contact shoe
nounRail equipment
A current collector on an electric train which is in contact with the live rail.
Rail equipment
250 entries in this trade.
container flat
nounRail equipment
a flat wagon designed to carry international shipping containers.
container wagon
nounRail equipment
a flat wagon designed to carry international shipping containers.
coupling rod
nounRail equipment
A rod that couples the driving wheels of a locomotive, a steam locomotive in particular, so that the driving wheels act together as a unit.
cross-tie
nounRail equipment
A sleeper supporting and connecting the rails, and holding them in place.
crossing keeper
nounRail equipment
A member of railway staff who looks after a level crossing.
dandy cart
nounRail equipment
A wagon in which a horse could rest and travel downhill on a gravity-worked railway, before hauling wagons back up the incline.
danger signal
nounRail equipment
A signal set at danger and showing a red light or other stop indication, which a train driver must not pass until it changes or until manually cleared past the signal by a dispatcher.
dark territory
nounRail equipment
A section of railroad track not controlled by signals.
de-electrify
verbRail equipment
To remove the electrification for powering electric trains from a railway.
dead in the train
adjectiveRail equipment
Being hauled as part of a train's consist while not providing any motive power.
dead section
nounRail equipment
Part of a neutral section.
dead weight
nounRail equipment
The total (unpowered) weight of a train to be propelled (or hauled) by the locomotive; another locomotive being hauled dead as part of the train is a dead weight.
destination board
nounRail equipment
A board attached to the side of a railway carriage which indicates where the train is going to. More modern variants can be a dot-matrix display panel.
diamond crossing
nounRail equipment
An at-grade junction between two crossing railroad tracks.
diamond crossover
nounRail equipment
superimposed pair of railway crossovers, resembling a letter X, permitting to travel in either direction between a pair of parallel tracks
diamond junction
nounRail equipment
An at-grade junction between two crossing railroad tracks.
diesel multiple unit
nounRail equipment
A multiple-unit train of two or more coaches powered by diesel engines, usually installed underfloor.
dive-under
nounRail equipment
A railway junction where at least one track passes under other lines instead of crossing them on the same level, in order to avoid conflicting movements; an underpass.
dome car
nounRail equipment
A railroad passenger car with a glass observation dome.
double track
nounRail equipment
A section of railway line or tramline consisting of two parallel tracks, one being used in one direction and the other in the opposite direction.
drag-chain
nounRail equipment
The chain that connects together engine and tender, or carriages and wagons.
driver-only operation
nounRail equipment
The operation of a train without a conductor or guard as a cost-cutting measure; one-man operation.
driving car
nounRail equipment
A control car; a non-engine rail car from which the train may be driven.
driving motor
nounRail equipment
a car in a multiple unit which is motored and from which the train can be driven.
driving van trailer
nounRail equipment
a purpose-built railway vehicle that allows the driver to operate a locomotive at the opposite end of a train.
driving wheel
nounRail equipment
On a steam locomotive, a powered wheel driven by the locomotive's pistons or turbine.
dual-voltage
adjectiveRail equipment
Able to run using two different voltages, depending on the voltage supplied to the particular railway line, whether by third rail direct current or overhead wires.
Dutch oven
nounRail equipment
A protective cover for electrical contacts on a railway coupler, particularly but not exclusively used on the London Underground.
dynamic braking
nounRail equipment
Braking by the use of an electric traction motor as a generator when slowing a vehicle such as an electric or diesel-electric locomotive.
dynamometer car
nounRail equipment
A piece of railway rolling stock used to measure various aspects of a locomotive's performance.
electric multiple unit
nounRail equipment
A multiple unit train powered by electricity, abbreviated EMU.
elevated railway
nounRail equipment
A rapid transit railway with tracks above street level on a viaduct or other elevated structure.
engine cleaner
An employee who cleans railway locomotives, especially steam locomotives in the days of steam.
engine room
nounRail equipment
The engine compartment of a diesel locomotive.
engine shed
A building for housing railway locomotives.
fall plate
A metal plate resting on the cab floor of a steam locomotive, between engine and tender.
fan car
nounRail equipment
A car used to clean tracks of light debris, to prevent trains slipping on the rails, by blowing air to blow away debris.
feeder station
nounRail equipment
A facility that takes power from the national grid and feeds it to overhead electrification lines on a railway.
ferry van
A railway goods van intended for train ferry traffic to and from continental Europe.
fire iron
nounRail equipment
One of a set of tools kept on a steam locomotive for a similar purpose.
fishing space
nounRail equipment
The space between the base and head of a rail in which a rigid steel bar is placed.
flangeway
nounRail equipment
The gap in road surfaces, running rails at rails at junctions, etc, that allows the wheel flange of a rail vehicle to pass.
flat crossing
nounRail equipment
A crossing where two railway lines cross each other on the same level.
flat junction
nounRail equipment
An at-grade junction between two crossing railroad tracks.
flat rail
nounRail equipment
A metal pole or simple flat bar that is laid horizontally on the ground.
flat wagon
nounRail equipment
An open railway wagon without sides and roof, or with very low sides.
fog signal
nounRail equipment
A small explosive charge (detonator) which can be placed on a railway line in fog, to be detonated by a train passing over it as a warning signal to the driver.
four-tracking
nounRail equipment
Provision of four running lines on a stretch of railway track, usually two in each direction.
fourth class
nounRail equipment
A class of rail travel formerly found in some countries.
fourth rail
nounRail equipment
An extra rail in addition to the third rail (live rail) which is used for current return purposes, mainly by London Underground, because of problems caused by using the running rails for current return underground.
freight operating company
nounRail equipment
A company that runs freight trains on the national railway network in Great Britain under license from the government.
gate box
nounRail equipment
A signal box that controls a level crossing.
gauge-restricted
adjectiveRail equipment
Having a restrictive loading gauge, limiting which rail vehicles may be used.
Gibson ring
nounRail equipment
A retaining ring used to fit a steel tire/tyre to the wheel of rolling stock.
gondola
nounRail equipment
A type of open railway car with low sides, used to carry heavy freight such as crushed rock or steel.
goods van
nounRail equipment
An enclosed railway freight car, especially one with a sliding door.
grab iron
nounRail equipment
A metal bar attached to the side of locomotives and railroad cars for use as a handhold.
granger road
nounRail equipment
A railroad used mainly for transporting the produce of farmers or grangers.
ground frame
nounRail equipment
A lever frame controlling the operation of points and/or signals which is installed at ground level.