Message Areas - "searching for railroad definitions (websites, books)"

Train-Sim.Com Message Areas

"searching for railroad definitions (websites, books)"

Email this topic to a friend
Printer-friendly version of this topic
Bookmark this topic (Registered users only)
Previous Topic | Next Topic Conferences General (Protected) Original message
nr16020 (10 posts)
Feb-16-02, 07:28 PM (EST) "searching for railroad definitions (websites, books)" Hi, I am searching for definitions of railroad terms. Since the time I received Train Simulator for a Christmas present, I have become extremely interested in any subject relating to railroads. However, finding information (definitions, terminology, etc.) often is a hit-and-miss process.
For example, recently I saw the locomotive terms "switcher" and "road switcher." Switcher was fairly easy to figure out, but road switcher was more difficult. (That's just one example of hundreds of terms.) I have purchased four books relating to railroads since December, and two of those have a short glossary in the back, but they are far from complete. Does anyone have good suggestions for web sites or book titles that give a paragraph or more on each of the hundreds of railroading terms?
Thank you,
Randy
Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Table of Contents

Subject Author Message Date ID RE: searching for railroad definiti... TrainTrak5000 Feb-16-02 1 RE: searching for railroad definiti... jspittler Feb-16-02 2 RE: searching for railroad definiti... krswen Feb-16-02 3 RE: searching for railroad definiti... krswen Feb-16-02 4 RE: searching for railroad definiti... MJL Feb-16-02 5 RE: searching for railroad definiti... nr16020 Feb-17-02 6

Lobby | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic
Messages in this topic
TrainTrak5000 (242 posts)
Feb-16-02, 08:02 PM (EST) 1. "RE: searching for railroad definitions (websites, books)" Bend the iron: throw a switch
Big hook: wrecking crand
Boomer: railroader who restlessly changes jobs
Brains: conductor
Clear board: green or clear signal
Cleopatra: railroad business car
Crummy: caboose
Deadhead: railroader riding free or passenger car traveling empty
Dry hopper: old-fashioned waterless toilet
Joining the birds: leaping from a train before an accident
Monkey: derail mechanism
Nosebag: lunch brought from home
Red eye: stop signal
Reefer: refridgerator car
Varnish: passenger cars or train
Window music: passing sceneryTaken from "Train Talk" by Roger Yepsen.

Mike Karlik
Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jspittler (97 posts)
Feb-16-02, 08:16 PM (EST) 2. "RE: searching for railroad definitions (websites, books)" Six months ago, I was where you are now. In fact, I had quite a search trying to find out what a "movable point frog" was.You might take a look at these, thought I am not sure they are as detailed as you would like:http://www.rrb.gov/funfacts3.htmlhttp://www.trainstrainstrains.com/railfangloss.htmlhttp://www.sdrm.org/faqs/defs.htmlhttp://www.railfanusa.com/info/terms.htmlBTW, if you haven't already bought this book: "The Railroad: What it is, What it Does", by John H. Armstrong, I highly recommend it. It gives a very detailed description of all aspects of railroad operation.In that book, the author describes a "road switcher" as being defined not by what it does, but by it's body configuration. A road switcher is simply the type of locomotive with a narrow-width short hood and long hood (like a GP38-2 or SD40-2). The more "modern" locomotive like (most of) the Dash-9s or SD90MACs are refered to as "safety cab" or "comfort cab" units. Judd Spittler


..Spittler Engineering
High Quality Freeware
for Microsoft Train Simulator
www.juddspittler.com/spittler_engineering/ Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
krswen (64 posts)
Feb-16-02, 08:20 PM (EST) 3. "RE: searching for railroad definitions (websites, books)" try this link: http://www.hrtrains.com/glossery.htmlI found it in about ten seconds using railroad glossary as a search term in Google.krswen Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
krswen (64 posts)
Feb-16-02, 08:34 PM (EST) 4. "RE: searching for railroad definitions (websites, books)" And if you REALLY get hooked on the technical details of modern locomotives, buy "How Diesel-Electric Locomotives Operate" by White (can only get through his website: http://members.toast.net/peatent/You'll need to scroll down to find it.I'm a mechanical engineer and I'm re-reading it for the 3rd time and still learning!Then to go even further: http://murray.newcastle.edu.au/users/students/2000/c9036897/introduction.htmI think it's a master's thesis from a student in Australia. The secret to understanding AC traction motors is that the engine drives an alternator which makes AC. This is then rectified to DC and passed to invertors where it's reassembled into AC, but the computer shapes the amplitude and frequency so that the magnetic field rotates just a few per cent faster than the motor armature. "Chasing" the field creates the torque.krswen Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
MJL (192 posts)
Feb-16-02, 08:38 PM (EST) 5. "RE: searching for railroad definitions (websites, books)" I think that this might be of help to youhttp://www.uprr.com/aboutup/rrtalk/Matt
Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
nr16020 (10 posts)
Feb-17-02, 05:51 AM (EST) 6. "RE: searching for railroad definitions (websites, books)" Wow!!!
Now I know that railroading fans are nice guys too! You all gave me so many great tidbits of info.
Thank you so very much.
All the best to every one of you,
Randy
Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Lock | Archive | Remove

Lobby | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic