Train Anatomy
This iconic portion of a steam locomotive is used to warn people of its presence and is said to be its voice.
What is the whistle?
When looking at a signal with three visibly illuminated lights stacked vertically. A green light on top followed by two reds indicates this signal aspect.
What is a Clear Aspect?
This type of rail car carries its goods in an enclosed container with doors on each side. They additionally served as rolling billboards for the railroads and are some of the oldest car types still used.
What is a boxcar?
Before acquiring the Southern Pacific in 1996, the two competing companies first met in 1869 at this famous location for the “Golden Spike” of Transcontinental Railroad.
What is Promontory Summit, Utah?
This railroad slang term typically used by low level employees to refer to high ranking executives and other distinguished dignitaries.
What are brass hats?
This is the main source of illumination for a locomotive and is shared by many other types of vehicles.
What is the headlight?
When looking at a signal with three visibly illuminated lights stacked vertically and the signal is at a junction. All red lights indicate this signal aspect.
What is an absolute stop?
This type of rail car is cylindrical in shape with an opening in the top to fill the typically liquid or gaseous cargo they carry. Often times they carry explosive or toxic cargo and are such heavily regulated.
What is a tank car?
This Iconic Union Pacific steam locomotive is among one of the largest and most powerful locomotives ever produced.
What is the UP Big Boy?
This railroad term is used as an unofficial unit measurement where one of these is equal to 40ft
What is a car length?
Originally a mechanical device before becoming an electrical one. This saftey device on a locomotive is used to signal slow movement through a yard, or the imminent arrival or departure of a train.
What is a bell?
When looking at a signal with three visibly illuminated lights stacked vertically. A yellow light on top with the remaining two being red indicates this signal aspect.
What is an Approach aspect?
This type of rail car typically has an open top with doors at the bottom to unload the cargo. They can be found hauling big bulk commodities like rock, coal and other minerals.
What is a hopper car?
This Union Pacific locomotive holds a unique distinction for a steam locomotive for being the only steam engine built for a class 1 railroad that was never officially retired from revenue service.
What is UP 844?
This railroad term is used to tell a train crewman to apply the emergency brakes on a train.
What is dumping the air?
This device on a steam locomotive is to provide electricity for various lighting devices on the engine.
What is a Dynamo?
When looking at a signal with three visibly illuminated lights stacked vertically. A solid yellow on the bottom with two red lights on top indicate this signal aspect.
What is restricting?
This type of rail car is covered with doors on the ends and typically haul consumer automobiles from the factory to a dealership or on the back of specialty passenger trains.
What is an Auto Rack?
This forgotten Union Pacific locomotive was unique for its 12 coupled driving wheels on a rigid frame, 3 cylinder design for extra power along being the only locomotive of its kind with a 4-12-2 wheel arrangement.
What are the UP’s 9000 class?
This railroad term is used to call for the engineer to place the locomotive or train in a position to allow the conductor to get in between railroad cars without the risk of a fatal injury.
What is three step protection?
This device on a some steam locomotives are used to to refill their tenders without having to stop.
What is a water scoop?
When looking at a signal with three visibly illuminated lights stacked vertically. A yellow light on top with a flashing green light in the middle and red on the bottom indicates this signal aspect.
What is a limited approach aspect?
This specialty rail car consists of two pieces with lifting arms that hold the cargo in between. They typically have a a lot of axles and their name comes from a German word meaning “bird beak”.
What is a Shnable car?
UP acquired this class 1 Railroad competitor in 1995 which originated out of Chicago and served destinations in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and other Midwest cities.
What is the Chicago & North Western?
This railroad maneuver involves the engineer moving the entire consist of cars past a switch in order to reverse down another typically slower speed route.
What is pulling by and backing in?