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]
facing point lock
A bolt securing points to be run over in the facing direction before the
signal for a train or route can be placed in off indication.
Warrant: The
Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of Railway Terminology, Alan A Jackson, Alan Sutton
Publishing, 1996
Plural form: facing point locks
CL Control and communications
BT <point locking equipment>
facing point lock bar
A movable bar fixed to the track just before facing points to prevent the
unlocking of facing points while a train is passing over them. The bar must be
raised before the point detector bar can be withdrawn from the point detector
and this is not possible whilst a train is passing, thus preventing the points
from being moved under an oncoming train.
Warrant: Lexique General de
Termes Ferroviares, Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer, 1975
Plural form: facing point lock bars
CL Control and communications
BT <mechanical train detection, etc.>
facing points
Points where two routes diverge in the direction of travel.
Warrant:
Railtrack London & North Eastern, A Glossary of Railway Terms, October 1998
Plural form: facing points
CL Track and track components
BT <turnouts by orientation>
factory railway
A private railway or siding serving a factory or works.
Warrant: John
Robinson, The Transport Trust
Plural form: factory railways
CL Railway types
BT industrial railway
NT aluminium works railway
NT ironworks railway
NT paper mill railway
NT steel works railway
RT works railway
failed locomotive
A locomotive which is unable to continue its journey unaided due to
mechanical failure, etc.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: failed locomotives
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <locomotives by condition>
failed rail
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: failed rails
CL Track and track components
BT <rails by condition>
fairground locomotive
A locomotive built specially for a fairground ride.
Warrant: Robey
Fairground Equipment
Plural form: fairground locomotives
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <locomotives by operating environment>
fairground railway
A miniature or 'scenic' railway provided as a fairground or amusement park
attraction.
Warrant: Miniature Railways, R Butterell, Ian Allan, 1966
Plural form: fairground railways
CL Railway types
BT leisure railway
RT miniature railway
RT fairground locomotive
fall plate
A hinged steel plate between locomotive and tender.
Warrant: The
Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of Railway Terminology, Alan A Jackson, Alan Sutton
Publishing, 1996
Plural form: fall plates
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT cab component
fare collectors bag
A bag carried by the member of railway staff responsible for collecting
fares from passengers.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: fare collectors bags
CL Tools and equipment
BT ticket/fare collectors equipment
fare token
A metal tally or token indicating the right to travel.
Literary
warrant required.
Plural form: fare tokens
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <permits>
fares board
A board showing destinations and the price of various classes of ticket
from the station in which the board is displayed.
Literary warrant
required.
Plural form: fares boards
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <ticket selling equipment>
fares book
A manual of fares, normally held in a booking office, showing the price of
travel between stations for the various classes of passenger or ticket.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: fares books
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <ticket selling equipment>
fares chart
A table of stations/destinations showing the fares between them.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: fares charts
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <ticket selling equipment>
fares list
A tariff of fares applicable from the current location.
Literary
warrant required.
Plural form: fares lists
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <ticket selling equipment>
fares table
A table of stations/destinations showing the fares between them.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: fares tables
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <ticket selling equipment>
fast line
The British Railways term for the primary pair of tracks where there are
four or more lines in parallel.
Warrant: The Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of
Railway Terminology, Alan A Jackson, Alan Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: fast lines
CL Track and track components
BT <running lines by speed of working>
<fault detection and safety equipment>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <fault detection and safety equipment>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <ancillary electrical equipment>
NT round train circuit cut-out
NT safety circuit
NT safety circuit selector
NT safety wiring
NT traction earth fault detection system
feather
Slang term for the row of white lights mounted at an angle above a
(cleared) colour light signal to give an indication of route. Warrant: Railtrack
Jargon Buster, 1999
Plural form: feathers
USE position light junction indicator
CL Control and communications
BT route indicator
feed pump
The means of getting fresh water into the boiler from the tank before
injectors became common.
Warrant: Lexique General de Termes Ferroviares,
Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer, 1975
Plural form: feed pumps
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <water feed components>
feeder station
Building or compound containing electrical switch gear and equipment to
which main supplies from an electricity company are brought and from which the
OLE is supplied.
Warrant: Railtrack London & North Eastern, A Glossary
of Railway Terms, October 1998
Plural form: feeder stations
CL Built works and components
BT electricity sub-station
feedwater heater
A device for preheating boiler feedwater.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: feedwater heaters
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <heat exchange components>
Fell system locomotive
A locomotive designed to work on mountain railways employing the friction
between a wheel of the specially-designed locomotive and an additional central
rail.
Warrant: Science Museum Catalogue
Plural form: Fell system locomotives
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT rack locomotive
fence rail
A horizontal structural member forming the outside bottom of a vehicle door
window opening.
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 468.
Plural form: fence rails
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT vehicle door framing
RT bottom light rail
ferrule
Tapered polypropylene, nylon or timber sleeve fitted into the screw holes
of chairs and baseplates to accommodate variations in hole diameter and to act
as a sacrificial interface between the chair or baseplate and the chair screw.
Warrant: Railtrack Group Standard
Plural form: ferrules
USE chair ferrule
CL Track and track components
BT chair fastening
ferry wagon
A vehicle designed for transhipment between Britain and the Continent via
train ferry.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: ferry wagons
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <rolling stock by route/operating pattern>
fibre-optic route indicator
A type of alphanumeric route indicator using optical fibres to provide the
required illuminated panel.
Warrant: The History & Development of
Railway Signalling in the British Isles, Friends of the National Railway Museum
Plural form: fibre-optic route indicators
UF fori
CL Control and communications
BT route indicator
filler
Scope note required.
Warrant: Great Western Railway Drawing Registers
Plural form: fillers
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <water storage components>
filtered main line isolating cock
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: filtered main line isolating cocks
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <air pipes, reservoirs, etc.>
finger board
A board showing destination and calling points of the next train at the
platform, slotted into a socket on a post.
Warrant: The Railway Dictionary,
An A-Z of Railway Terminology, Alan A Jackson, Alan Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: finger boards
CL Built works and components
BT departure indicator
finial (signal)
An ornate embellishment to protect the open top of a post (timber or
steel).
Warrant: A Pictorial Survey of LNER Constituent Signalling, A A
Maclean, Oxford Publishing Company, 1983
Plural form: finials
CL Control and communications
BT signal support component
fire bar
The cast iron units of a firegrate, designed to support burning coal and
permit the ingress of air.
Warrant: Modern Railway Working, A Practical
Treatise by Engineering and Administrative Experts, John Macaulay (Ed), The
Gresham Publishing Company, 1914
Plural form: fire bars
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT firebox component
fire bucket
A container filled with sand or water to help put out/control fires.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: fire buckets
CL Tools and equipment
BT <station tools and equipment>
fire dog
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: fire dogs
CL Unidentified
BT <unidentified terms>
fire engine wagon
A railway vehicle dedicated to the carriage of fire engines.
Literary
warrant required.
Plural form: fire engine wagons
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <road vehicle carrying stock>
fire hole
The opening in the rear wall of the firebox through which access to the
fire is gained from the cab.
Warrant: Locomotives and Their Working, C R H
Simpson & F B Roberts, Virtue & Co Ltd, 1952
Plural form: fire holes
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT firebox component
fire hole deflector plate
An angled plate fitted inside the firebox over the fire hole to assist the
flow of air over the fire so that the best gas heating rate is obtained.
Warrant: Railway Technical Web Pages, Piers Connor, 2000
Plural form: fire hole deflector plates
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT firebox component
fire iron
Any one of the long handled steel tools used to clean and manage the fire.
Warrant: Handbook for Railway Steam Locomotive Enginemen, British Transport
Commission, 1957
Plural form: fire irons
CL Tools and equipment
BT firemans equipment
firebox
The rear portion of a steam locomotive boiler within which the combustion
of fuel takes place.
Warrant: Great Western Railway Drawing Registers
Plural form: fireboxes
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT boiler assembly
NT Belpaire firebox
firebox bridge
An early attempt to increase firebox heating surfaces by inserting a bridge
or mid-feathers. Found to be too maintenance intensive and not worth the added
expense.
Warrant: Great Western Railway Drawing Registers
Plural form: firebox bridges
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT firebox component
firebox component
Scope note required.
Warrant: Great Western Railway Drawing Registers
Plural form: firebox components
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT boiler assembly
NT backhead
NT brick arch
NT crown
NT crown stay
NT damper
NT fire bar
NT fire hole
NT fire hole deflector plate
NT firebox bridge
NT firebox deflector plate
NT firebox stay
NT firehole door
NT firehole door catch
NT flame scoop
NT foundation ring
NT fusible plug
NT grate
NT locomotive type fusible boiler plug
NT stay (firebox)
NT throat plate
firebox deflector plate
A plate which deflects cold air entering the firehole downwards towards the
grate thus helping to keep an even temperature at the tubeplate and reduce
unequal expansion and contraction of the tubes which tends to make them leak.
Warrant: Heritage Railways Association - Glossary,
http://ukhrail.ac.uk/glossary, 2000
Plural form: firebox deflector plates
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT firebox component
firebox door
The door, which protects the firehole through which fuel is passed into the
firebox.
Warrant: Great Western Railway Drawing Registers
Plural form: firebox doors
USE firehole door
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT firebox component
NT firebox door hinge
firebox door catch
A device to hold the firebox (firehole) door in the open portion while fuel
is being passed in.
Warrant: Great Western Railway Drawing Registers
Plural form: firebox door catches
USE firehole door catch
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT firebox component
firebox door hinge
The radial pivot used to fix the firebox door to the backplate and allowing
it to open and close freely.
Warrant: Great Western Railway Drawing
Registers
Plural form: firebox door hinges
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT firebox door
firebox stay
A threaded circular bar which holds the inner and outer firebox casings
apart at a prescribed distance.
Warrant: Locomotive Management, 10th
edition, J T Hodgson & C S Lake, revised by W B Oaten, Tothill Press, 1954
Plural form: firebox stays
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT firebox component
firehole door
The door, which protects the firehole through which fuel is passed into the
firebox.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: firehole doors
UF firebox door
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT firebox component
firehole door catch
A device to hold the firebox (firehole) door in the open portion while fuel
is being passed in.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: firehole door catchs
UF firebox door catch
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT firebox component
fireless locomotive
A small steam locomotive without a firebox, fed with steam from an external
source and therefore suitable for use in high fire risk locations, etc.
Warrant: Hunslet Engine Company Catalogues
Plural form: fireless locomotives
UF fireless steam locomotive
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <steam locomotives by fuel>
fireless steam locomotive
A small steam locomotive without a firebox, fed with steam from an external
source and therefore suitable for use in high fire risk locations, etc.
Warrant: Locomotives and Their Working, C R H Simpson & F B Roberts, Virtue &
Co Ltd, 1952
Plural form: fireless steam locomotives
USE fireless locomotive
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <steam locomotives by fuel>
firemans call plunger
An electrical plunger positioned at the exit to locomotive running sheds
which, when actuated, indicates to the signalman that a locomotive is ready to
depart the shed.
Warrant: Ray Towell, Curator of Operations, National
Railway Museum
Plural form: firemans call plungers
CL Control and communications
BT <signals from train staff to signalman>
firemans coal hammer
A blunt edged hammer used for breaking up large lumps of coal in to pieces
suitable for firing a steam locomotive.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: firemens coal hammers
USE coal hammer
CL Tools and equipment
BT firemans equipment
firemans equipment
Any tools and equipment used by the fireman of a steam locomotive.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: firemans equipment
CL Tools and equipment
BT <on-train tools and equipment>
NT coal hammer
NT dart (tool)
NT fire iron
NT firing shovel
firemans shovel
A short handled tool with rectangular metal blade used to convey coal into
firebox.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: firemans shovels
USE firing shovel
CL Tools and equipment
BT firemans equipment
firing shovel
A short handled tool with rectangular metal blade used to convey coal into
firebox.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: firing shovels
UF firemans shovel
CL Tools and equipment
BT firemans equipment
first class carriage
A passenger coach provided for the use of first class passengers only.
Warrant: Railway Tickets, Timetables & Handbills, M I Bray, Moorland
Publishing Company Ltd, 1986
Plural form: first class carriages
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <passenger carriages by class>
first class return ticket
A two-way ticket for a journey in a first class carriage.
Warrant:
Railway Tickets, Timetables & Handbills, M I Bray, Moorland Publishing
Company Ltd, 1986
Plural form: first class return tickets
USE first class ticket
PLUS return ticket
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <examples of factored ticket types>
first class ticket
A ticket for a journey in a first class carriage.
Literary warrant
required.
Plural form: first class tickets
UF first class return ticket
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <travel tickets by class>
first sod barrow
An ornamental presentation wheelbarrow into which the first sod lifted to
begin the construction of a railway is placed during the first sod cutting
ceremony.
Warrant: National Railway Museum
Plural form: first sod barrows
CL Tools and equipment
BT <first sod cutting tools and equipment>
first sod casket
A small presentation box containing a small piece of soil, part of the
first sod lifted to begin the construction of a railway.
Warrant: National
Railway Museum
Plural form: first sod caskets
CL Tools and equipment
BT <first sod cutting tools and equipment>
<first sod cutting tools and equipment>
Tools and equipment used in or produced by the cutting of the first sod of
soil when starting to construct a railway.
Plural form: <first sod cutting tools and equipment>
CL Tools and equipment
BT <ceremonial tools and equipment>
NT first sod barrow
NT first sod casket
NT first sod spade
first sod spade
An ornamental presentation spade with which the first sod is cut to begin
the construction of a railway.
Warrant: National Railway Museum
Plural form: first sod spades
CL Tools and equipment
BT <first sod cutting tools and equipment>
first wheel
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: first wheels
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <unattributed vehicle components>
fish bellied rail
An early form of cast iron rail with concave under-section to add strength.
Warrant: The Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of Railway Terminology, Alan A Jackson,
Alan Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: fish bellied rails
CL Track and track components
BT <rails by form>
NT cast iron fish bellied rail
NT wrought iron fish bellied rail
fish bolt
A bolt for fixing fishplates to the rail.
Warrant: Modern Railway
Working, A Practical Treatise by Engineering and Administrative Experts, John
Macaulay (Ed), The Gresham Publishing Company, 1913
Plural form: fish bolts
CL Track and track components
BT rail joint component
<fish carrying vehicles>
Railway vehicles dedicated to the carriage of fish.
Plural form: <fish carrying vehicles>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <foodstuff carrying vehicles>
NT fish van
NT fish wagon
fish train
A scheduled or special express freight train to convey fish from the port
to the market.
Warrant: John Robinson, The Transport Trust
Plural form: fish trains
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT perishable traffic train
fish van
A railway van used for the carriage of fish, usually refrigerated and
insulated.
Warrant: British Railways Wagons - the first half million, D P
Rowland, David & Charles, 1985
Plural form: fish vans
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <fish carrying vehicles>
fish wagon
An open railway wagon used for the carriage of fish.
Warrant:
Lancashire & Yorkshire Wagons Volume One, Noel Coates, Wild Swan
Publications, 1990 p152
Plural form: fish wagons
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <fish carrying vehicles>
fishplate
A steel plate to secure the ends of two rails together (in jointed track).
Warrant: Railtrack Jargon Buster, 1999
Plural form: fishplates
CL Track and track components
BT rail joint component
fishplate gauge
A gauge for measuring the profile of a fishplate.
Warrant: National
Railway Museum
Plural form: fishplate gauges
UF fishplate profile
CL Tools and equipment
BT track testing equipment
fishplate insulator
A non-electrically conducting preformed liner for fitting to a fishplate at
an insulated joint.
Warrant: Railtrack Group Standard
Plural form: fishplate insulators
CL Track and track components
BT rail joint component
fishplate profile
A gauge for measuring the profile of a fishplate.
Warrant: National
Railway Museum
Plural form: fishplate profiles
USE fishplate gauge
CL Tools and equipment
BT track testing equipment
fishplate profile set
A set of gauges for measuring the profile of fishplates.
Warrant:
National Railway Museum
Plural form: fishplate profile sets
CL Tools and equipment
BT track testing equipment
fishtail
A distant signal, named after the notched arm resembling a fish's tail.
Warrant: The Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of Railway Terminology, Alan A Jackson,
Alan Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: fishtails
CL Control and communications
BT distant signal
five link coupling
Scope note required.
Warrant: Great Western Railway Drawing Registers
Plural form: five link couplings
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT coupling
fixed distant signal
A distant signal that is only capable of displaying a caution aspect.
Warrant: Railtrack Jargon Buster, 1999
Plural form: fixed distant signals
CL Control and communications
BT distant signal
<fixed head and tail lamps>
Permanently installed electric lamps built into the ends of diesel or
electric locomotives (occasionally steam) or units. Different train headcodes or
the end of the train are indicated by electricly switching the lamps on or off
rather than by physically moving portable paraffin headlamps as was the normal
practice in the steam era.
Plural form: <fixed head and tail lamps>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <signalling and control components>
NT stabling light
RT <on-train signals>
fixed headcode lamp
A permanently installed electric headlamp built into the ends of a diesel
or electric locomotive (occasionally steam). Different train headcodes were
indicated by electricly switching the lamps on or off rather than by physically
moving portable paraffin headlamps as was the normal practice with steam
engines.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: fixed headcode lamps
UF headcode lamp (fixed)
CL Control and communications
BT headlamp
RT <fixed head and tail lamps>
<fixed lighting by form>
Lighting fixtures of particular form.
Plural form: <fixed lighting by form>
CL Built works and components
BT <fixed lighting>
NT hanging lamp
NT standard lamp
NT wall lamp
<fixed lighting by usage>
Lighting fixtures designed for specific locations.
Plural form: <fixed lighting by usage>
CL Built works and components
BT <fixed lighting>
NT platform lamp
NT station lamp
NT yard lamp
<fixed lighting components>
All the individual parts required to make a complete standard, wall or
pendant lamp.
Plural form: <fixed lighting components>
CL Built works and components
BT <fixed lighting>
NT station lamp case
NT station lamp frog
<fixed lighting>
Lighting fixtures and fittings. For hand lamps, etc. see Tools and
equipment.
Plural form: <fixed lighting>
CL Built works and components
BT <built work furnishings, fixtures and fittings>
NT <fixed lighting by form>
NT <fixed lighting by usage>
NT <fixed lighting components>
RT <portable lamps and components>
fixed propulsion stock
Rolling stock specifically designed for haulage via a fixed propulsion
system (e.g. continuous wire rope).
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: fixed propulsion stock
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <rolling stock by propulsion>
NT atmospheric railway stock
NT magnetic levitation stock
NT rope/chain hauled stock
fixed signal
A lineside signal which is always there, as opposed to a (portable) hand
signal.
Warrant: Railtrack London & North Eastern, A Glossary of
Railway Terms, October 1998
Plural form: fixed signals
UF board (signal)
UF signal
UF stick
CL Control and communications
BT <visual signals>
NT <signals by form>
NT <signals by function>
NT <signals by location>
NT <signals by method of operation>
<fixed signal boards>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <fixed signal boards>
CL Control and communications
BT <visual signals>
NT distant warning board
NT stop board
NT stop indicator
fixed signal (inoperable)
A lineside signal which is permanently set at stop or caution.
Plural form: fixed signals (inoperable)
USE inoperable signal
CL Control and communications
BT <signals by control method>
fixed tail lamp
A permanently installed electric tail lamp built into the ends of a diesel
or electric locomotive (occasionally steam) or multiple unit. The end of the
train is indicated by electricly switching the lamp on or off rather than by
physically placing portable tail lamps as was the normal practice with steam
engines.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: fixed tail lamps
CL Control and communications
BT tail lamp
RT <fixed head and tail lamps>
flag
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: flags
CL Tools and equipment
BT <general operating tools and equipment>
RT signalmans flag
flag switch
A switch used to select the operating mode and to activate the flag (weak
field).
Warrant: LUL Jargon Buster
Plural form: flag switches
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <ancillary gauges and instrumentation>
flag (coast)
An indicating device situated at the front of the cab to indicate that the
train is operating in a defined mode (e.g. coast or weak field control).
Warrant: LUL Jargon Buster
Plural form: flags (coast)
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <ancillary gauges and instrumentation>
flag (weak field)
An indicating device situated at the front of the cab to indicate that the
train is operating in a defined mode (e.g. coast or weak field control).
Warrant: LUL Jargon Buster
Plural form: flags (weak field)
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <ancillary gauges and instrumentation>
flame scoop
A plate which deflects cold air entering the firehole downwards towards the
grate thus helping to keep an even temperature at the tubeplate and reduce
unequal expansion and contraction of the tubes which tends to make them leak.
Warrant: Heritage Railways Association - Glossary,
http://ukhrail.ac.uk/glossary, 2000
Plural form: flame scoops
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT firebox component
flameproof locomotive
A locomotive designed to be used in an environment with a high risk of
explosion or fire and sealed to prevent the escape of sparks or flame.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: flameproof locomotives
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <locomotives by operating environment>
flange
The projecting edge or rim on the periphery of a wheel.
Warrant:
Encyclopedia of Railways, O S Nock, 1977
Plural form: flanges
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT wheel component
flange lubricator
Equipment fixed to the rails to lubricate wheel flanges and reduce rail
wear on curves.
Warrant: The Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of Railway
Terminology, Alan A Jackson, Alan Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: flange lubricators
CL Track and track components
BT <track maintenance assemblies>
flangeway gauge
A device for measuring the space provided to permit the passage of the
wheel flange of a rail vehicle.
Warrant: National Railway Museum
Plural form: flangeway gauges
CL Tools and equipment
BT track testing equipment
flat bottomed rail
A rail with flat section at base, enabling it to be fastened direct to
sleepers without rail chairs.
Warrant: The Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of
Railway Terminology, Alan A Jackson, Alan Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: flat bottomed rails
CL Track and track components
BT <rails by form>
flat bottomed track
Track laid with flat bottomed rails.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: flat bottomed tracks
CL Track and track components
BT <track by rail type>
flat car
A goods wagon with a flat floor and no sides, ends or roof.
Warrant:
The Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of Railway Terminology, Alan A Jackson, Alan
Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: flat cars
USE flat wagon
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <open vehicles by height>
flat case wagon
A railway vehicle dedicated to the carriage of large packing cases that
would not fit on a general merchendise wagon.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: flat case wagons
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT case wagon
flat crossing
A place where two railway routes cross on the level by one or more diamond
crossings.
Warrant: Gibbon, Richard H. BSc, FIMechE, CIEng, Head of
Engineering Collections, National Railway Museum, York
Plural form: flat crossings
UF level crossing (rail across rail)
UF railway crossing
CL Built works and components
BT <junctions and crossings>
RT diamond crossing
flat junction
A junction on a multiple track railway where a diverging line branches off
on the level, involving conflicting movements across one or more lines in the
opposite direction.
Warrant: The Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of Railway
Terminology, Alan A Jackson, Alan Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: flat junctions
CL Built works and components
BT junction
flat wagon
A wagon with a flat floor, without sides, ends or roof.
Warrant: John
Robinson, The Transport Trust
Plural form: flat wagons
UF flat car
UF flat (wagon)
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <open vehicles by height>
flat (wagon)
A goods wagon with a flat floor and no sides, ends or roof.
Warrant:
The Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of Railway Terminology, Alan A Jackson, Alan
Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: flats (wagons)
USE flat wagon
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <open vehicles by height>
Flexiprinter
A proprietary make of ticket printing/issuing machine which printed
destination and fare details onto blank cards using a separate slug for each
attribute.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: Flexiprinters
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT ticket issuing machine
Flexiprinter slug
A slug for printing destination and fare details onto blank cards, for use
with the 'Flexiprinter' machine.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: Flexiprinter slugs
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT ticket issuing machine component
RT ticket issuing machine
floating slab track
Track using a concrete base mounted on rubber pads to reduce vibration
transmitted to adjacent property.
Warrant: Railway Technical Web Pages,
Piers Connor, 2000
Plural form: floating slab tracks
CL Track and track components
BT slab track
floor cloth wagon
A railway vehicle dedicated to the carriage of floor cloth and linoleum.
Warrant: Wagons on the LNER - North British, John Hooper, Irwell Press, 1991 p63
Plural form: floor cloth wagons
USE linoleum wagon
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <other special traffic vehicles>
floor component
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: floor components
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <basic structural components>
NT bottom framing
NT carriage floor board
NT saloon floor
flying junction
A formation on a multiple track railway in which a diverging line is
carried over the main lines by a bridge to avoid the conflicting movements of a
flat junction.
Warrant: The Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of Railway
Terminology, Alan A Jackson, Alan Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: flying junctions
CL Built works and components
BT junction
fog flare lamp
A kerosene filled lamp, with wadding extending from the vessel into a
spout, with the wadding protruding to form a wick.
Warrant: Ray Towell,
Curator of Operations, National Railway Museum
Plural form: fog flare lamps
CL Control and communications
BT <hand signalling>
fog rattle
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: fog rattles
CL Control and communications
BT <audible signals>
fog signal repeater
An electrically actuated miniature signal indicator filled with
non-conductive oil, at the base of signal gantry, repeating the aspect of the
signal, for use by maintenance staff in foggy weather. Also a repeater signal
placed in advance of a main signal, usually with a more powerful light source,
that is switched on by the signalman during fog.
Warrant: Two Centuries of
Railway Signalling, G Kichenside & A Williams, Oxford Publishing Company,
1998 p117 & 187
Plural form: fog signal repeaters
CL Control and communications
BT repeating signal
fogging lever frame
A trackside lever frame providing a mechanical means of placing detonators
on the rail head.
Warrant: Ray Towell, Curator of Operations, National
Railway Museum
Plural form: fogging lever frames
CL Control and communications
BT <audible signals>
RT lever frame
fogmans lamp
A paraffin lamp containing an amber warning aspect exhibited at distant
signals when in the caution position during foggy weather.
Warrant: Ray
Towell, Curator of Operations, National Railway Museum
Plural form: fogmans lamps
CL Control and communications
BT <hand signalling>
<foodstuff carrying vehicles>
A railway vehicle specifically designed or exclusively used for the
carriage of food products. Warrant: John Robinson, The Transport Trust
Plural form: <foodstuff carrying vehicles>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <rolling stock by load or function>
NT vegetable wagon
NT <bakery product, confectionery, etc. carrying vehicles>
NT <beer, etc. carrying vehicles>
NT <cereal carrying vehicles>
NT <fish carrying vehicles>
NT <fruit carrying vehicles>
NT <meat and poultry product carrying vehicles>
NT <milk and dairy product carrying vehicles>
<foot and hand holds>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <foot and hand holds>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT access component
NT carriage side handle
NT commode rail
NT foot iron
NT grab handle
NT grabrail
NT handrail
NT step iron
NT step trim
NT step (vehicle)
NT stepboard
foot iron
A bracket mounted on the outside of a vehicle to aid access by the crew
when boarding from the ground.
Warrant: Railway Technical Web Pages, Piers
Connor, 2000
Plural form: foot irons
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <foot and hand holds>
foot straight edge
A twelve inch long uncalibrated ruler used for drawing a straight line.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: foot straight edges
CL Tools and equipment
BT <general tools and equipment>
foot switch
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: foot switches
CL Unattributed
BT <unattributed>
footbridge
A civil engineering structure enabling pedestrians to cross the railway
lines.
Warrant: Lexique General de Termes Ferroviares, Union Internationale
des Chemins de Fer, 1975
Plural form: footbridges
CL Built works and components
BT <bridges by usage>
footwarmer
A metal cylinder filled with very hot water or chemicals at stations and
placed on the floor of coaches not fitted with any heating system.
Warrant:
The Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of Railway Terminology, Alan A Jackson, Alan
Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: footwarmers
CL Tools and equipment
BT <on-train tools and equipment>
forces ticket
A ticket issued at a discounted fare to members of the armed forces.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: forces tickets
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <travel tickets by type or age of traveller>
forestry railway
A light railway used for carrying timber from forests.
Warrant: John
Robinson, The Transport Trust
Plural form: forestry railways
UF logging railway
UF timber railway
CL Railway types
BT freight railway
fori
Fibre Optic Route Indicator - A type of alphanumeric route indicator, using
optical fibres to provide the required illuminated indication.
Warrant: The
History of Railway Signalling, Friends of the National Railway Museum
Plural form: foris
USE fibre-optic route indicator
CL Control and communications
BT route indicator
fork (ballast)
A large, long handled fork with blunt ended tines, used for spreading
ballast on railway track.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: forks (ballast)
USE ballast fork
CL Tools and equipment
BT gangers equipment
fouling bar
A movable bar, similar to a facing point locking bar, placed at junctions,
platforms, and other critical locations not clearly visible from the signal box.
The bar cannot be raised when a vehicle is at the fouling point. It is
interlocked with signals controlling movements into the junction or platform,
preventing them from being cleared without first lifting the bar.
Warrant:
The First Principles of Railway Signalling, C B Byles, The Railway Gazette,
c1910 p93 Warrant: The Railway Dictionary, An A-Z of Railway Terminology, Alan A
Jackson, Alan Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: fouling bars
UF clearance bar
CL Control and communications
BT <mechanical train detection, etc.>
foundation ring
The base upon which the firebox is built, joining the outer and inner
firebox shells and sealing the water space around the inner firebox.
Warrant: Locomotives and Their Working, C R H Simpson & F B Roberts, Virtue &
Co Ltd, 1952
Plural form: foundation rings
UF mud ring
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT firebox component
four aspect signal
A colour light signal capable of displaying four aspects.
Warrant: The
History of Railway Signalling, Friends of the National Railway Museum
Plural form: four aspect signals
CL Control and communications
BT multiple-aspect signal
four coupled locomotive
A locomotive with four driving wheels, linked together by coupling rods.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: four coupled locomotives
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <locomotives by wheel arrangement>
NT Atlantic locomotive
NT pug
four foot
The area between the inner faces of a pair of rails.
Warrant:
Railtrack Jargon Buster, 1999
Plural form: four foot
CL Track and track components
BT <track areas by position>
four wheel carriage
A passenger carrying vehicle with four wheels.
Literary warrant
required.
Plural form: four wheel carriages
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <passenger carriages by wheel arrangement>
four wheel vehicle
A railway vehicle with four wheels.
Warrant: John Robinson, The
Transport Trust
Plural form: four wheel vehicles
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT rigid wheelbase vehicle
four wheeled barrow
A flat barrow with four wheels, for transporting large parcels and
equipment on railway platforms.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: four wheeled barrows
CL Tools and equipment
BT <station trolleys and barrows>
fourth class ticket
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: fourth class tickets
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <travel tickets by class>
fourth rail
The negative or return current rail in a ground conductor insulated return
system of electrification, usually placed in the centre between the running
rails and is near earth potential.
Warrant: The Railway Dictionary, An A-Z
of Railway Terminology, Alan A Jackson, Alan Sutton Publishing, 1996
Plural form: fourth rails
USE negative conductor rail
CL Track and track components
BT conductor rail
fourth rail electric railway
A current collection system which has separate positive and negative
current rails.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: fourth rail electric railways
CL Railway types
BT electric railway
frame assembly
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: frame assemblies
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <locomotive frame assemblies>
frame casting
Scope note required.
Warrant: Great Western Railway Drawing Registers
Plural form: frame castings
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <locomotive frame assemblies>
frame lever
A lever, one of several fitted together in a frame, for operating signals
and points.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: frame levers
CL Control and communications
BT lever frame component
NT king lever
NT point lever (frame)
NT signal lever
NT spare lever
frame plate
The steel plates running the length of a locomotive chassis carrying the
wheels, supporting the boiler etc.
Warrant: Great Western Railway Drawing
Registers
Plural form: frame plates
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <locomotive frame assemblies>
frame stay
A spacer used to keep the frames at the correct distance apart.
Warrant: Great Western Railway Drawing Registers
Plural form: frame stays
UF frame stretcher
UF stretcher (locomotive frame)
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <locomotive frame assemblies>
frame stretcher
A spacer used to keep the frames at the correct distance apart.
Warrant: Great Western Railway Drawing Registers
Plural form: frame stretchers
USE frame stay
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <locomotive frame assemblies>
frame (lever)
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: frames (lever)
USE lever frame
CL Control and communications
BT <central control>
frame (loco component)
The foundation or chassis upon which a steam locomotive is built.
Warrant: Great Western Railway Drawing Registers Warrant: Locomotives and Their
Working, C R H Simpson & F B Roberts, Virtue & Co Ltd, 1952
Plural form: frames (loco components)
USE locomotive frame
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <locomotive frame assemblies>
frangible link
A section close to the current collector shoe that is designed to break at
a predetermined load so as to minimise damage to shoegear and track.
Warrant: LUL Jargon Buster
Plural form: frangible links
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <traction current transmission components>
Franklin reversible booster
A bi-directional supplementary traction unit on a steam locomotive, used to
increase the starting tractive effort, made by the Franklin Railway Supply Co,
USA
Warrant: Articulated Locomotives, L Wiener, 1930
Plural form: Franklin reversible boosters
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT temporary steam tender
Fredy
An electronic device for detecting trains approaching level crossings
without the use of a treadle.
Warrant: Railtrack London & North
Eastern, A Glossary of Railway Terms, October 1998
Plural form: Fredies (?)
CL Control and communications
BT <automatic level crossing actuation equipment>
free pass
A concessionary ticket permitting free travel.
Warrant: Lexique
General de Termes Ferroviares, Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer, 1975
Plural form: free passes
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT pass
free pass matrix
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: free pass matrices
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <ticket printing equipment>
free ticket
A railway ticket for which no payment is necessary.
Warrant: John
Robinson, The Transport Trust
Plural form: free tickets
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <travel tickets by discount, etc.>
free ticket envelope
A printed envelope for holding free tickets for staff.
Warrant: John
Robinson, The Transport Trust
Plural form: free ticket envelopes
CL Commercial records and equipment
BT <ticket accessories>
freight container
A self-contained freight container designed to be easily transhipped from
rail to road, etc. Carried by rail on a flat wagon or specially constructed
container chassis.
Warrant: Janes Freight Containers
Plural form: freight containers
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <rolling stock by form>
NT demountable tank
NT furniture container
NT meat container
NT open container
NT roofed container
NT swap body
NT <containers by service>
freight locomotive
A locomotive designed to pull freight carrying vehicles. In the steam era
not always fitted with continuous brakes.
Warrant: Modern Locomotive Design
Bowen Cooke 1910
Plural form: freight locomotives
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <locomotives by intended load>
freight railway
A railway which carries only freight traffic.
Warrant: Phil Atkins,
National Railway Museum
Plural form: freight railways
CL Railway types
BT <railways by principal traffic>
NT agricultural railway
NT forestry railway
NT industrial railway
NT <railways supporting other transport systems>
freight stock
Rolling stock dedicated to the conveyance of merchandise.
Warrant:
Phil Atkins, National Railway Museum
Plural form: freight stock
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <rolling stock by traffic rating>
freight train
A train of vehicles dedicated to the conveyance of merchandise.
Warrant: John Robinson, The Transport Trust
Plural form: freight trains
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT non-passenger train
NT coal train
RT pick-up goods train
RT set
<freight transhipment structures>
Buildings and other structures for the transhipment of goods.
Plural form: <freight transhipment structures>
CL Built works and components
BT <transhipment structures>
NT coal cells
NT coal drops
NT goods shed
NT hand crane (yard)
NT lime cells
NT lime storage shed
NT loading gauge (object)
NT staith
NT warehouse
NT weighbridge
Freightliner brake van
A 'caboose' or demountable cabin used to carry the guard on a freightliner
wagon.
Warrant: John Robinson, The Transport Trust
Plural form: Freightliner brake vans
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT goods brake van
Freightliner container
A demountable freight container specifically built to be conveyed by
Freightliner flat wagons.
Warrant: John Robinson, The Transport Trust
Plural form: Freightliner containers
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <containers by service>
Freightliner wagon
A bogie flat wagon for the conveyance of Freightliner and similar
containers.
Warrant: John Robinson, The Transport Trust
Plural form: Freightliner wagons
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT container wagon
fringe box
The first signal box located along a line beyond the boundary of a power
signalled area.
Warrant: The History of Railway Signalling, Friends of the
National Railway Museum
Plural form: fringe boxes
USE fringe signal box
CL Control and communications
BT <control centres by function>
fringe signal box
The first signal box located along a line beyond the boundary of a power
signalled area.
Warrant: The History of Railway Signalling, Friends of the
National Railway Museum
Plural form: fringe signal boxes
UF fringe box
CL Control and communications
BT <control centres by function>
frog
The solid central section of a point or crossing.
Warrant: Lexique
General de Termes Ferroviares, Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer, 1975
Plural form: frogs
CL Track and track components
BT <crossing rails>
<fruit carrying vehicles>
Railway vehicles dedicated to the carriage of fruit.
Plural form: <fruit carrying vehicles>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <foodstuff carrying vehicles>
NT banana van
NT fruit van
fruit van
A ventilated railway van used for the carraige of fresh fruit.
Warrant: British Railways Wagons - the first half million, D P Rowland, David &
Charles, 1985
Plural form: fruit vans
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <fruit carrying vehicles>
fruit wagon (open merchendise)
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway term for a 'half-box' open wagon for the
carriage of general merchandise (possibly a corruption of 'freight', this type
of wagon was not specifically intended for the carriage of fruit).
Warrant:
Lancashire & Yorkshire Wagons Volume One, Noel Coates, Wild Swan
Publications, 1990 p137
Plural form: fruit wagons
USE open goods wagon
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <fruit carrying vehicles>
fuel
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: fuel
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <consumables>
NT colloidal fuel
<fuel and water controls and gauges>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <fuel and water controls and gauges>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <driving and control components>
NT boiler pressure gauge
NT boiler water level gauge
NT gauge glass
NT gauge glass assembly
NT gauge glass fitting
NT gauge glass lamp
NT gauge glass tube
NT gauge lamp
NT glass (gauge)
NT locomotive steam gauge
NT steam pressure gauge
NT tank indicator
NT water gauge
<fuel combustion components>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <fuel combustion components>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <steam generation components>
NT burner unit
NT liquid fuel burner
fuel injector pipe
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: fuel injector pipes
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <fuel supply components>
fuel injector rack
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: fuel injector racks
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <fuel supply components>
fuel oil engined locomotive
A locomotive driven by internal combustion engine which burns heavy (crude)
oil.
Warrant: Ruston Hornsby Co. Ltd catalogues
Plural form: fuel oil engined locomotives
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT oil engined locomotive
fuel pump
A device which supplies fuel to an engine.
Warrant: Lexique General de
Termes Ferroviares, Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer, 1975
Plural form: fuel pumps
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <fuel supply components>
<fuel storage and handling components>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <fuel storage and handling components>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <consumables storage and handling components>
NT ash disposal component
NT <fuel storage components>
NT <fuel supply components>
NT <fuel waste handling components>
<fuel storage components>
A vehicle component concerned with the storage of fuel for a steam boiler
or internal combustion engine.
Plural form: <fuel storage components>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <fuel storage and handling components>
NT bunker coal plate
NT coal bunker
NT coal door
NT coal rail
NT fuel tank (locomotive component)
NT oil tank (locomotive)
NT tender oil tank assembly
<fuel supply components>
A vehicle component concerned with the automatic feeding of fuel to a steam
boiler or internal combustion engine.
Plural form: <fuel supply components>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <fuel storage and handling components>
NT coal pusher
NT fuel injector pipe
NT fuel injector rack
NT fuel pump
NT mechanical stoker
NT stoker (mechanism)
fuel tank wagon (departmental)
A tank wagon used for liquid fuels intended for railway use.
Warrant:
John Robinson, The Transport Trust
Plural form: fuel tank wagons
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <vehicles for stores and consumables>
fuel tank (locomotive component)
Scope note required.
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: fuel tanks (locomotive components)
UF tank (fuel - locomotive component)
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <fuel storage components>
<fuel waste handling components>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <fuel waste handling components>
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <fuel storage and handling components>
full brake van
A colloquial term for a bogie non-passenger coaching stock brake van.
Warrant: John Robinson, The Transport Trust
Plural form: full brake vans
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <mail, parcels, etc. carrying vehicles>
fully fitted vehicle
A vehicle fitted with automatic brakes (e.g. automatic vacuum brake, air
brake, etc.).
Literary warrant required.
Plural form: fully fitted vehicles
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT braked vehicle
NT air braked vehicle
NT dual fitted vehicle
NT vacuum braked vehicle
fully-fitted train
A train fitted with automatic braking throughout.
Warrant: John
Robinson, The Transport Trust
Plural form: fully-fitted trains
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <trains by braking>
funicular railway
A cable operated railway with ascending and descending vehicles
counterbalanced for use on hills, often with carriages with tiered compartments
which can only be used on a steep gradient.
Warrant: Encyclopedia of
Railways, O S Nock, 1977
Plural form: funicular railways
CL Railway types
BT <railways by location>
furniture container
A box container with end doors, designed to carry furniture for easy
transhipment between road and rail.
Warrant: John Robinson, The Transport
Trust
Plural form: furniture containers
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT freight container
furniture van truck
A flat wagon designed to carry a furniture van.
Warrant: John
Robinson, The Transport Trust
Plural form: furniture van trucks
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT <road vehicle carrying stock>
NT piece van wagon
<furniture>
Scope note required.
Plural form: <furniture>
CL Built works and components
BT <built work furnishings, fixtures and fittings>
NT <station seating>
fusible plug
A lead plug in the firebox crown of a steam locomotive which melts if the
water level in the boiler falls below the level of the firebox extinguishing the
fire thus preventing boiler explosion.
Warrant: Lexique General de Termes
Ferroviares, Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer, 1975
Plural form: fusible plugs
CL Vehicles and vehicle components
BT firebox 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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