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A series of points leading to sidings, which all diverge from the same approach track.
A metal bracket on the front or back of a railway vehicle, onto which a lamp or destination disc can be connected.
Locomotive carrying-wheels which are forward of the driven wheels.
A vehicle suspension-spring consisting of a number of plates bolted together.
A place where a road or railway route crosses another railway route on the same level.
A framework in which levers are pivoted for controlling the movement of points and signals.
A link between the reversing crank and the valve gear of a steam locomotive. Also commonly referred to as the reversing link.
Railway term for a carriage window.
A locomotive travelling without any attached rolling stock, or with just a brake van in tow.
Railway operating under the terms of a Light Railway Order. Axle loads were restricted to 8 tons which made such railways much cheaper to construct and maintain. This also allowed for a relaxation of certain safety rules which applied to main-line railways, such as lack of fencing provision and simplified signalling systems, in exchange for a very much lower (often 25 mph) speed limit. Many heritage railways operate under such orders, although much of the regulatory framework is now replaced by the recent Railway Safety Case provisions and Transport and Works Act legislation.
A position on a railway track, usually marked by a notice of such, which represents the limit for any shunting movements.
The bearing, on the cylinder end of a connecting rod.
Controls the supply of steam to the live steam injector.
A platform in a goods yard for loading and unloading wagons.
See: Dock.
The loading-gauge is a specification of the maximum widths and heights to which all railway vehicles traversing a given route must comply.
A device, often seen at the exit to a goods yard, which consists of a curved bar which overhangs the track. The height of the bar above the rails represents a portion of the loading-gauge so that loaded wagons may be easily checked to ensure they are within the loading gauge.
A lever frame which is constructed in such a way that a lever cannot be reversed if it would result in conflicting signals being displayed, or conflicting routes to be set.
A self-propelled railway vehicle in which no accommodation for a pay load is provided, and which is capable of providing the motive power for other vehicles coupled to it.
A building used to house locomotives.
A building where a locomotive can be set up to run on rollers and then, under controlled conditions, driven without actually moving.
A factory or depot where locomotives are built and overhauled.
A line parallel to a running line, which by virtue of crossovers between the two lines, enables one train to pass or overtake another.
A length of track which turns back and crosses itself at a higher elevation.
A secondary railway route which diverges from a main route, and then joins the main route again at another location.
Railway vehicles which have no continuous brakes and are coupled by loose links of a chain or Instanter couplings.
A train consisting of loose-coupled vehicles.
A process of shunting in which a vehicle, which is not coupled to the shunting locomotive, is propelled forward and then allowed to continue moving under its own momentum. Also known as fly shunting.
A semaphore signal in which the signal arm is lowered from the horizontal to give a clear indication.