than the current limit.
Warrant: Railtrack
Jargon Buster, 1999
Plural form: AWS equipment
USE Automatic Warning System (AWS) equipment
CL Control and communications
BT automatic train control equipment
AWS indicator
The visual indication in the locomotive cab of the last caution signal
passed and the driver's acknowledgement.
Warrant: Two Centuries of Railway
Signalling, G Kichenside & A Williams, Oxford Publishing Company, 1998
Plural form: AWS indicators
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <automatic train control indicators>
axle
The shaft connecting two wheels to form a wheel set.
Warrant: Great
Western Railway Drawing Registers
Plural form: axles
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <wheel assemblies>
NT crank axle
axle bearing
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: axle bearings
UF bearing (axle)
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT axlebox component
axle brush
An axle mounted slipping contact used to provide a return path for power
circuits on electric vehicles.
Warrant: Railway Technical Web Pages, Piers
Connor, 2000
Plural form: axle brushes
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <power collection components>
axle counter
A track mounted equipment which counts number of axles entering and leaving
a track section at each extremity, to determine whether line is occupied or
clear.
Warrant: Railtrack Jargon Buster, 1999
Plural form: axle counters
CL Control and communications
BT <train detection systems>
axle dolly
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: axle dollies
CL Unidentified
BT <unidentified terms>
axlebox
This provides the bearing between the axle and the locomotive or vehicle
frame.
Warrant: Great Western Railway Drawing Registers
Plural form: axleboxes
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <wheel assemblies>
NT grease axlebox
NT oil axlebox
NT roller bearing axlebox
axlebox component
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: axlebox components
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <wheel assemblies>
NT axle bearing
NT axlebox cover
NT axlebox oil tray
NT axlebox over groove
axlebox cover
Outer cover for an axle box designed to retain the lubricant and to prevent
the ingress of foreign objects.
Warrant: Lexique General de Termes
Ferroviares, Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer, 1975
Plural form: axlebox covers
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT axlebox component
axlebox oil tray
A reservoir under the axlebox in which the oil pad sits to lubricate the
journal.
Warrant: Steam Locomotive Lubrication, P W Skellon, MIC
Publications, 1997
Plural form: axlebox oil trays
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT axlebox component
axlebox over groove
A groove in the crown of a bearing to facilitate lubrication to evenly
reach the whole journal.
Warrant: Steam Locomotive Lubrication, P W
Skellon, MIC Publications, 1997
Plural form: axle-box over grooves
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT axlebox component
axleguard
The part of the frame in which the axle-box slides up and down as acted on
by the springs.
Warrant: Oxford English Dictionary
Plural form: axleguards
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT suspension component
0-9, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, [Contents]
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