The frictional grip between the locomotive or train wheels and the rail. Often in poor weather conditions they suffer from 'poor rail adhesion'. This is also a problem in the autumn when trees shed their leaves onto the track. When trains run over them, they leave a fine film on the rail which is extremely slippery. Therefore some trains have to run slower to maintain stopping distances. 

Air Brakes are a power braking system with compressed air as the operating medium. Each carriage or wagon will have a rubber hose attached for the air to pass through.

Ballast is the stones which lay on the trackbed. It has many uses: to hold the track and sleepers in place, to assist with drainage of water, to distribute the weight of passing trains and finally to stop vegetation growing out of control thus damaging the track.

Banking is where a locomotive assists a train up a steep incline by pushing it from the rear. The 'banker' attaches to the last wagon using a specially adapted coupling mechanism which allows its driver to press a button in the cab to release it, so when the summit has been reached it can back off slowly thus giving a smooth transfer of power and control back to the leading engine. Occasionally the 'banker' would use its brakes to slow down heavy trains on the way down the gradient too.

A bogie is a chassis that carries the wheels of a locomotive, multiple unit or wagon. Railway bogies can swivel which gives a more comfortable ride for the passengers and also gives stability.

British Rail Engineering Ltd - The engineering division of British Railways. They designed and constructed many of the trains from the BR days from sites dotted all over the UK. York works was maybe the most famous and the site now plays host to the National Railway Museum.

Broad gauge was pioneered by the Great Western Railway's Chief Engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It measured 7 feet 0¼ inches (2140mm). It was used on their network between 1838 and 1892 when they were told to convert it to 'standard gauge' by Parliament to be in-line with the rest of the UK.

The cant is the difference between the height of the two rails. This gives the impression the train is tilting like a Pendolino. Some of the reasons rails are designed this way is to allow trains to negotiate bends faster, even out the wear on the wheel, flange and the rails and to give the passengers a smoother ride.

Couple up is when two or more locomotives, multiple units or wagons, are connected together.

Coupling rods connect to the crank pins of the driving wheels on one side of a locomotive.

A short stretch of rails which connects two or more tracks. These allow trains to cross onto a different running line.

Diesel Multiple Unit - A train with a driving cab incorporated at each end. They are obviously powered by diesel fuel giving them the freedom of the UK rails.

From 1964, British Railways introduced the now infamous 'Double Arrow' logo as part of their modernisation plans. Designed by Gerald Burney, it is formed of two interlocked white arrows showing the direction of travel on a red background. It is still being used to identify railway stations and even printed on tickets today (long after British Rail was privatised). A blue background version was also produced for BR's Sealink Ferries. This had the quirky feature of the 'double arrow' logo being deliberately pointing the opposite direction on the 'port' side of the vessels as, under maritime law, all arrows should be pointing towards the bow of the ship.

To attach a second locomotive to the front of the train. This is done for extra power when pulling heavy loads. Often 'gala events' at private railways use 'double headed' trains for no reason other than to 'wow' their audience!

The line on which a train (usually) traverses away from the railway company's headquarters (often the line out of London).

Electric Multiple Unit - A train with a driving cab incorporated at each end. These can be powered by the 'third rail' or 'OLE' systems. However, some units are fitted with both which enables a greater route capacity.

The box inside a steam locomotive in which the fire burns which, in turn, creates the steam to power it. It was the duty of the 'Fireman' to ensure the fire burned sufficiently  to maintain the steam pressure at a constant level.

The projecting edge of the wheel which faces inwards to keep the train on the rails.

A flatbed is a railway wagon without sides. These are particularly used to carry machinery or rail equipment which cannot be carried in a 'boxed wagon'.

Freight Operating Company - The abbreviation given to the railway companies which run the freight services across the network.

The footplate is the surface on which the locomotive crew stand. It does, however, extend all around the engine, but the term is nowadays taken to mean the floor of the driving cab.

The slope of inclination to the horizontal of a railway. This is usually measured as per the following example: 1 in 50 - for every 50 feet travelled the gradient rises or falls by 1 foot.

A High Speed Train is the name given to the British Rail built 'Class 43' trains. The term has since been spread to many other fast trains and even been translated into French for their High Speed Trains, TGV's which means Train à Grande Vitesse

A locomotive that travels without any carriages or wagons behind it.

The restrictive dimensions of height and width of the 'rolling' and 'running stock' to ensure there is adequate clearance with line-side structures.

A locomotive is a self-propelled railway vehicle. The 'rake' behind a locomotive does not need to have any power. 'Multiple Units' are not locomotives.

A line which leaves the main line and then rejoins it at another point. These are stretches of rail often used by slower trains to use allowing faster ones to overtake them or on single track sections which allow passing of two trains travelling the opposite direction.

There is no set width for narrow gauge. Any gauge of rails less than the 'standard gauge' fall into this category.

Overhead Line Equipment - Wires which give electric trains fitted with a pantograph power. These are the most common type of power equipment due to their superior record during snow and the speed they allow the trains to travel at in comparison to the 'third rail' system.

A 'cute' phrase said by engine drivers and 'firemen' when they were travelling on a train in a carriage when not on duty or transferring to a different location to collect a different locomotive. "I am travelling on the cushions".

An 'Oyster Card' is an electronic ticketing system used in the London zones. Passengers must pre-pay either an amount of money which is deducted from the card's balance when used or use it as a season ticket (minimum validity of 7 days). All users must 'touch in' and 'touch out' on the pads on the gate-lines at the stations or stand alone pads at stations where the barrier system is not used.

The part of the total weight of the train which is revenue-earning. This excludes the empty carriages, wagons and the locomotive (if attached).

A method of operating a train when the locomotive is at the rear of it. A 'driving van trailer' is attached which allows the driver access to the power controls and avoids the need for the loco to 'run around' the carriages.

The rail alphabet is a typeface commissioned by British Railways during their modernisation attempts in the mid 1960's. The signage at stations and on trains were all this font and it continued to be used until privatisation.

Railcards are discount cards for use on individual TOC's, in certain regions or are part of the whole 'National Rail' network. Many different railcards are in existence and include the national 'Senior', '16-25' and 'Family' versions. Regional ones include the 'Network' in the south-east and 'Metro' in West Yorkshire.

A 'rake' is a train made up of a variety of different coaches or wagons. A 'multiple unit' is not a 'rake'.

In most of the world the term 'rolling stock' refers to all things that move on the rails. However, the UK only use this term for 'non-powered' vehicles such as wagons and old coaches which need a locomotive to move them. Powered vehicles are referred to as 'running stock'.

Locomotives which are not in a 'push-pull' formation need to 'run around' their carriages or wagons in order to pull them for the next part of its working. This practice was often done at terminus stations during the steam era.

Sleepers can be made from wood, concrete or steel and are used to ensure the running rails are kept at the correct gauge and upright. They also distribute the weight of the passing trains from the rails to the track ballast.

'Standard gauge' is 4 feet 8½ inches or 1435mm. This is also named 'Stephenson's Gauge' after George Stephenson who pioneered it. The distance is measured from the inside of one running rail to the inside of the other.

A separate carriage attached to a steam locomotive which stores fuel and water. The term 'tender first' can often be heard when a loco with a tender is running backwards.

The rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast are known as the 'permanent way' The term can also include line-side buildings and sub-stations. It is mainly used by the people working for the railway companies.

The 'third rail' is a electric rail giving its power to a 'shoe' on certain EMUs and locomotives. This runs adjacent to one of the running rails. It often changes sides due to the safety precautions which are needed. The 'third rail' is the most popular method in southern England.