Railroad Vocabulary

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Instructions: All aboard for this quiz about the colorful language of railroads and the railway industry.

1.
What is a 'consist' in railroad terminology?
A
A railroad worker's schedule
B
The track layout
C
A type of train ticket
D
The makeup or order of cars and locomotives in a train
2.
What does 'gauge' refer to in railroads?
A
The age of the railroad
B
The distance between the inner faces of the two rails
C
The speed of a train
D
A fuel measurement tool
3.
What is a 'switch' or 'turnout' on a railroad?
A
A type of signal light
B
A crew change location
C
A mechanism that allows a train to move from one track to another
D
The on/off button for a train
4.
What does 'deadheading' mean in railroad usage?
A
Moving a crew member or empty equipment without passengers or revenue cargo
B
The end of a rail line
C
Removing old railroad ties
D
A train that has broken down
5.
What is 'ballast' on a railroad?
A
The weight of the train
B
The crushed stone or gravel placed on the track bed to support the ties and rails
C
Water carried for steam engines
D
A type of locomotive engine
6.
What is a 'caboose'?
A
A dining car
B
A car at the end of a freight train, traditionally used as crew quarters and for monitoring the train
C
The front car of a train
D
The engine room
7.
What does 'siding' refer to in railroads?
A
The exterior of a train station
B
A short stretch of track beside the main line used for passing, loading, or storing cars
C
A type of rail fastener
D
The side of a railroad car
8.
What is a 'coupler'?
A
A coupling rod in a steam engine
B
A pair of parallel tracks
C
A mechanism that connects railroad cars together
D
A type of railroad ticket
9.
What does 'highball' mean in railroad slang?
A
A ball placed on top of a signal pole
B
A signal to proceed at full speed
C
A train traveling on elevated tracks
D
A drink served in the dining car
10.
What is a 'roundhouse'?
A
A building with a turntable used for servicing and storing locomotives
B
A circular train station
C
A curved section of track
D
A type of railroad bridge
11.
What does 'grade crossing' mean?
A
A section of track being inspected
B
A grading system for railroad ties
C
A place where a road crosses railroad tracks at the same level
D
A steep incline on a rail line
12.
What is a 'gondola' in railroad terms?
A
A small railroad-powered boat
B
A type of overhead crane on tracks
C
An open-topped freight car used for hauling bulk materials
D
A scenic passenger car
13.
What does 'right-of-way' mean for railroads?
A
The priority given to faster trains
B
The right to operate a train
C
The strip of land on which the tracks and related infrastructure are built
D
A railroad company's trademark
14.
What is a 'semaphore' in railroad signaling?
A
A telegraph machine
B
A type of horn
C
A mechanical signal with movable arms used to indicate whether a train may proceed
D
A type of track switch
15.
What does 'marshalling yard' refer to?
A
An area where freight cars are sorted and assembled into trains
B
A parking lot for locomotives
C
A yard managed by a marshal
D
A train station courtyard

Answer Key

Question 1

D. The makeup or order of cars and locomotives in a train

Question 2

B. The distance between the inner faces of the two rails

Question 3

C. A mechanism that allows a train to move from one track to another

Question 4

A. Moving a crew member or empty equipment without passengers or revenue cargo

Question 5

B. The crushed stone or gravel placed on the track bed to support the ties and rails

Question 6

B. A car at the end of a freight train, traditionally used as crew quarters and for monitoring the train

Question 7

B. A short stretch of track beside the main line used for passing, loading, or storing cars

Question 8

C. A mechanism that connects railroad cars together

Question 9

B. A signal to proceed at full speed

Question 10

A. A building with a turntable used for servicing and storing locomotives

Question 11

C. A place where a road crosses railroad tracks at the same level

Question 12

C. An open-topped freight car used for hauling bulk materials

Question 13

C. The strip of land on which the tracks and related infrastructure are built

Question 14

C. A mechanical signal with movable arms used to indicate whether a train may proceed

Question 15

A. An area where freight cars are sorted and assembled into trains

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