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Glossary
A
Articulated
A locomotive with two or more separate driver sets. Wuth one or more sets being free to swing beneath the main frame on sharp curves.
B
Bad Order
Railroad terminology for any piece of equipment that is damaged or out of service due to damage.
Berkshire
Locomotive with wheel arrangement 2-8-4.
Branch line
A local track off the main railroad usually leading to just a few industries.
Bobber
1. Short 4 wheel caboose.
2. Generic name for any caboose.
C
Compulsion
An irresistible impulse to act, regardless of the rationality of the motivation: "The compulsion to obtain that locomotive for your collection even if it costs 3 times its value."
Closed Frog
The frog is as defined only the intersection is at rail head width. NOT COMING TO A POINT.
Crossing
1.The intersection of a road and a track. (also "level crossing")
2.The intersection of two tracks as in a figure eight.
Crossover
The intersection of two tracks where the train can cross from one track to the other.
Cranko
NZ toy train manufacturer see Cranko history
D
Depot
A train station where passengers and freight are loaded and unloaded from a train.
E
Experience
Years of remembered cock-ups.
E-unit
Name of the reverse unit fitted to most older Lionel locomotives. Also generic name for mechanical reverse unit.
F
Frog
The part in a turnout where the two rails cross each other.
G
Gauge
The measurement of the distance between the inside rail heads of track. The American standard gauge is 4' 8-1/2". Any greater width is considered BROAD gauge. Any less width is considered NARROW gauge.
Grade
The percentage an incline. A 2% grade would raise 2" in every 100".
Guard rail
Short section of rail spiked inside the rails on turnouts to help guide the wheels of trains through the frog of the turnout.
H
Hi-rail
The scenic/realistic approach to the presentation of toy trains. With correct scale scenery.
Hornby
UK toy train manufacturer see Hornby history
HRCA
Hornby Railway Collectors Assn.
I
Insulated pin
A non-conductive pin used to join two tubular rail ends together where you do not want electrical current to pass between rails.
J
No words yet
K
Knuckle couplers
The current US standard coupler system for trains. When pushed together they lock together until the locking pin in top is lifted to disconnect the cars.
K-Line
Toy train manufacturer started by using the old Marx dies. K-line website
L
Lash-Up
Several diesels connected by electrical annd pneumatic lines, controlled by one engineer.( same as ' Consist')
Lionel
Toy train manufacturer see Lionel history Lionel website
M
Marx
Toy train manufacturer see Marx history Marx trains website
Mikado
A locomotive with a 2-8-2 wheel arrangement.
Mogul
A locomotive with a wheel arrangement of 2-6-0.
N
NMRA
National Model Railroad Association. An organization dedicated to accurate scale model railroading.
O
Obsession
Compulsive preoccupation with toy trains. Often resulting in a depletion of ones savings.
Open frog
A turnout where there is no defined intersection of the straight and curved rails. Like Marx metal switches.
P
Pacific
Steam locomotive with 4-6-2 wheel arrangment.
Points
Same as "turnout"
Power supply
A transformer that produces the voltage necessary to operate trains and accessories. May be AC or DC in output.
Protected frog
Switches with guard rails at and opposite the frog to guide the inside of wheel flanges thru the frog. Most switches manufactured are of this type and are close to prototype.
Prototype
The real, full sized article, 1:1 scale.
Q
`Q` Class
The NZ Railways Class Q was the world`s first true Pacific type locomotive
R
Reverse loop
A track that allows a train to make a full turn and return on the track it came, but in the opposite direction. This loop of track connects to itself through one turnout.
S
Scale
The size of modeling compared to the full size original; i.e.: 1:24 is 24 times smaller than the original.
Scale Proportion
HO 1:87
N 1:160
O 1:48
Z 1:220
F 1:20.3
G 1:22.5
Semaphore
A mechanical structure with arms and coloured lights used as a means of warning on railway systems.
Six-foot way
The distance required between the tracks to make sure passing trains don't hit each other.
Switch
same as "turnout"
T
TCA
Train Collector Association Headquarted in Strasburg, PA, USA
Tinplate
1. Tinplate is steel sheet that has been provided with a very thin tin coating to protect it from corrosion. It was the material of choice for toy makers enabling high quality cheap toys to be made. It had either a lithographed or enameled finish the lithography being in (usually) very bright colours.
2. Also a generic term for toy, as opposed to "serious" or scale model trains.
TTOS
Toy Train Operating Society - Headquarted in Pasadena, CA, USA
Turnout
The correct term for a component of trackwork commonly called a "switch". This component makes it possible for two separate branches of track to either join together or diverge apart (depending on which direction you approach the turnout) and includes a control which moves the point rails thus determining the train's route through the turnout.
Truck
Wheels & axles grouped in a frame. Most real railway cars have a pair of 4 wheel trucks.
Turntable
A length of track that pivots in the center and rotates in a full circle to change the direction of the locomotive or to align to a roundhouse track.
Transfer Table
A moveable section of track used to transfer a piece of rolling stock between multiple parallel tracks.
U
No words yet
V
No words yet
W
Water tower
A structure to store water for steam locomotives. Usually elevated with a gravity fed water spout to fill locomotive water tanks.
Wheel Arrangement
The number of wheels that are respectively in the leading truck, drive wheels, and trailing truck. (eg. 4-6-2) Europeans divide by 2 to get the axle count (eg. 2-3-1). Gives clues to the types of suitable service, and often, modernity, of a steam locomotive.
Wig Wag
An electrical/mechanical device used at grade crossings to warn automobiles and pedestrians of approaching trains.
Wye
A turnout where both tracks curve away from the center of the turnout. Often 3 wye turnouts are used on narrow gauge lines to make a three point turn in a tight space.
X
No words yet
Y
Yard
A series of track used to sort and store trains on.
Z
No words yet
Thanks to the following people for submiting words
Michael R. Nickerson, Richard Reichard, Colin Duthie, Willard Seehorn, Willard Seehorn and anyone else I missed
Have any other words that should be here? mail me
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