S Glossary of rail transport terms

the santa fe wheel arrangement


a steam locomotive 2-10-2 wheel arrangement, named atchison, topeka , santa fe railway—the first railroad use such configuration
saturated locomotive
a steam locomotive not equipped superheater; steam remains @ same temperature water in boiler
scale
solid debris distilled boiling water in steam locomotive. prevent corrosion damage scale build-up, locomotive must undergo boiler wash once each operating month.
schnabel car
a specialized type of freight car heavy , on sized loads car loaded in such way load forms part of car superstructure
searchlight
a signal single light source capable of displaying 3 different colors. internal mechanism governs color displayed.
section
a portion of train may operated independently or combined other sections operate single unit
a portion of railway line designated signalling or maintenance
an interior portion of sleeping car made of 2 double seats during daytime convert 2 double berths during nighttime
semaphore signal


a british lower-quadrant semaphore signal subsidiary arm below


a type of signal has moving arm change indication
shay locomotive
a type of geared steam locomotive built patents of ephraim shay
shunt
in uk , australian parlance, make , divide trains in sidings, move trains or sidings, or move trains between platforms in station
in parlance, electrically bond rails or power feeds between sections on light-rail or trolley systems, temporarily bridge past dead areas
shuttle train
a train, passenger service, runs , forth, on relatively short distance, such between junction station , branch-line terminus.
side tank
a tank locomotive water tanks mounted each side of boiler
siding
a section of track off main line. sidings used storing rolling stock or freight. siding used form of rail access warehouses , other businesses, siding meet loading docks @ rail car height in building. in u.s. term used cover british term: loop. also, passing track in u.s.
signal


a two-head color position signal on csxt mainline left head displays stop , right, clear


a device indicates condition of line ahead driver of train
signal aspect
the information conveyed railroad vehicle operator block signal. signals may use colored lights, position-significant lights or mechanical semaphores generate various aspects.
signal box
a building or room houses signal levers (usually in frame), control panel or vdu-based control system
signal passed @ danger
an event in train passes signal stop without authorization so
signalman
a person in charge of signalling @ station or junction, in signal box
slippery rail
the condition of fallen leaves or other debris lying on , clinging railroad track cause train wheel slippage, resulting in premature wheel wear , train delays
slow order
a local speed restriction below track s normal speed limit designated yellow , green flags. slow orders can imposed on temporary basis protect, example, maintenance of way employees while sections of track under repair. used in areas track substandard , in need of repair.
slug
a locomotive contains traction motors yet lacks diesel engine create own power, instead supplied connected mother locomotive
smokebox
an enclosed (normally cylindrical) space attached end of boiler opposite firebox on steam locomotive (normally front). supports stack; steam pipes , cylinders pass through here; contains blastpipe exhaust steam used provide draft fire. in superheated locomotives, contains superheater header , (optionally) front-end throttle.
snowplow, snow plow, snowplough, or snow plough


a canadian national railway prairie rail snowplow


a rail service vehicle used snow removal train tracks
snow shed
a long shelter erected on railroad track on side of mountain protect line avalanches , drifting
span bolster
the beam between 2 bogies
spike


two unused , 1 heavily corroded spikes, inch ruler shown scale


a bolt, pin, or nail used hold rails, or plates connected rails (known tie plates), sleepers (ties)
spiral easement
see track transition curve. known tangent lead-in.
spreader


a jordan spreader


maintenance of way equipment designed spread or shape ballast profiles, remove snow, clean , dig ditches trim embankments
self-propelled ultrasonic rail testing (spurt) (india)
a self-propelled rail-defect detector car
staff , ticket
a method of safeworking involving token
standard gauge
a gauge rails spaced 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ⁄2 in) apart—by far common gauge worldwide
station master
the person in charge of station
steam generator
a device used in passenger trains create steam heating. steam generator in locomotive may located in other cars.
steam reverser
a reversing gear worked steam cylinder controlled cab
steward
a person in dining car role similar of maitre d’hotel
stretch braking
pulling against train brakes @ lower end of locomotive s power output (e.g. notches 1 through four) of conventional throttle, keeping coupler slack stretched , permitting smoother train handling. considered effective on undulating track profiles or when dynamic braking not available.
subdivision
the trackage area within division covered single timetable
supercharger
a mechanical device boosts pressure of engine intake air above atmospheric level, causing increase in power. not confused blower used scavenge cylinders of naturally aspirated two-stroke diesel engine.
superheater
a device in steam locomotive raises temperature of saturated steam substantially beyond boiling point of water, increasing power , efficiency
survey
to determine position of constructed objects, including rail infrastructure, in relation earth s surface. accomplished measuring angles , distances based on principles of triangulation.
surveyor
a person assigned perform survey work
switchman
a railroad worker responsible assembling trains , switching railroad cars in yard




^ railroading glossary: s . trn.trains.com. kalmbach publishing. archived original on 21 august 2014. retrieved 20 february 2013. 
^ macfarlane, ian (2002). railway safety: block safeworking. engineers australia. isbn 9780858258266. 
^ baldwin locomotives , santa fe power supremacy . santa fe magazine. vol. xvii no. 2. chicago: atchison, topeka , santa fe railroad. january 1923. pp. 131–133. 
^ roy v. wright; charles n. winter, eds. (1922). locomotive cyclopedia of american practice (sixth ed.). new york: simmons-boardman publishing co. pp. 137–148. 
^ sustained tractive power superheater locomotives . brotherhood of locomotive firemen , enginemen s magazine. columbus, ohio: brotherhood of locomotive firemen , enginemen. 57 (4): 406–409. october 1914 – via google books. 
^ code of federal regulations of united states of america - 49: transportation. washington, dc: office of federal register, national archives , records administration. 1 october 2012. p. 543. 
^ vantuono, william c. (june 14, 2012). kasgro builds world s largest railroad car . railway age. retrieved december 28, 2016. 
^ koester, tony (2003). realistic model railroad operation: how run trains real thing. waukesha, wisconsin: kalmbach books. p. 64. isbn 0-89024-418-9 – via google books. 
^ pinkepank, jerry a. (1973). second diesel spotter’s guide. milwaukee, wi: kalmbach publishing company. pp. emd–123. isbn 0-89024-026-4. 
^ returns of accidents , casualties reported board of trade several railway companies in united kingdom. london: darling & son. 1898. p. 137 – via google books. 
^ section-foremen . eastern railroad co. general rules , regulations. boston: franklin press; rand, avery & co. june 1882. p. 40 – via google books. 
^ car builders cyclopedia of american practice. 6. new york city , chicago: railway age gazette. 1909. p. 153 – via google books. 
^ ellis, iain (2006). ellis british railway engineering encyclopaedia. lulu.com. p. 322. isbn 978-1-84728-643-7. 
^ rotary snow plow . railfame.ca. canadian railway hall of fame. 2006. retrieved 3 october 2008. 
^ ellis, iain (2006). ellis british railway engineering encyclopaedia. lulu.com. p. 341. isbn 978-1-84728-643-7. 
^ icf rolls out prototype cars test rails . thehindubusinessline.com. hindu group. 2 october 2005. retrieved 30 january 2008. 
^ railroad dictionary: s . csx.com. csx transportation. 2012. retrieved 24 july 2015.