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Sounds of the Railroad Library Photos, Desktops, Screensavers
and Wallpapers Glossary of Railroad Terms and Vocabulary
2008 Railroading
in California Calendar |
Glossary of
Railroad Terms
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 BBaby
Lifter A
brakeman. Bad order Indication of mechanical problem serious enough to make car
unavailable for use. A car that is out of service for repair is said to be a
"bad order car". Bail By
moving the independent brake handle sideways, the engineer can release
locomotive brake cylinder pressure that is due to an automatic brake
application (a brake pipe pressure reduction). The bail has no effect on
brake cylinder pressure that is due to an independent brake application. Bakehead Fireman
(because his head was near the door of firebox when shoveling coal) Ballast
Gravel that is placed between the ties of a railroad to keep
them from shifting around. Beans,
Go To Going to
eat a meal B-end The end of a railway car that has the brake handle. Opposite of
A-end BIE Brakes In Emergency; application of the emergency braking
system. Big Boy Union
Pacific 4-8-8-4 600 ton steam freight locomotive Big C The
conductor Big E The
engineer Bighole Emergency
application of airbrakes, usually when initiated by engineer, i.e. put her in the big hole BLE Initials
of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers union BLF&E Initials of Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen union
BlockA length
of track between consecutive block signals or from a block signal to the end
of block system limits, governed by block signals, cab signals or both. Block Occupancy IndicatorAn
indicator used to convey information regarding block occupancy. Block SignalA fixed signal at the entrance of a block to
govern trains and engines entering and using that block.
Block SystemA block
or series of consecutive blocks within APB, ABS, ACS, CTC or interlocking
limits. Blue FlagA blue flag or signal that is placed on a car or
locomotive when workers are around or under it. When a car or locomotive is
blue-flagged, then it must not be coupled to or moved in any manner. The only
person allowed to remove a blue flag is the person who put it there in the
first place.
BMT Brooklyn Booster Unit Slug The Brains The conductor Brakes,
Automatic Automatic brakes are the brake controls in the locomotive
that regulate the pressure of the brake pipe and apply or release the brakes
for the entire train including the locomotives
Brake BeamA
cross-piece in the foundation brake gear for a pair of wheels to which the
leverage delivers its force to be transmitted through the attached brake head
and brake shoes to the tread of the wheels. Brake CylinderA cast
metal cylinder with a piston that is forced outward by compressed air in
applying the brakes and returned by a release spring in releasing the brakes. Brake PipeCommonly
called a train line, it is the pipe, hose, connections, angle cocks, cut-out
cocks, fittings, etc., connecting the locomotive and all cars from one end of
the train to the other for the passage of air to charge and control the
brakes. Brake RiggingA term
commonly used instead of foundation brake gear. Brakes,
Independent Independent
brakes are the brake controls in the locomotive that apply the brakes on the
locomotives only. The air hose marked ACT
or BR CYL enables the lead
unit to control the trailing units brakes Brass
Hat AA
railroad executive, usually a division manager or higher, a.k.a. suits Brotherhood Notch On steam
locomotive - reverse gear hooked up
nearer dead center, light throttle, thus using less steam, pulling light
train - making it easier on fireman
B-unit - locomotive that has a diesel engine,
electric generator and traction motors, but generally no control stand; can
only be used MU-ed to another locomotive that has a control stand. Not to be
confused with slug which has no diesel engine or generator |
