Like in many professions, railroad employees speak in a unique lingo, using industry slang that often only they understand. While many of the terms are commonly used across carriers in North America, some have become outdated, and others are specific to a certain railroad.
Here are fifteen railroad terms that you might find funny, interesting, or even surprising:
Deadhead – Typically refers to a train being moved with no passengers or freight and no scheduled station stops to transport the train or its personnel from one point to another.
Dump It – Releasing the air brake system to reset it when the train is stopped.
The Frog – The pivot point for a railroad track switch.
Gandy Dancer – A term that was used for early railroad workers in the United States that laid and maintained railroad tracks.
Hahn – The name of the NMRX control point located in Albuquerque between Griegos and Montaño roads. This is one of the busiest control points as it goes from single to double track and is a common meeting point for trains going into or out of Albuquerque.
Handshake – Refers to the action of a dispatcher from one railroad territory (such as NMRX) communicating with a dispatcher from a neighboring railroad territory (such as BNSF) to let them know a train is coming.
Highball – Means “you’re good to proceed ahead”.
In the Hole – When a train is sitting in a track siding waiting for another train to pass.
Make a Joint – Coupling up two train cars.
Roll-By – An informal inspection of a moving train by a railroad employee on the ground, such as a mechanical worker or track supervisor, to visually check the train’s general working condition.
Saw-By – A complicated maneuver that allows for two trains traveling in the opposite direction to pass each other on a single track mainline when one train is too long to completely fit in the siding.
Shove
Back – Means “move the train backward”.
Skunk Stripe – Refers to the visible streak of smoke emissions from a diesel locomotive along the top centerline of the locomotive.
Soup – The car count, or number of cars a train consists of.
That’ll Do – Means “stop”.
This is just a small sampling of the slang railroad employees use every day on the job.
Contributors
Thanks to Elizabeth Nauman, Chief Safety Officer for Rio Metro Regional Transit District, and Elizabeth Olson, NMRX Project Manager, who helped compile the list. Nauman and Olson both previously worked on the Rail Runner – Nauman as a Ticket Agent and Conductor, and Olson as a Conductor and Engineer – and in NMRX Dispatch. With a combined 30 years of experience, these ladies offer a unique insight into working on the railroad. Written by Riann Martinez, Marketing Specialist, Rio Metro Regional Transit District.
