Railway

Railway

Relating to the infrastructure developed for the transport of trains.

Industry: Transportation

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Railway

mars light

Transportation; Railway

A special type of electric headlight mounted on some US locomotives which rotated and which could be changed from a white to a red light. The change to red was automatic upon an emergency brake ...

mechanical lubricator

Transportation; Railway

Oil distribution system activated by pump action provided by mechanical connections to the valve gear of a steam locomotive.

A partition introduced into some firebox designs to try to improve both water heating and heat generation from the fire. Various forms were tried during the mid- to late-19th century but the benefits ...

lap

Transportation; Railway

(1) The amount, expressed as a fraction of an inch, by which the valve in mid position overlaps the cylinder steam ports. Valves provided with long lap required greater travel to operate effectively ...

large tubes

Transportation; Railway

Tubes containing superheater elements. See Tubes, Boiler.

lead

Transportation; Railway

The amount, expressed as a fraction of an inch, by which the steam port is open when the piston is static at the end of its forward or backward stroke. The effect is to allow steam to enter the ...

lifting the fire

Transportation; Railway

Railway slang for the occurrence of the draught being so strong that hot coals are sucked from the fire bed, drawn through the tubes and thrown out of the chimney. Tended to occur when the locomotive ...