This page contains a list of jargon

Jargon

Jargon is terminology which is especially defined in relationship to a specific activity, profession, group, or event. The philosophe Condillac observed in 1782 that "Every science requires a special language because every science has its own ideas." As a rationalist member of the Enlightenment he...

 used to varying degrees by railway enthusiasts

Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm originally meant inspiration or possession by a divine afflatus or by the presence of a god. Johnson's Dictionary, the first comprehensive dictionary of the English language, defines enthusiasm as "a vain belief of private revelation; a vain confidence of divine favour or...

 / railfans and trainspotters in Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

, including nicknames for various locomotives and multiple units. Although not exhaustive, many of the entries in this list appear from time to time in specialist, rail-related publications. Inclusion of a term in this list does not necessarily imply its universal adoption by all railfans and enthusiasts, and there may be significant regional variation in usage. State variances may be indicated by the state abbreviation, e.g. (VIC), (NSW), etc.

Words in italics indicate terms defined elsewhere in this list.

For general railway terminology, see Rail terminology Rail terminology Rail terminology is a form of technical terminology. The difference between the American term railroad and the international term railway is the most obvious difference in rail terminology... . For terminology specific to the types of lines used for passenger trains, see passenger rail terminology Passenger rail terminology Various terms are used for passenger rail lines and equipment-the usage of these terms differs substantially between areas:-Rapid transit:A rapid transit system is an electric railway characterized by high speed and rapid acceleration. It uses passenger railcars operating singly or in multiple unit... . For terminology specific to the United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... , see Glossary of UK railway terminology. For terminology specific to North America North America North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas... , see Glossary of North American railroad terminology. For terminology specific to New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... , see Glossary of New Zealand railway terminology

B

• BETY: QR pacific type BB18¼ 4-6-2 steam locomotive used on express passenger and freight trains. Named after the telegraphic code.
• Blue Babies: QR DD17 class suburban tank engine, in a blue midway between Navy and Sky blue.
• BOG : The light indicating the end of the train (Battery-operated Guard).
• Brown Bomber: A QR C17 4-8-0 (2D) steam engine, typically painted brown.

D

• DERM: Diesel Electric Rail Motor.
• DET
  Detonator
  A detonator is a device used to trigger an explosive device. Detonators can be chemically, mechanically, or electrically initiated, the latter two being the most common....
  
  : see Detonator.
• Detonator
  Detonator
  A detonator is a device used to trigger an explosive device. Detonators can be chemically, mechanically, or electrically initiated, the latter two being the most common....
  
  : Explosive device placed on rail and triggered by wheel pressure. Used to warn of hazard ahead.
• Dog: (VIC/QLD) Spike/Dogspike.
• Doggies: (VIC) Former "Dog Box" type red suburban trains.

E

• Evans Set: (QLD) Brisbane wooden suburban set.
• Electric Staff: System of safeworking used on single track to allow the movement of trains.

F

• Flying Flea: The portion of the Westlander that divides at Charleville for Quilpie. (Historic)

P

• PawPaw: QR class 1170 desiel.
• Peg: Colloquial term for Train Staff (token).
• PERM: Petrol Electric Rail Motor.

R

• Rail Motor Stopping Place (RMSP): A short platform on a country line specifically for picking up and setting down of passengers of a Rail Motor.
• Rattler: (QLD) Colloquial term for former Evans sets in Brisbane.
• Red Rattler
  Red rattler
  Red rattler may refer to:* Crotalus ruber, a venomous pit viper species found in the United States and Mexico* A colloquial term for an old Sydney railway carriage* A slang term for an old Melbourne railway carriage...
  
  : (VIC/NSW) Colloquial term for the former red Tait (VIC) and Tulloch
  Tulloch Limited
  Tulloch Limited was a major Australian engineering and railway rolling stock manufacturer, located at Rhodes, New South Wales. It was founded by Robert Tulloch and began in 1913 as Tulloch's Phoenix Iron Works, which had been working at the Phoneix Iron Works, Pyrmont. During the Second World War,...
  
  /Comeng single-deck (NSW) suburban electric trains.

S

• Snapper: (QLD) Roaming staff who check tickets, e.g. on trains or at stations.
• Spark: Suburban electric train.
• Steel Set: QR Suburban passenger sets from 1960s, replacing the Evans sets.
• Stick: Colloquial term for Signal.

T

• Tait
  Tait (train)
  The Tait trains, also referred to as the "Red Rattlers", were a wooden bodied Electric Multiple Unit train that operated on the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. They were introduced in 1910 by the Victorian Railways as steam locomotive hauled cars, and converted to...
  
  : (VIC) Former Tait type (or Red) electric suburban train, known colloquially as Red Rattlers.
• Twix: Two trains on the same mainline.

Y

• Yank: QR AC16 class steam loco
  Queensland AC16 class locomotive
  The Queensland AC16 class locomotive is a 2-8-2 steam locomotive of the Queensland Railways . The locomotives operated on 1,067 mm gauge....
  
  . American Balwin locos imported during WW2. 221A still in service with QR.

See also

• Rail terminology
  Rail terminology
  Rail terminology is a form of technical terminology. The difference between the American term railroad and the international term railway is the most obvious difference in rail terminology...
  
  
• Passenger rail terminology
  Passenger rail terminology
  Various terms are used for passenger rail lines and equipment-the usage of these terms differs substantially between areas:-Rapid transit:A rapid transit system is an electric railway characterized by high speed and rapid acceleration. It uses passenger railcars operating singly or in multiple unit...
  
  
• Glossary of UK railway terminology
• Glossary of New Zealand railway terminology
• Glossary of North American railroad terminology