The A
B Cs of
A is for All Aboard (conductors say this when it is time for the train to leave the station)
Amtrak (name of the largest US passenger train line)
Airbrakes (a braking system that uses compressed air to stop or slow down the train)
B is for Boxcar (a car that is covered and usually has a sliding door on the side)
Baggage (a suitcase/bag that you take with you on the train)
Brakeman (he assists the conductor and is responsible for the train’s brakes)
C is for Caboose (the last car in the train)
Conductor (he takes train tickets and assists passengers)
Cow Catcher (a pointed device on the front of the train to remove buffalo/deer/cows that are on the track)
D is for Diesel (an engine that runs on diesel fuel)
Dining Car (a car that has a food service in it)
Depot (a train station)
E is for Engineer (he drives the train)
Engine (the front car of the train that provides power to run the train)
Elevated Track (a track which is above the ground)
F is for Fireman (he maintains fire, water, fuel and sand on a train)
Flagman (he uses flags to signal the engineer and other railroad workers on the train)
Flatcar (a car with a flat deck and no sides)
G is for Gondola Car (an open car with low sides for hauling lumber and steel)
Gate (a metal barrier that acts as a train crossing guard)
Goat (a yard engine that works in a railroad yard)
H is for Hopper Car (a car that is open on top and has one or two funnels at the bottom of the car for unloading)
Helper Locomotive (a second locomotive in a train)
Horn (the noise the train makes when it goes through a crossing)
I is for Iron Horse (a steam locomotive)
Intercity Train (a train that travels within large cities)
Inspection Car (a self propelled car used to inspect tracks)
J is for Junction (tracks that cross in some manner)
Joint (another name for a rail)
Juice Jack (an electric locomotive)
K is for Kitchen (another name for a caboose)
Kettle (a small old locomotive)
Kingpin (another name for a conductor)
L is for Locomotive (the front car of the train that provides power to run the train – usually a steam engine)
Light Engine (a locomotive without a train)
Luggage (a suitcase/bag that you take on the train)
M is for
Model Railroad (a miniature railroad)
Monorail Train (a train that runs on one rail)
Merry Go Round (a turntable which can turn a train around)
N is for Name Train (a train that has an official name)
Orient Express
Trans-Siberian Express
Nose (the front of the engine)
Normal Signal (the signal is on)
O is for Observation Car (a car that allows passengers to view scenery)
On Signal (not clear to proceed – danger)
Off Signal (clear to proceed)
P is for Passenger Train (a train that carries passengers)
Pilot Engine (the 1st engine on a train with more than 1 engine)
Pullman Car (a car that passengers can sleep in)
Q is for Queensland Railway (the railway in Queensland, Australia)
Quill (another name for a train whistle)
Quadruple track (a double set of tracks)
R is for Rail (the steel track that trains run on)
Refrigerator car (a car that carries cold food)
Round House (a round building with tracks that is used to repair trains and train cars; used with a turntable)
S is for Steam Engine (a train engine that used steam for power)
Station (a place where a train is loaded and unloaded – usually in a city or town)
Sleeper Car (a car that passengers can sleep in)
T is for Train (an engine with attached cars)
Tunnel (an underground track through rock or earth)
Tank locomotive (a steam locomotive)
U is for Unit (a single locomotive)
Unit Train (a train with same type of cars/cargo)
UnderPass (a train track that runs under a road or bridge)
V is for Varnish (passenger train - because older wooden passenger cars had so many coats of varnish)
Van (another name for a caboose)
Viaduct (train bridges over land)
W is for Whistle (the noise the train makes when it goes through a crossing – usually found on steam locomotives)
Wye (tracks forming a large Y which allows an entire train to turn around)
Water Tower (a tank containing water next to the tracks for steam engines)
X is for X (an empty car)
X (sign used for train tracks crossing a road)
X 2000 train (a very fast train in Sweden)
Y is for Yard (a railroad yard where trains are put together)
Yard Goat (a small engine that works in a railroad yard)
Y Switch (tracks that form a Y and are used to allow trains to pass each other when going opposite directions)
Z is for Zephyr train (1st diesel-powered streamlined passenger train)