Snowplow Extra
Copyright© 2007 by Wes Boyd
Glossary
I've had a number of people write asking for a glossary of railroad terms used in Snowplow Extra. Considering that rail terms aren't common any more, it's a reasonable request. I threw this list together on the fly and hope I didn't miss anything that you can't pick up from the context of the story.
ALCO -- slang for engines, both diesel and steam but primarily the former, built by the now-defunct American Locomotive Company.
BALDWIN 2-6-0 -- The 9608 was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Company. It has 2 unpowered wheels (1 axle) in front to help with guiding the locomotive on the tracks, 6 driving wheels (3 axles) under the main part of the engine, and no trailing wheels under the cab. Small for a steam engine, in its day mostly used for local freights.
BRAKEMAN -- the name is derived from the days that brakes were set by hand, by men running along the tops of the cars. Today, the guy that makes and breaks couplings and does other train chores.
CABOOSE -- also crummy, crumbbox, way car, and others. Obsolecent at the time of this story, and obsolete today. In its day gave office and crew quarters at the back of a train.
CONDUCTOR -- the guy actually in charge of the train, at least on the D&O. On the C&SL the engineer does double duty.
CONSIST -- cars that the train consists of.
COUPLING -- the mechanism that joins two train cars together, or the act of joining
FISHPLATE -- flat metal plate that joins two rails. Today, most rails on more heavily trafficed track are welded.
FLATCAR, FLAT -- open car without sides used for hauling vehicles, containers, trailers, large items.
GEEP -- slang for "GP", the General Motors Electromotive "General Purpose" series of locomotives. All have 4 axles; newer ones, such as the GP-60, have considerably more power.
GONDOLA, GON -- open, low sided car used for hauling a variety of materials
HOGLAWED -- 12-hour "hours of service" limit, federally mandated. At one time, law mandated that hogs had to have a break after a stated period of being in cars. Railroad workers didn't have such limits...