Need some "lingo" guidance...

[alderfall]

Hello folks... I hate to admit this, but I am entirely new to the train scene. In the far western rural U.S., we have little or no exposure to trains and the like. Sadly, no platforms even exist within hours of driving from my home.

As a direct result, I am hoping for a resource that would help me learn the more common "lingo"/terminology dealing with trains and trains operations as a whole.

This source can likely not be too basic, as I find the meaning of the word "consist" to be a bit vague, and new to me. Not the word itself, but the usage of the word in the connotation of trains/train operations.

Also, any other good information or useful information about trains or the like would be ideal.

Thanks for the guidance here folks... Have a great week.

Jason
Bandon, Oregon

 

[fran1]

I think you meant far western rural US, but such is life.
consist= the wagons/cars in a train.

 

[dnevans8]

The topic is such a large one that it is difficult to point you in the right direction but you could start with this Wikipedia reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport

or just try some google searches.

 

[haddock56]

What Fran1 said is true, but the term is also used to describe the head end power. A pair of SD45s, an SD40T-2, and a couple SD40-2s can be referred to as a motive power consist, which is different from the consist, which is the actual freight cars. Also you can use www.railvideos.net/ to search up some of the various locomotive types. There are some real gems there too.

 

[wreeder]

Hi Jason,

You not very far from the Coos Bay Rail Link. It would make a nice day trip.

http://www.coosbayraillink.com/

William

 

[kd7eirjim]

Try this one http://www.icrr.net/terms.htm

 

[davesnow]

Welcome to the crazy world of Trainz! :hehe:

Also, the word "consist" is pronounced in trains terminology as "CON-sist" where if your talking about a collection of something, that is pronounced "con-SIST."

Cheers,

Dave

 

[bl4882]

Hello Alderfall,

You can find a 29 page glossary of railroad lingo here http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/glossry1.Html The rest of the site is pretty good, too.

Bernie

 

[alderfall]

Excellent folks, thank you all for the assistance! I will be following up with the links AND the railroad museum, which I knew existed but thought it was sealed up and closed off due to no activity there. I will have to look into it again.

Thanks again! Now, back to Surveyor...

Jason
Bandon, Oregon