An attempt to answer all those questions which arise on the Internet about the differences between US and UK railway terminology. In this era of the "global village" and international travel, many terms are now used universally around the world so you may hear or see US and UK English used together in the international context.
US Term | UK Term | Comments |
---|---|---|
Add | Couple | Couple vehicles to a train |
Alley | no equivalent | a (empty) siding in a freight yard |
Bad Order | Cripple | Defective train |
Bail | Release | of brakes |
Barn | Shed | for rolling stock |
Bi-Level | Double Deck | type of passenger vehicle |
Brake stand | Brake controller | in cab |
Bump stop | Buffer Stop | see also 'Stubbing Post'. Sometimes called 'bumper' in the US |
Caboose | Brake Van | Name for separate vehicle |
Car Barn | Carriage Shed | |
Catenary | Overhead Line | also used in the UK. |
Check Valve | Clack Valve | Steam loco boiler feed valve |
Conductor | Guard | The term 'conductor' is now often used in the UK if the guard collects fares. |
Consist | Rake or Formation | of train |
Cornfield meet | Head-on Collision | (under clear, open country conditions) |
Cut | Uncouple | vehicles from a train |
Dark territory | Unsignalled line | |
Deadhead | Empty stock or light engine | In US, sometimes refers to a crew travelling passenger. |
Depressed closed | Cut and Cover | tunnel construction |
Dispatcher | Controller | of route or area |
Division | Area | section of line under control |
Draft gear | Draw Gear | |
Drill track | Shunt Neck | |
Dummy | Shunt Signal | also called 'dwarf signal' (US and UK) |
Dynamite | Emergency Application | of brakes |
Engineer | Driver | |
Extra | Special | train |
Freight car | Goods wagon | |
Flare | not used in UK | |
Grade | Gradient | The US 'at grade' means level gradient. UK also uses 'bank' for grade'. |
Grade Crossing | Level Crossing | |
Grade Separated | Flyover | at junction |
Head end | Front of train | |
Helper | Pilot (at front), Banker (at rear) | extra locomotive |
Highball | Clear | signal |
Hooking up | Notching up of power | on locomotive |
Hostler | Shunter | driver who works in loco shed |
Interlocking | Controlled area | as opposed to an area with automatic signals |
Johnson Bar | Reverser | lever reverser type used on steam locos |
Knuckle coupler | Buckeye coupling | Originally patented by the Ohio Brass Co. In the US, Ohio is called the "Buckeye" state. |
Maintainer | Fitter | |
Maintenance facility | Depot | |
Maintenance of way | Permanent Way Maintenance | |
Meet | Pass | of train at a loop on a single line section |
One way | Single | Type of ticket |
Pilot | Cowcatcher | US 'pilot' often used to mean headstock or buffer beam |
Pocket track | Reversing Siding or Bay Road | |
Power rail | Conductor Rail | |
Retainer | Empty/Load valve | |
Round trip | Return | Type of ticket |
Segregated | Reserved | of LRT tracks using a street route separated from traffic |
Set | Apply | of brakes |
Schedule | Timetable | pronounced 'skedule' in the US |
Shop | Workshop | |
Signalman | Signal Lineman | |
Skates | Scotch block | |
Slack action | movement between vehicles without sprung buffers or drawgear. | |
Sill | Solebar | |
Siding | Loop | On single line. A UK siding is usually a dead end. |
Special trackwork | Point and Crossing Work (P & C) | or, in UK, switch and crossing (S&C) work |
Spiral | Transition Curve | trackwork |
Stack | Chimney | on steam locomotive |
Stinger | Overhead lead | shore supply in depot of third rail electric railway |
Stubbing post | Buffer Stop | see also 'Bump Stop' |
Subway | Underground | railway or metro |
Superelevation | Cant | of track |
Switch | Points | See also 'turnout' |
Switcher | Shunter | yard locomotive |
Tag | Balise or beacon | Passive transponder used in non-continuous automatic train protection systems. |
Throttle | Regulator | in steam locomotives |
Tie | Sleeper | Tie is short for Crosstie |
Torpedo | Detonator | explosive warning device |
Tower | Signal Box | |
Towerman | Signalman | |
Track pan | Water Trough | |
Trackage rights | Running Powers | |
Train line | Brake Pipe | London Underground uses 'train line'. |
Train station | Railway Station | The word 'depot' was often used in older US applications. |
Transfer table | Traverser | |
Trolley or streetcar | Tram | Now often call a Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) |
Truck | Bogie | |
Turnout | Points | see also "switch" |
Water plug | Water Column | |
Wayside | Lineside | |
Wye | Triangle | for turning locomotives |