A recent discussion under MTA - NYC Subway prompted a new subject: the nomenclature -- industry and trade jargon -- used on different properties to denote the same thing. The example that came to light was the practice of filling gaps in the schedule resulting from service interruptions by having the first trains run nonstop to close the gap. According to FanRailer, these trains are called battery runs in New York. This is done all over by various properties; what do they call them in Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, etc.? Another example is that what is called layover time in the East is apparently called "spot time" in Los Angeles. Another example would be the different names for cabooses: cabin cars, way cars, hacks, (vans in Canada). Around the country, how many different names are there for the same operation?
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Nomenclature: Railroad and Transit
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I know in the Mid Atlantic region on the railroad there is the "extra list or extra board" vs. New England where they call it the "spare board." I have also heard the term "the slate" to for the extra list, but I think that applies to the City side transit at Septa in Philly.
You just shook the hand , that shook the hand, that shook the hand of John L. Sullivan!
On the Boston & Maine: A caboose was a buggy. A doll post on a signal denoting an unsignalled track to the right of the signalled track was a dummy mast marker,. A through or fast freight train was a symbol freight. A way freight was a local freight. The operating men who had no assignment and waited to be called to fill in for sick, vacations or no shows were on the spare board. A conductor was in charge on a passenger or freight train. Those who assisted on the passenger train were trainmen (except at rear who was a flagman). On a freight they were brakemen and flagmen. A bumping post was a bunter, a dwarf signal a jack. Classification lights were markers or marker lights. Bridge guards were telltales. Movable bridges were drawbridges. Atlantic type steam engines 4-4-2s were Trailers. Employee timetable direction designations were Inward towards Boston, Worcester or Sprngfield or Outward going away from those cities. Signals marked with a "G" were Grade Signals.