abcs of trains

The A B Cs of

A is for All Aboard (conductors say this when it is time for the

train to leave the station)

Amtrak (name of the largest US passenger train line)

Airbrakes (a braking system that uses compressed air to

stop or slow down the train)

B is for

Boxcar (a car that is covered and usually has a sliding

door on the side)

Baggage (a suitcase/bag that you take with you on the

train)

Brakeman (he assists the conductor and is responsible

for the train’s brakes)

C is for

Caboose (the last car in the train)

Conductor (he takes train tickets and assists passengers)

Cow Catcher (a pointed device on the front of the train

to remove buffalo/deer/cows that are on the track)

D is for

Diesel (an engine that runs on diesel fuel)

Dining Car (a car that has a food service in it)

Depot (a train station)

E is for Engineer (he drives the train)

Engine (the front car of the train that provides power to

run the train)

Elevated Track (a track which is above the ground)

F is for Fireman (he maintains fire, water, fuel and sand on a

train)

Flagman (he uses flags to signal the engineer and other

railroad workers on the train)

Flatcar (a car with a flat deck and no sides)

G is for

Gondola Car (an open car with low sides for hauling

lumber and steel)

Gate (a metal barrier that acts as a train crossing guard)

Goat (a yard engine that works in a railroad yard)

H is for

Hopper Car (a car that is open on top and has one or two

funnels at the bottom of the car for unloading)

Helper Locomotive (a second locomotive in a train)

Horn (the noise the train makes when it goes through a

crossing)

I is for

Iron Horse (a steam locomotive)

Intercity Train (a train that travels within large cities)

Inspection Car (a self propelled car used to inspect

tracks)

J is for Junction (tracks that cross in some manner)

Joint (another name for a rail)

Juice Jack (an electric locomotive)

K is for Kitchen (another name for a caboose)

Kettle (a small old locomotive)

Kingpin (another name for a conductor)

L is for

Locomotive (the front car of the train that provides

power to run the train – usually a steam engine)

Light Engine (a locomotive without a train)

Luggage (a suitcase/bag that you take on the train)

M is for

Model Railroad (a miniature railroad)

Monorail Train (a train that runs on one rail)

Merry Go Round (a turntable which can turn a train

around)

N is for Name Train (a train that has an official name)

Orient Express Trans-Siberian Express

Nose (the front of the engine)

Normal Signal (the signal is on)

O is for Observation Car (a car that allows passengers to view

scenery)

On Signal (not clear to proceed – danger)

Off Signal (clear to proceed)

P is for Passenger Train (a train that carries passengers)

Pilot Engine (the 1st engine on a train with more than 1

engine)

Pullman Car (a car that passengers can sleep in)

Q is for

Queensland Railway (the railway in Queensland,

Australia)

Quill (another name for a train whistle)

Quadruple track (a double set of tracks)

R is for

Rail (the steel track that trains run on)

Refrigerator car (a car that carries cold food)

Round House (a round building with tracks that is used

to repair trains and train cars; used with a turntable)

S is for

Steam Engine (a train engine that used steam for power)

Station (a place where a train is loaded and unloaded –

usually in a city or town)

Sleeper Car (a car that passengers can sleep in)

T is for

Train (an engine with attached cars)

Tunnel (an underground track through rock or earth)

Tank locomotive (a steam locomotive)

U is for

Unit (a single locomotive)

Unit Train (a train with same type of cars/cargo)

UnderPass (a train track that runs under a road or

bridge)

V is for

Varnish (passenger train - because older wooden

passenger cars had so many coats of varnish)

Van (another name for a caboose)

Viaduct (train bridges over land)

W is for Whistle (the noise the train makes when it goes through

a crossing – usually found on steam locomotives)

Wye (tracks forming a large Y which allows an entire

train to turn around)

Water Tower (a tank containing water next to the tracks

for steam engines)

X is for

X (an empty car)

X (sign used for train tracks crossing a road)

X 2000 train (a very fast train in Sweden)

Y is for

Yard (a railroad yard where trains are put together)

Yard Goat (a small engine that works in a railroad yard)

Y Switch (tracks that form a Y and are used to allow

trains to pass each other when going opposite directions)

Z is for Zephyr train (1st diesel-powered streamlined passenger

train)