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SR1950 (93 posts)
Feb-19-02, 10:08 PM (EST) "British/American RR Terminology - A Glossary?" I've been an Anglophile (lover of England and Things English) most of my life, but I don't know much about British Railways.I know a few things, like "sleepers" are "crossties" and "drivers" are "engineers", but I've been wondering why some Brit. railway cars (wagons) are refered to by "5 plank or 8 plank" wagons. What's the reference to "plank"? Is there a terminology cross-reference somewhere on this forum or the 'Net?Thanks.
Lew
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Subject Author Message Date ID RE: British/American RR Terminology... TAfan Feb-19-02 1 RE: British/American RR Terminology... harveype Feb-19-02 2 RE: British/American RR Terminology... tryagin Feb-20-02 3 RE: British/American RR Terminology... SR1950 Feb-20-02 4 RE: British/American RR Terminology... stuartl Feb-21-02 5 RE: British/American RR Terminology... tryagin Feb-21-02 6 RE: British/American RR Terminology... stuartl Feb-21-02 7 RE: British/American RR Terminology... SR1950 Feb-21-02 8 RE: British/American RR Terminology... calr Feb-21-02 9 RE: British/American RR Terminology... tryagin Feb-22-02 10 RE: British/American RR Terminology... calr Feb-22-02 11 RE: British/American RR Terminology... tryagin Feb-22-02 12 RE: British/American RR Terminology... calr Feb-22-02 13

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TAfan (291 posts)
Feb-19-02, 10:33 PM (EST) 1. "RE: British/American RR Terminology - A Glossary?" AFAIK (or at least, this is what I always thought!) the planks refer to the number of planks stacked vertically on their sides to make up the side of the car. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
harveype (19 posts)
Feb-19-02, 11:06 PM (EST) 2. "RE: British/American RR Terminology - A Glossary?" Correct its the number of planks high the side of the wagon is 8, 5, 3. Dont ask me how wide the plank is though there is more than likly a standard size for that.Peter Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
tryagin (567 posts)
Feb-20-02, 03:56 PM (EST) 3. "RE: British/American RR Terminology - A Glossary?" Hey, I'm with you, Lew. I recently started building a route that is situated in southern Wales, quite different from my SP&S route in the Columbia Gorge, in the Pacific Northwest. It's a nice break to do something very different and learn about how it was done where it all began. The more I learn about it the more I like it. My favorite Ry is the Great Western Ry, (affectionately known as God's Wonderful Railwy). I've met up with a nice chap here on this forum from Wales, who needed info on Yank railways, and I was happy to oblige. In return, he's been edjumacating me on the way things are done over there. I've gone to used book stores and have found some good volumes on the subject. You know how well the Brits make books- the BEST!
Anyway, maybe someone from over there will contact you, and let ya in on some of the things like "Shunter's Truck", "Banker", or "Cardiff Matchbox", etc, et al. It's alot of fun.
Cheers!Tim
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SR1950 (93 posts)
Feb-20-02, 09:06 PM (EST) 4. "RE: British/American RR Terminology - A Glossary?" LAST EDITED ON Feb-20-02 AT 09:08 PM (EST)>Hey, I'm with you, Lew. I
>recently started building a route
>that is situated in southern
>Wales, quite different from my
>SP&S route in the Columbia
>Gorge, in the Pacific Northwest.
>It's a nice break to
>do something very different and
>learn about how it was
>done where it all began.
>The more I learn about
>it the more I like
>it. My favorite Ry is
>the Great Western Ry, (affectionately
>known as God's Wonderful Railwy).
>I've met up with a
>nice chap here on this
>forum from Wales, who needed
>info on Yank railways, and
>I was happy to oblige.
>In return, he's been edjumacating
>me on the way things
>are done over there. I've
>gone to used book stores
>and have found some good
>volumes on the subject. You
>know how well the Brits
>make books- the BEST!
>Anyway, maybe someone from over there
>will contact you, and let
>ya in on some of
>the things like "Shunter's Truck",
>"Banker", or "Cardiff Matchbox", etc,
>et al. It's alot of
>fun. >Cheers!
>
>Tim
>Thanks, Tim. Way back in 1958-59, I was lucky enough to be stationed in England, but only for about 6 months. I did get to make two train trips while there: coming and going! They were a real experience! Anyway, I've got this thread tagged for new posts, and I'm sure there will be lots of "edjumacation" forthcoming! Meanwhile, I think there are some books in the library on British Railways.Nice pic, BTW.
Lew
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stuartl (18 posts)
Feb-21-02, 00:33 AM (EST) 5. "RE: British/American RR Terminology - A Glossary?" Hi Guys Hello from England. I enjoyed reading these posts and let me say straight off whenever I'm travelling in the UK I'm always fascinated by Americans who enjoy travelling on our railways you seem to enjoy it which is great and invariably I always end up talking to them about their journey and assisting them.Ok in the spirit of Anglo-American co-operation here is a link which may help you http://www.trainweb.org/railwaytechnical/us-uk.htmlBest wishes to all in AmericaStuart Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
tryagin (567 posts)
Feb-21-02, 01:12 AM (EST) 6. "RE: British/American RR Terminology - A Glossary?" Hey Stuart,
Thanks for the great link! I've booked it for permanent reference. I was right, someone did come along with the right connections
Below a scene from my London & Northwestern fictional route. The two 9Fs, banker( helper) behind the foreground loco, just brought down fresh coal from the mines for the stages at an as-yet unnamed loco facility. This route is two days old and shows signs of some great fun!

Thanks again,Tim Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
stuartl (18 posts)
Feb-21-02, 01:20 AM (EST) 7. "RE: British/American RR Terminology - A Glossary?" Hi TimLooks great can't wait to travel on that route.Were currently looking at some projects to develop based on Wales if your interested in participating let me knowBest wishes Stuart
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SR1950 (93 posts)
Feb-21-02, 01:00 PM (EST) 8. "RE: British/American RR Terminology - A Glossary?" LAST EDITED ON Feb-21-02 AT 01:01 PM (EST)Thanks for the link, Stuart! I've bookmarked that in both my Railroads and Train-Sim folders! Later, all! Lew
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calr (73 posts)
Feb-21-02, 03:49 PM (EST) 9. "RE: British/American RR Terminology - A Glossary?" LAST EDITED ON Feb-21-02 AT 03:53 PM (EST)Tim (tryagin),
I know this is slightly off topic, but you mention the Columbia Gorge route. Have you done this route for MSTS or are you referring to the real thing. I have been starting to learn the fine art of route building with goal of creating the Columbia Gorge route. However, if you have already done it, I don't want to duplicate your effort. Please clarify your statement here or email me at cal.rasmussen@verizon.net. Thanks. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
tryagin (567 posts)
Feb-22-02, 02:24 AM (EST) 10. "RE: British/American RR Terminology - A Glossary?" Cal,Yes, I started a route(my second) in the Columbia Gorge. The first was bug-infested and I nuked it before it nuked itself after getting it finished(thanks Kuju).
The present project is up in Wishram, Washington. I haven't worked on it in months. I guess after spending hours on getting the Celilo Falls Bridge in, I got burned out. I'm doing the Oregon Trunk from Wishram to Bend, and I think I bit off more than I can chew, to tell ya the truth. But I will still keep what I've got and maybe I'll pick it up and continue on. I also wanted to continue the westbound mainline to just byond Lyle WA, and build the Goldendale Branch again.
But, by all means, build your Columbia Gorge Route. Mine is no where near completion, if ever. And it is a limited section of a very large gorge! I'd love to see someone do it up!Cheers!Tim

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calr (73 posts)
Feb-22-02, 11:07 AM (EST) 11. "RE: British/American RR Terminology - A Glossary?" Those pictures look great. Do you have the DEM files for the Gorge? If so, where did you get them?. I would be willing to pay for copies if you wanted to share. Do you live in Wishram? I live in Beaverton, OR. Perhaps we could get together sometime and compare notes. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
tryagin (567 posts)
Feb-22-02, 12:04 PM (EST) 12. "RE: British/American RR Terminology - A Glossary?" Hey, Cal,Glad you like the scenes. Naw, no DEM there. All carved out by hand, in the "Old School" method. I used pictures from a couple books on the SP&S. Charles and Dorothy Wood's "Spkane Portland and Seattle Ry., The Northwest's Own Railway", and Austin and Dill's "SP&S", published by P.F.M. Also a DeLorme Oregon Road atlas came in handy. It is real satisfying to have someone tell me that it looks just like the real thing. Especially since I haven't been there since the mid-seventies, and don't remember much of it.
Are you planning to build the Union Pacific side, or the SP&S (BN) side? Or both?
I live in Lincoln City, Ore. Miles from any rail action.
I'd be very interested in sharing notes, and it might light a fire under me to get back to work on "The Oregon Trunk", if I can tear myself away from "Wales" Tim
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calr (73 posts)
Feb-22-02, 12:43 PM (EST) 13. "RE: British/American RR Terminology - A Glossary?" I was considering doing both sides from Portland to Pendleton. I may be biting off more than I can chew since I an just starting to learn the route building process. I need to do a lot of research and try to obtain some accurate maps. My other hobby is photography and I expect to make several expeditions into the Gorge to photograph things like tunnels, bridges, building and highway placement, etc. I found a website with both DEM and topographic data but the railroad track information on these maps looks questionable, especially yards. I need to try to locate some accurate railroad maps.My email address is cal.rasmussen@verizon.net. Perhaps we should continue this discussion via email rather than take up space on this forum. What do you think? Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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