The examples and perspectives in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (July 2023) |
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Rail transport terms are a form of technical terminology applied to railways. Although many terms are uniform across different nations and companies, they are by no means universal, with differences often originating from parallel development of rail transport systems in different parts of the world, and in the national origins of the engineers and managers who built the inaugural rail infrastructure. An example is the term railroad, used (but not exclusively) in North America, and railway, generally used in English-speaking countries outside North America and by the International Union of Railways. In English-speaking countries outside the United Kingdom, a mixture of US and UK terms may exist.
Various terms, both global and specific to individual countries, are listed here. The abbreviation "UIC" refers to terminology adopted by the International Union of Railways in its official publications and thesaurus.
For more elaborate country-specific guides, see Glossary of United Kingdom railway terms and Glossary of North American railroading.
A cylindrical cast-iron holder in which an adjusting string is placed.











































A framework of wood or metal carrying the main body structure of a railway vehicle, such as a locomotive, carriage or wagon.





Non-signaled (dark) territory presents a unique problem for rail safety
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)Siding (passing track, side track): A track adjacent to a main or a secondary track, for meeting, passing, or storing cars or trains
crossing loop: ... a facility that permits trains to both cross and pass each other.
Babbage suggested to Hodgson of the railway company what was later called a 'cow-catcher' for sweeping obstacles off the line.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)Terminal Railroad definition.