dead in the train
adjectiveRail equipment
Being hauled as part of a train's consist while not providing any motive power.
Rail equipment
498 entries in this trade.
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.
decapod
nounRail equipment
A nickname for either the 0-10-0 or 2-10-0 train configurations.
derailment
nounRail equipment
The action of a locomotive or train leaving the rails along which it runs.
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.
detector bar
nounRail equipment
A bar, connected with a switch, longer than the distance between any two consecutive wheels of a train, laid inside a rail and operated by the wheels so that the switch cannot be thrown until the entire train has passed the switch.
detonator
nounRail equipment
A small explosive device attached to the railhead to provide an audible warning when a train passes over it.
detrain
verbRail equipment
To exit from a train; to disembark.
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.
doll
nounRail equipment
A short signal post mounted on a bracket mounted on the main signal post, or on a signal gantry.
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.
down
adverbRail equipment
In the direction leading away from the principal terminus, away from milepost zero.
draft
nounRail equipment
The pulling force (tension) on couplers and draft gear during a slack (stretched) condition.
drag bolt
nounRail equipment
A strong bolt passing through the drawbar of railway carriages, and serving to fasten the coupling.
drag-chain
nounRail equipment
The chain that connects together engine and tender, or carriages and wagons.
drawbar
nounRail equipment
An open-mouthed bar at the end of a car, which receives a coupling link and pin by which the car is drawn. It is usually provided with a spring to give elasticity to the connection between the cars of a train.
drawgear
nounRail equipment
The means or parts by which cars or carriages are connected to be drawn.
drawhead
nounRail equipment
The flanged outer end of a drawbar.
drawrod
nounRail equipment
A rod which unites the drawgear at opposite ends of the car, and bears the pull required to draw the train.
drawspring
nounRail equipment
A spring to which a drawbar is attached.
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.
drop light
nounRail equipment
A window in a train carriage that is opened by pushing it downward into the door.
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.
DVT
nounRail equipment
Initialism of driving van trailer.
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.
edge rail
nounRail equipment
A rail designed so that the carriage wheels roll on its edges, being held there by flanges.
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.
ERTMS
nameRail equipment
Initialism of European Rail Traffic Management System, an initiative backed to greatly enhance safety, increase efficiency of trains and enhance cross-border interoperability of rail transport in Europe.
ETCS
nameRail equipment
Initialism of European Train Control System, a signalling, control and train protection system, especially for high-speed lines.
Eurobalise
nounRail equipment
A specific kind of balise used in the European Train Control System.
ex
adjectiveRail equipment
the place the train originated from or called at prior to the present location.
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.
fast
nounRail equipment
A train that calls at only some stations it passes between its origin and destination, typically just the principal stations.
fast track
nounRail equipment
A racetrack with optimum conditions for high speeds
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.
firebox
nounRail equipment
The chamber of a steam engine, or a steam locomotive, in which the fuel is burned.
fishing space
nounRail equipment
The space between the base and head of a rail in which a rigid steel bar is placed.
fishplate
nounRail equipment
A metal bar that is bolted to the ends of two rails to join them together in a track.
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.