This article contains a list of jargon used to varying degrees by railway enthusiasts, trainspotters, and railway employees in the United Kingdom, including nicknames for various locomotives and multiple units. Although not exhaustive, many of the entries in this list appear from time to time in specialist, rail-related publications. There may be significant regional variation in usage.
A British signalling scheme designed to ensure the safe operation of a railway by allowing only one train to occupy a defined section of track (block) at a time, used on lines which lack automatic block signalling[1]
A nickname for the British Rail Class 755 bi-mode / diesel multiple units. Named for the TV character Basil Fawlty due to many teething problems on introduction.[4]
Bed pan
A name used for the service that used to operate between Bedford and London St. Pancras; this service has subsequently been replaced by cross-London service on the Thameslink route. It is sometimes used when referring to the line from Bedford to St Pancras, and not any service in particular.[5][6]
The undercarriage assembly of rolling stock incorporating the train wheels, suspension, brakes and, in powered units, the traction motors
Booking clerk
A member of staff at railway stations, employed to sell tickets to passengers, able to provide advice on ticketing and route options, and responsible for the daily accounts and auditing of the station[11][12]
Bone
British Rail Class 58 diesel-electric locomotive—from the shape: the body is narrow with wide cabs. (Also called egg timer.) Ironically, one of the final workings of this class was a railfan special called the Bone Breaker which ended in a bufferstop collision and a passenger breaking his leg.[13]
A heavy vehicle with powerful brakes which was attached to the rear of goods trains in the days when most wagons were not fitted with a continuous braking system. Its function was to supplement the locomotive's braking power in slowing and stopping the train and to keep the couplings uniformly tight by selective light braking to avoid snatching and breakages. It also conveyed the train guard, hence its alternative name of "guards van". Partly analogous to caboose and its synonyms.
A steel rail section commonly used in 60 ft lengths on almost all railway lines throughout Britain until c1950, which due to its shape must be supported in cast iron chairs that are screwed to the sleepers. It is still found on some London Underground lines, on secondary and preserved lines, and in yards. The rail has two heads (shaped somewhat like a vertical dumbbell) which led some people to assume that when one side became worn, the rail could be inverted and reinstalled for further service rather than being replaced (it can't, because the two heads are different sizes, and by the time the top became worn down sufficiently to fit in the chairs when the rail is inverted, both the top and the bottom of the rail would be too small for further use).
The area either side of the railway immediately off the ballast shoulder which provides a safe area for workers to stand when trains approach[20]Template:Rp
A cast iron bracket screwed to the sleeper and used to support bull head rail that is held in place by a wooden key (wedge) or spring steel clip—still found on preserved railways and in yards
A double rail section of track, sometimes found in train yards and on bridges to prevent derailments or limit damage caused by derailments, by having rail on both sides of the wheel flange. Also found on curves with a tight radius and switches and crossings[21]
A curve connecting two otherwise-unconnected rail lines that lie at tangents to that curve (Usually both lines are straight, one being at a higher level than the other.)[23]
A passenger car with more than one class of accommodation provided (e.g. first and third). In earlier days of three-class travel, first and second class, and second and third class composites were also built. A car with first, second, and third classes was also known as a tri-composite.
Connecting rod
The drive rod connecting the crosshead to a driving-wheel or axle in a steam locomotive[28]
A small explosive device strapped to the top of a rail to alert an approaching train of danger ahead by creating a loud noise upon contact with a locomotive wheel[31]
Doodlebug
Waggon und Maschinenbau railbuses E79960-64, introduced 1958[32]
Down
A direction (usually away from London, other capital city, or the headquarters of the railway concerned) or side (on left-running railways, the left side when facing in the down direction).[20]Template:Rp[33]
The original livery of the First Great WesternHSTs—a green colour scheme, fading to ivory with shiny gold stripe below the windows, so called because it resembles the packaging of a brand of Rothman's cigarettes ('fags')[41]
Ferret and Dartboard
The second British Railways emblem introduced in 1956, featuring a lion rampant holding a wheel. From a distance the wheel has a passing resemblance to a dartboard.[42]
A type of rolling stock, which can be a flat-bottomed car with no sides on which freight (including intermodal containers) can be stacked. A bulkhead is a flatcar with walls on the front and rear. A center-beam bulkhead is a bulkhead flatcar with an additional wall dividing one side of the flatcar from the other, but still without any sides.[44]
Fly shunting
The practice of uncoupling a locomotive from a wagon in motion and running over point, whereupon an employee on the ground lines the point to divert the vehicle onto an adjacent track.[45][46] Once commonplace, this practice has led to several lawsuits against railway companies and is now strictly prohibited due to the high risk to life and property.[47][48][49][50][51]
The group of rail vehicles making up a train, or more commonly a group of locomotives connected together for multiple-unit (MU) operation[29][failed verification]
The person in charge of a train and its crew. On passenger trains, a conductor is also responsible for tasks such as assisting passengers and collecting tickets.
A length of track feeding a number of sidings that permits the sidings to be shunted without blocking the main line, or where two lines merge into one before ending with a buffer, to allow a run-round procedure to take place[65]
Hoover
A British Rail Class 50 diesel-electric locomotive—from the sound of the engine cooling fans being similar to a vacuum cleaner, prior to the refurbishment which removed this characteristic[66]
Hymek
A D7000 class locomotive using a V16 Maybach diesel engine coupled to a Mekydro hydraulic transmission[67]
One of the first new British Rail locomotive liveries applied after many years of all-over rail blue. For this livery, the loco cabs were entirely 'warning yellow', with black window surrounds (the yellow usually wrapping round behind the cab doors); the main bodysides were still rail blue but featured very large running numbers with a large white British Rail 'double arrow' logo in the middle, the full height of the body. It was applied to refurbished Class 50 locomotives, among others.[72]
Location case
A trackside cabinet used to house signalling equipment such as relays or transformers[20]Template:Rp[73]
A branch-line train consisting of a steam locomotive and passenger carriages that can be driven from either end by means of rodding to the regulator and an additional vacuum brake valve. The fireman remains with the locomotive and, when the driver is at the other end, the fireman controls the cut off and vacuum ejectors in addition to his usual duties.[citation needed]
The ability of diesel and electric locomotives or multiple units to be joined together and controlled from one driving station. Such a set of joined locomotives is called a consist or (colloquially) "lash-up" and is said to be "MUed together".[74]
A type of rolling stock with a flat bottom and relatively low sides, used to haul material such as ore or scrap, and loaded and unloaded from the top which may be covered or uncovered[21][78]
A distance (normally 180 metres or set according to the permitted speed of the line) beyond a stop signal which must be clear before the preceding stop signal can display a proceed aspect; allows a margin in case a train overshoots a signal before stopping[20]Template:Rp
P
Peak
A British Rail Class 44, Class 45, or Class 46 diesel-electric locomotive—so named because the earliest of these loco types, the ten Class 44s, were named after mountains[79]
Person in charge of possession (PICOP)
The railway or contractor's official responsible for safe working during engineer's possession[20]Template:Rp
A small, hand-powered railroad car used for track inspection
R
Rail head treatment
The practice of cleaning low adhesion track surfaces to free them of leaves, snow or ice. This is typically done with multi-purpose vehicles or specialist rail head cleaning equipment.[82][83]
Railheading
The practice of travelling further than necessary to reach a rail service, typically by car. The phenomenon is common among commuters seeking a more convenient journey. Reasons for railheading include: that discounted fares may be available on another part of the route;[84] to access a more frequent service.
British Rail Class 25 diesel-electric locomotives—and related classes—reputedly originating from a term used on the LMR of British Rail in the 1960s where 25s were as common as "rats";[87] the Scottish-based Class 26 and 27 were sometimes known as "MacRats".[88]
Roarer
Early British Rail 25 kV AC electric locomotive of types 'AL1'–'AL5' (later Classes 81, 82, 83, 84, 85), due to the loud whine made by the traction motor cooling fans when the locomotive is at rest. The name originated with the AL3 type. Although the other types exhibit a less noticeable noise, the name is applied equally to any of them.[89]
The space between a pair of adjacent lines, nominally six feet wide. See also four-foot and ten-foot.[20]Template:Rp[55]
Skipper
a livery worn by a handful of Class 142 DMUs in the 1980s when they worked on the Great Western route. Called so for the original GWR's Skipper livery, also known as Chocolate and Cream.[93]
Any diesel or electric multiple unit with manually opening hinged doors (mostly the British rail classes 423 and 421), so called after the noise made by passengers slamming the doors
Bars of wood or concrete placed beneath and perpendicular to track to support the rails[31]
Slim Jim
Narrow-bodied version of the British Rail Class 33 diesel-electric locomotive (identified as sub-class 33/2)—built for the confined loading gauge on the Hastings line.[54] See also Crompton).
A passenger coach that is disconnected from a train without the train having to stop. While the train continued on its route, the slip coach would be guided and stopped by a guard on board using the coach's own brake mechanism. This practice was almost entirely limited to the United Kingdom and was discontinued in the 1960s.[20]Template:Rp[94]
Spinner
A Midland Railway 115 Class steam locomotive, due to their large driving wheels[95]
A shunting engine based at a major passenger station and used for passenger-train shunting duties
Stop and examine
A now-defunct British Railways rule which required a train crew to stop the train and examine the cause of an unexpected noise, vibration, or other irregular events.[96]
The banking of railway track on curves. Specifically, the practice on high speed lines (where the cant needs to be higher) of gently introducing the elevation of the outer rail before the bend starts, in order to avoid sudden lurches. Synonymous with cant.[91]
A locomotive that carries its own fuel and water instead of hauling a tender
Teddy Bear
A British Rail Class 14 diesel-hydraulic locomotive for shunting and trip working.[90] Coined by Swindon Works' foreman George Cole who quipped "We've built the Great Bear, now we're going to build a Teddy Bear!".[98]
Ten foot
The space between sets of lines (e.g. between pairs of fast and slow lines). See also four-foot and six-foot.[20]Template:Rp[55]
Southern DEMU (BR Classes 201–207)—unlike conventional DMUs these used a single, comparatively large diesel engine and electric generator mounted immediately behind one driving cab. The power units made a distinctive "thumping" noise when working hard.[101]
Thunderbird
A locomotive kept on standby at a strategic location, ready to rescue a failed train—from Thunderbirds[102]
A train with locomotives at both ends, for ease of changing direction
Tractor
A British Rail Class 37 diesel-electric locomotive, possibly from the engine sound, also because they could be found hauling almost anything as a mixed-traffic design[103]
Three railway tracks in a triangular form with points at all three corners—can be used to turn a train around[105]
Tug
A British Rail Class 60 diesel-electric locomotive, as named because of their tremendous pulling power, size and sluggish nature. Class 60s upgraded by DB Schenker are called 'Super Tugs'.[106]
A bridge carrying the railway and allowing a roadway to pass under the railway[20]Template:Rp
Up
A direction (usually towards London, other capital city, or the headquarters of the railway concerned) or side (on left-running railways, the left side when facing in the up direction). The opposite of down. The up direction is usually associated with even-numbered trains and signals.[33]
A device used for delivering a large volume of water into the tank or tender of a steam locomotive
Western
A British Rail Class 52 diesel-hydraulic type 4 locomotive, 74 of which ran on BR between 1961 and 1977. All were named in a series beginning "Western...". Seven of the class have been preserved.[109]
An early name for a Class 59 diesel-electric locomotive, the first privately owned (by Foster Yeoman) locomotives to operate on British Rail, owing to their names starting with "Yeoman" such as 59 001 Yeoman Endeavour[113]
See also
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^Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Blackburn, Ian. "Waterloo-Weymouth push-pull trains". Railway Modeller. No. March 2012. Peco Publications. pp. 226–31. ISSN0033-8931.
^Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Gourvish, Terence Richard (2002). British Rail, 1974–97: From Integration to Privatisation. Oxford University Press. p. 182. ISBN0-19-926909-2.
^Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Green-Hughes, Evan (November 2007). "Rogart 127 to head south". Railways Illustrated: 38.
^Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Jackson, Alan A. (2006) [1992]. The Railway Dictionary: Worldwide Railway Facts and Terminology (4th ed.). Chalford: Sutton Publishing. p. 33. ISBN978-0-7509-4218-8.
^Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Mallaband, P.; Bowles, L. J. (1982). Coaching Stock of British Railways 1978. RCTS Railway Correspondence and Travel Society. p. 3. ISBN0-901115-44-4.
^Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Wilcock, David (4 August 2010). "The Branch Line Service Where Passengers Had to Get Out and Push!". Heritage Railway (139). Mortons Media Ltd: 76–77.
^Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Mallaband, P.; Bowles, L. J. (1982). Coaching Stock of British Railways 1978. RCTS Railway Correspondence and Travel Society. p. 91. ISBN0-901115-44-4.
^Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Devon Knows How They Make Them 37s So Greeny!". Railways Illustrated: 29. December 2007.
^Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Cunningham, William A. (1997). The Railroad Lantern, 1865 to 1930: The Evolution of the Railroad Hand Lantern as Reflected by the United States Patent Records and by Lanterns Made by Cross, Dane & Westlake, Dane, Westlake & Covert, the Adams & Westlake Manufacturing Co. & the Adams & Westlake Company. Wm. A. Cunningham.
^Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Chilton, Phil (November 2007). "The University of Shackerstone, locomotive division!". Railways Illustrated: 17.
^Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Hopkins, Simon (November 2007). "Bridgnorth's stalwart 'Mickey Mouse' is focus of charter". Steam Railway. 343: 24.
^ abPage Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Staines, David (December 2007). "High-speed one: a 'Teddy Bear's picnic!". Railways Illustrated: 22–25.
^Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Flowers, Andy (December 2006). Pigott, Nick (ed.). "'Teddy Bears' - the locos BR put to bed early". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 152, no. 1268. London: IPC Media. p. 41.
^Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Wilson, Matt (November 2007). "This is the way to celebrate your 50th. birthday!". Railways Illustrated: 27.
^Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Brodrick, Nick (12 November – 9 December 2010). "'U-Boat' Tender Lands at MHR". Steam Railway (382). Bauer Media: 25.
