|
|
|
|
|
Railroad Dictionary |
AMTRAK FLORIDA |
|
|
The following is a work in
progress, continually evolving as railroaders come up with more and more
vernacular. If you have a term not listed and is commonly accepted in
your part of the country, e-mail it to spg05@fsu.edu
and it will be added (Please include the region of the country you hail
from so it can be noted). Newest Terms Listed in Italics
AC-Assistant Conductor AC Traction-A type traction motor in an engine which uses Alternating Current, generally capable of producing higher tractive effort ACSES-Type of Cab Signaling and Speed Enforcement System used in the Northeast Activation Failure-When a grade crossing protection device fails to activate for an oncoming train ARROW-Amtrak Reservations system Attaboy-Letter of recognition placed in an employees file for commendable service or actions Boards-usually refers to boards put up by a work foreman to show his work limits, but can also mean signs placed to show the beginning and end of a temporary speed restriction Bossman-Your superior Code Line Failure-when the signal is lost between Dispatch and Track resulting in dark signals and improperly lined switches Consist-order and number of cars in a trains makeup CTC-Centralized Traffic Control-Commonly used dispatching system used by most major railroads, uses phone lines to send data to wayside signals and control signals DC Traction-Type of traction motor, uses Direct Current for power supply, used in most diesels in the old days, becoming rarer these days, but still used by nearly all railroads DD O-Defect Detector coming up Dead on the law-see on the law Defect Detector-DD-Sensors that check trains for dragging equipment, hot roller bearings, or height clearance (most do a combination, clearance detectors mostly found in the Northeast), most report findings through radio transmissions on the road channel Dial Down Gates-Grade Crossing gates which can be lowered by punching in specific numbers on the keypad of a locomotive radio Dial 'Em Down-Action of lowering grade crossing gates through radio keypad Dispatcher-Idiot who sits in a room (usually hundreds of miles away) and decides what route you will take and where you will meet other trains, also issues Orders, and keeps track of Work Foreman and Temporary Speed Restrictions Dogcatch-See Relief Crew Doglawwed-See On the Law Dynamic Brake-Braking system within a locomotive which uses electrical resistance to slow a train, typically used on steep downgrades Engineers Side-Right side of a train, side that the Engineer sits on in the Engine/Cab Car Extra Board-Group of individuals (usually with low seniority numbers) who fill in for open work assignments when needed, the order of the board depends on the last time you worked or when you came off your day off, whoever is at the top of the board is the next person called for an open job Fireman-These days means the Assistant Engineer, in the old days was the one who filled the firebox in a steam engine Firemans Side-Left side of a train. side that the Fireman sits on Flagman-responsible for flagging crossings, generally also holds the responsibilities of an Assistant Conductor Form D-Type of train dispatching which uses blocks (of track) to govern train movement, in the Northeast also a method of relaying specific orders to a train Form EC-1-Form used by CSX to relay specific orders to a train FRED-Flashing Rear End Device-Device with a flashing red light (by night) to signify the end of a train, also relays brake pressure information to the lead locomotive via radio signal Foreign Power-locomotive on another railroads property in use by the host railroad in its trains Go to private-term used when the Conductors and/or Engineers need to go to another radio channel to convey messages that should not be transmitted on the road channel Grade-Inclination of a section of track (1% Grade=a rise of 1 foot every 100 feet) Grade Crossing-generally a crossing between a railroad and a public road, but can also mean the meeting of two railroads at the same level Grade Crossing Warning Device-device with lights and gates to warn oncoming cars of an approaching train Grip-Bag or Briefcase used to store all the (useless) crap a railroader needs HEP-Head End Power-Electricty supplied to a passenger train from a locomotive, can come from either the main engine or a seperate smaller diesel engine within the locomotive. In the clear-employees are clear of railcars and/or track that is to be used In the hole-when one train goes in a passing siding for another train to allow two or more trains to pass Job-Work assignment Key Down Gates-1)Grade Crossing gates which can be lowered by placing a switch key in a designated box near the gates 2)See Dial Down Gates Key it in-To punch keys on a radio to dial down gates or to call a dispatcher Mark Up-1) to make yourself available on an extra board, you go to the bottom of the board, 2) to resume working your regular job Markers-red light, flag or other device used to signify the end of a train, most freight railroads integrate markers into a FRED, most passenger cars have markers built into them and are turned on the rear car when needed Mechanical-Generally lazy group of individuals who are responsible for repairing and maintaining equipment MSP-Maximum Speed Permitted MSPNR-Maximum Speed Permitted-No Recall Necessary-Used by Conductors when replying to an Engineer after recieving orders from a work foreman On The Bottom-1)Person or individual behind the locomotives of a train in one of the cars, 2)rear of a train, 3)Conductor who is responsible for coupling and uncoupling cars in a yard On The Law-refers to the Hours of Service law, under which no Conductor or Engineer can work more than 12 Consecutive hours, must also have 8 hours of rest between shifts when less than 12 hours are worked, 12 hours of rest are needed when the crew goes on the law Orders-given to each Conductor and Engineer, contains release form giving the train permission to proceed and temporary bulletins for each subdivision to be traversed, including Slow Orders, Work Foremen, and any other notices on the subdivision Overnight-Suitcase PAX-Passenger (not the TV station) Phase-refers to a paint style on a car or engine Pointless Arrow-Refers to the original Amtrak logo Pony (Ponies)-Locomotive(s) PTI Van-A van or taxi that transports a crew from one location to another Railbuff-A step above the railfan, knows his/her stuff, but can still relate with train crews and is generally liked and accpeted amongst train crews, possibly a future employee, also has connections within the company out the ying yang, but still is not as flamboyant about their like of trains as a raildork Raildork-Term to describe an individual overly obssesed with trains to the point that they carry large cameras around their neck, wear hats with way too many pins on them, are usually social outcasts unable to communicate with many in society, and despised by most train crews since they generally are a hassle and a pain in the neck since they have little to no people skills, think they will one day be a railroad employee, but in all reality will never get a job with a railroad or move out of their parents house, also favorite target of train crews as they throw crew packs or bottles of water AT them, not to them Railfan-A mild mannered individual who likes trains, usually takes pictures, but does it discreetly and usually with a small compact point and shoot camera, but usually distant with other employees because of low amount of knowledge Rebuild-To overhaul or otherwise refurbish a locomotive or railcar Relief Crew-A crew who takesover a train after the previous crew goes on the law Relief Day-a specific day on which an extra board employee has off every week Relief Job-a job that works to more than one destination on a regular basis Road Job-a job which travels outside a specific city, usually spends one night or more at a layover point Road Power-Locomotives to be used on a train Roll-when a Railroad Employee is bumped off his/her current work assignment by another employee with higher seniority Rollby-to inspect another train visually as you pass it and report what you see to the other crew via radio Scab-A person who violates the Union, usually during a Union Strike the Scab will work while everyone else is on the picket line Scab Operation-A railroad where the Employees are not Unionized-most notably Herzog Transit Sevices (operator of ACE, TRE, and Tri-Rail) Seniority (Number)-System used by all railroads, the date which you hire with a company at your position determines your seniority number, the longer you work for that company the higher your seniority number gets as others above you retire or change crafts, seinority dictates what job (work assignment) you can hold with yor seniority, whoever has the highest seinority number and bids a specific job will work that job, he/she can be rolled by another employee with a higher seniority number Shit the bed-term used when an engine or car cannot proceed due to mechanical failure Signs-Used with temporary speed restrictions to show the beginning and end of a speed restriction Slow Order-Temporary speed restriction over a section of track on a specific track (Main, Siding, Track 1, etc.) Spotter-1)a rat who is out to catch your screw ups and report them to management 2)system within a locomotivethat allows the locomotive to be moved a short distance without having to start its diesel engine, uses battery power instead Switch Bitch-Conductor responsible for throwing switches in a railyard TA-Train Attendant-Coach Attendant or Sleeping Car Attendant Three Step Protection-Used in Yards when a Conductor is to go between equipment to make/break connections between cars, the Engineer establishes this protection by applying full Independent Brake, placing the reverser in neutral, and disabling the traction motors of the engine Three Steps Down-Conductor releasing Three Step Protection Three Steps Up-Conductor requesting Three Step Protection Time on the street-punishment for rules violation Time Ticket-A sheet of paper on which an employee records time worked on a job assignment, and wages that should be paid, this is turned in at the home terminal for submission to payroll TOFC 1: Trailer on Flat Car, otherwise known as piggyback where semi truck trailers ride on flat car 2:Tits on Female Conductor Track Warrant-used to recieve permission to occupy a section of track under Track Warrant Control Track Warrant Control-system of dispatching that allows for movement in dark territory, more flexible than DTC Control Traction Motor-an electric motor which propels a diesel or electric engine, usually 4 or 6 motors on an engine Train Message-A specific message relayed between a dispatcher and train crew Up and riding-Conductor is off the ground Engineer can proceed forward XO-Crossover-refers to a set of switches which allows a train to move from one track to another |
