John Cletheroe's
Trainz Hintz
|
Trainz Wordz - A Trainz Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Introduction
If you spot any errors or omissions on this web page, please contact me.
Reliable information regarding the multitude of mergers and acquisitions of US railroads is not easily obtained. Sources often tend to be vague or contradictory. As a result, some of the relevant information presented here may be incorrect or incomplete.
Please do not be put off Trainz, or railway simulation in general, by the length and complexity of this glossary. I have attempted to be fairly comprehensive here and this web page is intended to be used mainly as a reference. You most definitely do not need to know or remember all these terms in order to use and enjoy the program. Many terms refer to advanced features of Trainz which you can explore, if you wish, after becoming familiar with the basics.
A prefix at the start of the definition of each term indicates its context, as follows:
- COMPUTERS indicates a general computer-related term. In this glossary, I concentrate on general computer-related terms that you are likely to encounter in Trainz. My full PC and Internet glossary is available here.
- MODEL RAILWAYS indicates a term used in the worlds of model railways.
- RAILWAY SIMULATORS indicates a term used in computer railway simulation but not specifically in Trainz. My reviews of simulation programs of all types are available here.
- RAILWAYS indicates a term used in real railways. Many of these terms are also used in Trainz with the same meanings.
- TRAINZ indicates a term used exclusively in any version of Auran's Trainz Railway Simulator program, or in very close relation to Trainz (such as a third-party utility for Trainz).
Some terms included here have additional meanings which are largely or wholly irrelevant to Trainz. To reduce unnecessary confusion, these additional meanings are not listed here. Examples of such terms include CD (compact disc), IP (Internet Protocol), NEC (National Exhibition Centre or Nippon Electric Company) and OCR (Optical Character Recognition).
This glossary is mainly oriented towards Auran's Trainz Railway Simulator 2004 (TRS2004), since that is the version of Trainz that I own. However, there is also some mention of the other older versions of Trainz. Because I live in Britain, I use British spelling and in some cases there is a bias towards British railway terminology. I should also mention that I came to Trainz with some knowledge of computers but virtually no knowledge of railways.
Some of the railway companies listed here may be defunct. In many cases, the tracks built by a defunct company still exist and are still in use. Some sections of track, especially in the USA, are still commonly referred to by the name of the railroad company which originally constructed them.
A few of the companies listed here are fictional, or the name of a railway, model railway, or railway simulation computer program-related company or web site but not an actual railway company.
The lists of railroads which use various types of locomotives are almost certainly not complete and very largely historical. Some of these entries may be fictitious combinations of real locomotives and real railroads, created by railway simulator computer program content creators.
My thanks to everyone who provided information which has eventually found its way into entries in this glossary. My apologies for not acknowledging these sources but in most cases I deleted the source material before deciding to create this glossary, and therefore no longer have any record of the names. Also, my apologies if I have misinterpreted any of this information.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
oo OOO o (etc)
RAILWAYS. A notation system used in the USA, and possibly other countries, to denote the wheel arrangement of steam locomotives.
The lefthand set of lower case letter "o"'s (oo in this example) signify the number of unpowered axles in front of the powered wheels. The upper case letter "O"'s (OOO in this example) signify the number of powered or driven axles. The righthand set of letter "o"'s (just one in this example) signify the number of unpowered axles behind the powered wheels. If a locomotive has no unpowered axles either in front or behind the powered wheels then the appropriate lower case letters are simply omitted. This example (oo OOO o) is equivalent to 4-6-2.
If there are two sets of upper case letter "O"'s, for example oo OOOO OOOO oo, then the locomotive has two sets of driven wheels. This example is equivalent to 4-8-8-4.
The unpowered wheels may or may not be on separate bogeys. Wheels on tenders are not included.
I think that sometimes the spaces between the groups of letters are omitted (ooOOOo) or replaced by dashes (oo-OOO-o).
I do not know if this system is used outside the USA, or whether it has ever been applied to any other types of locomotives.
See also "UIC Classification" and "Whyte Notation".
A Unit
RAILWAYS. A locomotive with a cab, which can optionally be used with a cabless booster locomotive called a B unit. A common example is the F7A which can optionally be operated with an F7B.
A1 Class
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive.
A4 Class
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive.
ABmz
RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by OBB (Austrian Railways) for a combined first and second class express train coach.
ABS
RAILWAYS. See "Automatic Block System or Automatic Block Signal".
ACE
- RAILWAYS. Altamont Commuter Express, California, USA. Altamont is to the east of San Francisco.
- COMPUTERS. File extension. Compressed archive file. A rarely used alternative to the ZIP file format (see that entry). The contents of ACE files can be extracted by using the WinAce program which can be obtained from http://www.winace.com (external link verified Aug-04), or by using the "Unzip Them All" utility which is available via http://www.bykeyword.com or downloaded directly from http://www.herve-thouzard.com/unzinst.exe (both external links verified Jun-04).
Acela
RAILWAYS. A type of Amtrak electric passenger train. Acela rolling stock items are available for Trainz, at least one version of which has passenger doors which slide open (operated by the pantograph control).
Activity
TRAINZ. An alternative name, occasionally used, for what is normally called a scenario.
Advanced Passenger Train (APT)
RAILWAYS. The infamous British tilting train. Defunct.
AFC
RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by the Australian Ghan service for a type of lounge car.
AG
RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by the Australian Ghan service for a normal carriage.
Agent
TRAINZ. See "Trainz Agent".
AI
TRAINZ. Artificial Intelligence. Trains (and their drivers) which can be given a set of commands or assigned a schedule in Driver mode, and the system by which the behaviour of such trains is controlled.
AJS Superscript
TRAINZ. A script library for rolling stock animations and lighting created by Andi Smith. Superscript is compatible with with TRS2004 and TRS2006. Features include control of train heading in Driver mode, control of front and rear marker lights, control of user supplied driver meshes, automatic windscreen wiper animations, automatic animated corridor connectors, livery swapping, variable weathering, automatic running number/nameboard selection, changeable destination signs and door operated "courtesy" lights.
AK Cars
RAILWAYS. Special rolling stock used by railway companies to detect and record any track defects, problems with trackside objects, etc. This term is used in some Razorback Railway scenarios for Trainz. According to an article posted on the web site of the Railway Technical Society Of Australasia (RTSA), the name comes from the coding system used for rolling stock in New South Wales, where "A" means a special car usually with sleeping accommodation, and "K" means a track inspection car.
AKI Utility
TRAINZ. An optional add-on utility program for TRS2006 which can be downloaded free of charge from Auran's web site. It automatically adds keywords to assets based on the content creator's ID.
Alco
RAILWAYS. American Locomotive Company. A major manufacturer of steam locomotives in USA, and later diesels. Now defunct.
Alco 636
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by (amongst others) Robe River (which is located in the Pilbara region of northern Western Australia).
Alco RS3
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by (amongst others) Burlington Northern.
Algoma Central Railway
RAILWAYS. The operator of the railway line between Sault Ste Marie and Hearst, Ontario, Canada. The line passes through the highly scenic Agawa Canyon. The Algoma Central Railway is now owned by Wisconsin Central. Some Algoma Central Railway rolling stock is available, but I have not yet found a Trainz layout for this line.
American
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 4-4-0 (oo OO). Used for light freight and passenger services.
Amtrak
RAILWAYS. The US national passenger railroad company, formed in 1971. The official company name is the National Railroad Passenger Corporation. Numerous Amtrak rolling stock items are available for Trainz.
Amz
RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by OBB (Austrian Railways) for a first class express train coach.
AN
RAILWAYS. Australian National Railways. Historical (I think). According to one source, in 1997 the freight business was sold to Australia Southern Railroad and the passenger business to Great Southern Railroad, but that might information only apply to within South Australia and not nationally.
Anglia Railways
RAILWAYS. A UK railway company. Defunct, succeeded by One.
ANIM
TRAINZ. File extension. Animation file, for example a steam locomotive's connecting rod movements, or water movement on a river or lake. Probably an Auran specific file type. The same file extension might also be used by other programs with the same meaning but a different file format.
Animated Junction
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. A junction in which the rails move in a realistic manner so as to show which way the junction is set. In Trainz the default junction system does not produce animated junctions but junction directions can be observed if desired by means of red and green arrows above the junction. User "Andi06" (Andrew Smith) has created an excellent set of animated junctions for Trainz. Although support for animated junctions was advertised as a new feature in TRS2006, in fact Andrew's junctions can also be used in TRS2004.
Approach Control
RAILWAYS. A system used in the UK (and possibly other countries, although I think that is unlikely) for controlling the speeds of trains approaching junctions. If the junction is set such that the train can maintain full speed (normally to the mainline) the signals it passes before reaching the junction are all set to green (assumming no other trains are ahead of it). If the junction is set such that the train will pass over curves and therefore must be at a slower speed (normally a diversion off the mainline), the signals will be set to mimic the effect of a train being present in the block after the junction, so as to make trains slow down. This is additional to the signal immediately before the junction having a lit feather.
APT
RAILWAYS. See "Advanced Passenger Train".
ARG
TRAINZ. Auto Running Gear. This appears to be a feature, facility or utility created by TrainzProRoutes but unfortunately I couldn't find any meaningful documentation about it on their web site when I searched in January 2006.
ARHS
RAILWAYS. Australian Railway Historical Society. In South Australia ARHS operates train services under the name "SteamRanger".
AHB
RAILWAYS. Automatic Half Barrier (level crossing).
Argus
TRAINZ. The Razorback Railway asset download utility for TRS2006. The name comes from a fictional huge space telescape featured in an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation".
ARJ
RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by the Australian Ghan service for a type of sleeping car.
ARL
RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by the Australian Indian Pacific (IP) service for a first class sleeping car.
ARM
RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by the Australian Ghan service for a type of sleeping car.
ARN
TRAINZ. Auto Running Numbers. This appears to be a feature, facility or utility created by TrainzProRoutes but unfortunately I couldn't find any meaningful documentation about it on their web site when I searched in December 2005.
Arriva Trains Northern
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
Arriva Trains Wales
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
ARS
RAILWAYS. See "Automatic Routesetting System".
ARTC
RAILWAYS. See "Australian Rail Track Corporation".
Asset Seeker Manager (ASM)
TRAINZ. A freeware utility published by TrainzProRoutes (external link verified Dec-05). Unfortunately, ASM is not compatible with TRS2004 and there are no plans to update the program.
ASM
TRAINZ. See "Asset Seeker Manager".
Aspect
RAILWAYS. A term used in signalling. I think it refers to the number of lights, or the number of colours each light can have.
Asset
TRAINZ. Any item such as a texture, a building, a piece of track, a bridge, a tunnel, a locomotive, a signal, etc. Each asset has a KUID.
At Grade Crossing
RAILWAYS. The term used in the USA for a railway line crossing a road at the same height without a bridge, or for two railway lines crossing at the same height without a bridge. The latter is also called a diamond, I think. Often just called a "grade crossing".
Atlantic
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 4-4-2 (oo OO o). Used for light passenger services.
ATO
RAILWAYS. Automatic Train Operation.
ATOC
RAILWAYS. Association of (British) Train Operating Companies.
ATP
RAILWAYS. See "Automatic Train Protection".
ATS
RAILWAYS. See "Automatic Train Stop".
ATSF
RAILWAYS. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad (USA; absorbed into BNSF in 1995).
Attachment
TRAINZ. I think this term refers to an additional minor rolling stock asset which can be attached to another. However, I do not think it is normally used to refer to tenders.
Auran
TRAINZ. The Australian company which publishes Trainz. http://www.auran.com (external link verified Oct-04)
Auran Jet
TRAINZ. The 3D graphics engine written by Auran and used by them for Trainz 2004 and some of their other products.
Microsoft Jet is a completely unrelated item of software associated with the Microsoft Access database system.
Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC)
RAILWAYS. Web site: http://www.artc.com.au (external link verified Jun-05)
Auto Carrier
RAILWAYS. See "Autorack".
Auto Route
RAILWAYS. See "Fleeting".
Auto Train
RAILWAYS. A passenger train service between Virginia and Florida (USA) which carries the passengers' cars on the same track, in autoracks.
Automatic Block System, or Automatic Block Signal (ABS)
RAILWAYS. A train control system. I believe that ABS is a relatively primitive system compared with CTC and CTS.
Automatic Route
RAILWAYS. See "Fleeting".
Automatic Routesetting System (ARS)
RAILWAYS. A system used in UK to automatically set the junctions for routine train movements, allowing train dispatchers to concentrate on more complex operations and problems.
Automatic Train Protection (ATP)
RAILWAYS. A train control system.
Automatic Train Stop (ATS)
RAILWAYS. A train control system. Automatic Train Stop is a safety system installed in addition to CTC or ABS. If a train driver doesn't acknowledge the ATS, it stops the train. If a railroad has ATS, the US Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) allows unlimited speed.
Automatic Warning System (AWS)
- RAILWAYS. A primitive safety system introduced in Britain in the 1950's, now being superseded by TPWS (Train Protection And Warning System).
- RAILWAYS. This appears to be an automatic train control system used in Japan. I'm not absolutely sure that this is what the initials stand for. It seems highly unlikely that this is the same as the primitive AWS system used in Britain.
AutoPlay
TRAINZ. An extremely useful facility provided in Razorback Scenarios, which avoids users having to manually record and enter Dispatcher Codes (a process which is rather prone to error). For each Razorback scenario, a small program must be downloaded and run. This program updates a TRS2004 asset which holds the DC. This information is accessed by the AutoPlay option within the scenario. Therefore only one DC can be stored at a time - the DC for the scenario which the user is currently tasked with.
Autorack
RAILWAYS. A rolling stock item which carries cars (automobiles). Also sometimes called an auto carrier.
Autoveyor
RAILWAYS. I don't know what this is. Perhaps it is the US equivalent of the Motorail system, whereby cars are transported by rail, or perhaps a method of transporting road transport trailers by rail, or an automatic freight wagon filling and emptying system?
AWS
RAILWAYS. See "Automatic Warning System".
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
B
B & M
RAILWAYS. Boston & Maine Railroad (USA). Under the ownership of Guilford Industries since 1982.
B & O
RAILWAYS. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (USA; defunct). B & O was one of the first railroads in the USA. It merged with Norfolk & Western to become Norfolk & Southern.
B Unit
RAILWAYS. A cabless booster locomotive, controlled from an A unit which has a cab. A common example is the F7B, controlled from an F7A.
Back
TRAINZ. In TrainzScript, "Back" is the merged route leading away from a junction. With a two-way junction, the two diverging routes are "Left" and "Right". With a three-way junction, the three diverging routes are "Left", "Forward" and "Right". "Forward" is the central diverging route of a three-way junction.
Example One:
------Left-------
/
------Back------------Right------
Example Two:
------Back------------Left-------
\
------Right------
Example Three:
------Left-------
/
------Back------------Forward----
\
------Right------
Backdrops
TRAINZ. Although advertised as a new feature in TRS2006, in fact backdrops can be used in TRS2004 and possibly even earlier versions of Trainz. A backdrop is a long thin scenery item with an image of a landscape etc, intended to be placed on a layout in the distance. In TRS2004 there is no need to place backdrops at the edge of baseboards, at least for the ones I have tested. Most backdrops are normal scenery items; a few are scenery spline items; there may be other types. The way backdrops are handled in TRS2006 may differ.
Bahn
- RAILWAYS. The German word for railway.
- RAILWAY SIMULATORS. A German freeware (or shareware?) tram simulation program, which can also be used to simulate railway trains. Also sometimes called JS Bahn. I initially thought that JS were the initials of the program's creator, but in fact it was written by Jan Bochmann. The name of the program is often spelt entirely in upper case. http://www.jbss.de (external link verified Jun-04). Not connected in any way with Auran or Trainz.
Bail
RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA. By moving the independent brake handle sideways, the train driver can release the locomotive brake cylinder pressure caused by an automatic brake application. This has no effect on brake cylinder pressure caused by an independent brake application.
Baldwin
RAILWAYS. A major US railway locomotive manufacturer which was based in Pennsylvania. Baldwin manufactured mainly steam and electric locomotives. The company manufactured over 70,500 locomotives between 1831 and 1956.
Balise
- RAILWAYS. As depicted in Trainz, this appears to be a count-down marker to a signal (or perhaps more generally to any significant trackside feature such as a signal, a speed limit sign or a junction). A vertical rectangle with diagonal stripes, very similar in appearance and meaning to a count-down marker for a motorway exit (freeway off-ramp).
- RAILWAYS. However, I'm informed that in Sweden a balise is a device used to send information to a train about speed limits and signal aspects.
Banker
RAILWAYS. An additional locomotive used to assist a train in climbing a gradient. I'm not sure if the term would also apply if the train was descending a gradient. The term might only refer to an additional locomotive at the rear of a train. This appears to be an Australian term but it might also be used in other countries.
BART
RAILWAYS. Bay Area Rapid Transit. A passenger train network which serves the San Francisco Bay area in California, USA. As far as I know, no BART rolling stock or layouts are available for Trainz. See also "MUNI".
Bay Platform
RAILWAYS. A platform which is also a dead-end. Often used for branch lines.
BCK
RAILWAYS. The British Rail passenger carriage designation code for a brake composite (i.e. first and second class) corridor coach. This code might only be used with MK1 coaches.
Beam, Beamway
RAILWAYS. Words sometimes used for the "track" on which a monorail runs.
Behavior
TRAINZ. The Australian/US spelling ("behavior") is used, not the British spelling ("behaviour"). See "Rule".
Berkshire
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 2-8-4 (o OOOO oo). Used for heavy freight and passenger services.
Beyer-Garratt
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive with three articulated parts, a boiler in the middle and two steam engines at each end. Advantages included being able to operate a powerful locomotive over narrow gauge track with relatively sharp turns. A depiction of this locomotive is provided by default in the SpoorSim railway simulator program.
Bezier Curves
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. A mathematical system for creating smooth curved tracks of gradually varying radii. The same system can be applied to roads, lines of trees, etc. In Trainz the word "spline" is used with the same meaning.
BFK
RAILWAYS. The British Rail passenger carriage designation code for a brake first class corridor coach. This code might only be used with MK1 coaches.
BG
- RAILWAYS. The British Rail passenger carriage designation code for a brake gangway coach. This code might only be used with MK1 coaches.
- RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by the Australian Ghan service for a type of normal carriage.
BI
TRAINZ. Basic Industry. A component of TrainzProRoutes' LARS system.
Big Boy
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 4-8-8-4 (oo OOOO OOOO oo). Used for heavy freight services.
Block
RAILWAYS. In Britain, a section of track between two signals. Except for shunting operations, only one train at a time is permitted in a block, so as to avoid accidents.
BMK
TRAINZ. File extension. Bookmark file. Used to note the current camera position in Surveyor, I think. Almost certainly an Auran specific file type.
BMP
COMPUTERS. File extension. Bitmap. Uncompressed graphics. A standard Windows file type.
BMT
RAILWAYS. Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation. A subway (underground railway) system in New York City, opened in 1915. Originally an independent company but now part of New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (NYMTA). The lines built by BMT are still commonly known by that name. See also "IND", "IRT" and "PATH".
Bmz
RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by OBB (Austrian Railways) for a second class express train coach.
BN
RAILWAYS. Burlington Northern (USA). Formed in 1970 by the merger of the Great Northern Railroad; the Northern Pacific Railroad; the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad; the Pacific Coast Railroad; and the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railroad. Absorbed into BNSF in 1995.
BNSF
RAILWAYS. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.
From the "Railroads" article in Encarta: "In 1970, the Great Northern, Northern Pacific, and Burlington merged into Burlington Northern (BN); later, BN absorbed the St. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco) Railroad."
However, according to a contributor to the Auran discussion forum: "The name BNSF is the result of the merger of the ATSF and the BN. The Frisco doesn't enter in to it as far as the name change, they were just another railroad bought up by BN over time." This wouldn't be the first time that mistakes have been found in Encarta.
According to another source, the BNSF was formed as a merger of the Burlington Northern Railroad and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad in 1995.
Bo-Bo
RAILWAYS. A designation used in Britain for diesel locomotives with two bogeys, each having two axles and therefore two pairs of wheels. This designation is an example of UIC Classification (see that entry).
See also "Co-Co".
BOG
RAILWAYS. Battery Operated Guard. A light, usually red, at the end of a train. Also called an ETM (End Of Train Marker). See also "Flashing Rear End Device".
Bogey (or Bogie)
- RAILWAYS. A rigid framework in which one or more axles are mounted. A bogey is connected via an articulated joint to the underside of a rolling stock item, which it supports. Most bogeys have one, two or three axles, each of which has a pair of wheels, one at each end. Bogeys can turn relative to the main body of the rolling stock item, thereby allowing lengthy vehicles to negotiate curved track. Very short goods wagons used in some countries do not have bogeys, but almost all locomotives, passenger carriages, and freight wagons of any length do. The problem of transferring power from the main body of a locomotive to an articulated bogey is an interesting aspect of locomotive design. The word "truck" is sometimes used in the USA for a bogey.
- TRAINZ. A rolling stock part. More than one item of rolling stock can use the same type of bogey.
Boxcar
RAILWAYS. The US term for a freight wagon with a flat base, enclosed on all four sides and by a roof, which can be loaded and unloaded via doors on the sides. Usually called a van in the UK and Australia.
BR
- RAILWAYS. British Railways, later renamed British Rail. The old national and nationalised British railway system. Defunct.
- RAILWAYS. A prefix of some classes of diesel locomotives used by DB (Deutsche Bundesbahn).
Brakeman
RAILWAYS. An alternative name sometimes used for a guard, especially of a non-passenger train.
Brakevan
RAILWAYS. The term used Australia for what in Britain is called a guardsvan and in the USA a caboose.
BRB
- RAILWAYS. British Railways Board.
- RAILWAYS. The British Rail passenger carriage designation code for a restaurant coach (dining car). This might be a misprint for RBR.
BREL
RAILWAYS. British Rail Engineering Ltd.
Brew Crew
TRAINZ. The nickname for the Auran programmers who work on the Trainz program.
Bridge
TRAINZ. In Trainz Objectz, the Bridge category also includes tunnels.
BRJ
- RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by the Australian Indian Pacific (IP) service for a twinnette sleeper car.
- RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by the Australian Ghan service for a type of sleeping car.
Broad Gauge
RAILWAYS. Any gauge greater than standard gauge.
Built-in
TRAINZ. Assets, of all types, which are installed as standard with a particular version of Trainz.
Bulkhead
RAILWAYS. A type of flatcar (freight wagon with a flat surface) with walls front and back but no sides. See also "Centre-Beam Bulkhead".
Bumper
RAILWAYS. This appears to be a term used in the USA for what would be referred to as buffers at the end of a railway track in the UK. I don't know if it could also be used for buffers on rolling stock.
Button-Bar
TRAINZ. The official name for the bank of icons at the bottom-righthand corner of the screen in TRS2004's Driver and Scenario modes. These icons include the toggle for the radio message box and the toggle for uncoupling mode. The entire bank of icons can be hidden or displayed by pressing the F7 function key.
BVE
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. Boso View Express. A Japanese freeware railway simulator program created by "Mackoy" (I think this is probably a nickname). At one time BVE had a restriction of only offering in-cab views, but I do not know if this is still the case. The program can only be downloaded from Mackoy's web site (external link verified Jun-04) but layouts and locomotives for BVE are available from a large number of other web sites. Not connected in any way with Auran or Trainz.
BWL
RAILWAYS. Blue Water Line. This appears to be a fictional railway company created for the Trainz Railway Simulator program.
By
RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by MAV (Hungarian State Railways) for a type of second class coach.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
C
c
TRAINZ. In the Surveyor and Driver menu lists, the presence of the letter "c" indicates custom content, i.e. content created by the user. (This may also be true in the Scenario menu list.) Downloaded content is not marked with a "c". A Driver Session created by the user but based on a downloaded Layout is marked with a "c".
C2C
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
C30-7
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by ATSF, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific.
Cab Signalling System (CSS)
RAILWAYS. A system whereby signalling information is displayed in the driver's cab.
CAB
- TRAINZ. An abbreviation of "cabin". The more realistic of the two train driving modes. The other mode is DCC. In CAB mode the user has access to all of the important controls of the corresponding real locomotive, and the physics algorithms are made as realistic as possible. CAB mode is much more difficult than DCC mode, especially with steam engines, but once mastered I imagine it is also much more satisfying.
- COMPUTERS. An abbreviation of "cabinet". A type of file, very similar in concept to a zip compressed archive file. Used extensively by Microsoft for software distribution.
Cable Car
- A device which allows passengers to ascend or descend a steep mountainside. Enclosed cars are suspended by means of pulleys from cables, and also hauled by cables. In most cases the cables are supported along the route by running over pulleys at the tops of towers. This is by far the most common meaning of the term. Some cable car devices are available for Trainz, but I have not yet properly investigated them.
- RAILWAYS. A streetcar system in which the vehicles run on rails and are driven by gripping a continuously moving cable located just below the track. The most famous example of such a system, and possibly the only one still operative, is in San Francisco, California, USA. A number of streetcars and trams are available for Trainz, but so far I haven't found any which resemble those used on the San Francisco cable car system. Nor have I been able to find a fully completed layout of the San Francisco cable car system for Trainz.
Caboose
RAILWAYS. The term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for what in Britain is called a guardsvan and in Australia a brakevan.
CalTrain
RAILWAYS. CalTrain operate a passenger railway service between San Francisco and San Jose, California, USA, with a limited service to Gilroy.
Cant
- RAILWAYS. When track is banked, for example around a bend which is normally taken at speed, the angle of the line joining the same points on each rail with the horizontal (taken at a cross section of the track). Called superelevation in Britain.
- RAILWAYS. When track is banked, for example around a bend which is normally taken at speed, the angle of the line through the centre of a rail with the vertical (taken at a cross section of the rail).
Car
RAILWAYS. The term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for any unpowered item of rolling stock. The term is normally used to refer to a passenger carriage (or coach), or a freight wagon (or goods wagon).
Carriage
RAILWAYS. A term sometimes used in Britain to refer to which would be called a passenger car in the USA. In Britain, the term "coach" is also often used.
Catchpoints (or Catch Points)
RAILWAYS. A device used to deliberately derail a train out of the way of the main running line, thereby avoiding fouling the main line. Also called a "derail". Another type of derail clips on to one side of the track.
Catenary
RAILWAYS. An overhead wire which carries a high voltage. The power is picked up by electric locomotives from the catenary by means of a pantograph.
CB & Q
RAILWAYS. Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, USA. Absorbed into the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1970.
CCG
TRAINZ. See "Content Creators Guide".
CD
RAILWAYS. Czech Railways.
CCP
TRAINZ. See "Content Creator Plus".
CDF
RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by the Australian Ghan service for a type of dining/lounge car.
CDP
TRAINZ. File extension. Content Dispatcher Pack. Files used by Auran and other content creators to distribute additional optional assets such as scenarios, Driver Sessions, layouts, locomotives, rolling stock, trackside assets and scenery. CDP files which have been downloaded or obtained from other users can be installed by double-clicking them. A CDP file can contain one or more assets (i.e. one or more kuid's). The contents of CDP files are installed into a sub-folder of the World\Dispatcher\Downloads folder, with the specific folder name based on the asset's kuid. An Auran specific file type.
CDP2
File extension. Content Dispatcher Pack 2. A new version of the CDP format, used by Auran and some other content creators to distribute additional optional assets for Trainz Classics.
CDP Batcher
TRAINZ. A freeware third-party utility which simplifies the uploading of a set of CDP files to Auran's Download Station. Available from Jelte's Trainz Page (external link verified Oct-04 but failed with a 404 page not found error Mar-07). The same web page also offers some other freeware Trainz utilities.
CDP Browser
TRAINZ. A freeware third-party utility for Trainz, which can be downloaded from Trainz Pro Routes (external link verified Mar-07). CDP Browser displays the kuid's and other details of the assets in a CDP file. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to display the kuid of an asset which has the new "kuid2" format of kuid.
Central Trains
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
Centralised Traffic Control (CTC)
RAILWAYS. A train control system in which junctions and signals over a wide area are controlled from a central location, often hundreds of miles away. I believe that CTC is the most modern system, especially if it has ATS. According to some sources, CTC is a fairly general term and its meaning varies from country to country and in some cases within a country. According to one source, centralised traffic control was first used in USA by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in 1927.
Centre-Beam Bulkhead
RAILWAYS. A type of flatcar (freight wagon with a flat surface) with walls front and back, plus an additional wall running the length of the wagon down the centre, but no sides.
CFF
RAILWAYS. See "SBB-CFF-FFS".
CFG
COMPUTERS. File extension. Used to store a program's configuration details. A widely used file type, but the format is specific to each program.
Challenger
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 4-6-6-4 (oo OOO OOO oo). According to one source these locomotives were used for heavy freight services. However, I am informed that they are still in use on Union Pacific "Heritage" trains, which presumably implies passenger service.
Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL)
RAILWAYS. London St Pancras to the Channel Tunnel portal near Folkestone (UK). Currently under construction.
Chiltern Railways
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
Chimney
RAILWAYS. The UK term for that part of a steam locomotive through which the smoke exits. Called a smokestack or stack in the USA. Sometimes also called a funnel, although that appears to be incorrect.
CHUMP
TRAINZ. File extension. Cache file. An Auran specific file type.
CityRail
RAILWAYS. The Sydney (New South Wales, Australia) suburban and surrounding area rail service. See also "New South Wales State Rail Authority, Australia".
CK
RAILWAYS. The British Rail passenger carriage designation code for a composite (i.e. first and second class) corridor coach. This code might only be used with MK1 coaches.
CL
RAILWAYS. See "CountryLink".
Class Numbers
RAILWAYS. A classification system for powered rolling stock: locomotives, railcars, DMU's, EMU's, subway cars, etc. It appears that each railway organisation uses its own system of class numbers. As far as I can discover, it seems that class numbers are never applied to unpowered rolling stock.
In Britain, under the TOPS system (see "Total Operations Processing System") as used by British Rail from 1972, locomotives were assigned class numbers in ranges as follows:
- 01-69 Diesel locomotives
- 70-79 DC electric locomotives
- 80-96 AC electric locomotives 80 to 96
- 97 Departmental locomotives (not in revenue-earning use)
- 98 Steam locomotives
- 99 Ships owned by British Rail (ferries, etc)
- 100-199 Diesel multiple units (DMU's) with mechanical or hydraulic transmission
- 200-299 Diesel multiple units (DMU's) with electric transmission
- 300-399 Overhead AC Electric Multiple Units (EMU's)
- 400-499 Southern Region 600-volt DC third rail EMU's
- 500-599 Other DC electric units
- 600-699 Not yet used
- 900-999 Departmental multiple units, mostly converted from former passenger units
The above information remains basically valid post-privatisation, but the system is now starting to fall into decay.
The following Wikipedia articles are useful (both external links verified Jan-05):
See also "Rolling Stock Classification Codes" and "Total Operations Processing System (TOPS)".
Class 08
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. 50 ton 0-6-0 shunter, built 1953-62.
Class 09
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. 50 ton 0-6-0 shunter, built 1959-1962.
Class 20
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. 73 ton Bo-Bo light freight/passenger units, built 1957-68.
Class 25
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used in Britain.
Class 31
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. 107-111 ton A1A-A1A light/medium freight/passenger units, built 1957-62.
Class 33
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. 77-78 ton Bo-Bo light freight/passenger units, built 1960-62.
Class 37
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. 103-108 ton diesel-electric Co-Co medium freight/passenger units, built 1960-65.
Class 43
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. 70 ton diesel Bo-Bo High Speed Train power cars. According to one source these were built 1976-82, but according to another source they were built in 1972 and entered service in 1978. This is the British Rail HST Power Car. Their design speed is 125mph and record speed 143mph. Introduced as the power car for Class 252/253 HST set DMU's, they were initially designated as the class 41, then were renumbered to the 252/253/254 series. However, it was realised that they need to be swapped in and out of HST sets frequently and were therefore given separate numbers again, hence becoming the Class 43.
Classes 44, 45 and 46
RAILWAYS. Types of locomotive used in Britain. Built 1959/60/61. Diesel Co-Co. Design speed 75mph (Class 44), 90mph (Classes 45 and 46). All withdrawn by the mid 1980's.
Class 47
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. 120-125 ton Co-Co diesel-electric general purpose locomotive. According to one source they were built in 1962, according to another source 1963-67. Design speed 100mph, although many have now been downgraded to a top speed of 95mph.
Class 50
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1960's. CoCo diesel-electric locomotive used on the Waterloo-Exeter service, all now withdrawn. Design speed 100mph. Nicknamed "Hoovers", according to one source. The last of British Rail’s diesel classes to be built for express passenger work, after which electric traction and HST sets took over from the diesel locomotives.
Class 52
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in 1961-64. Also called British Rail Type 4. Design speed 80mph. Withdrawn 1977. The locomotive was withdrawn after only fifteen years because it utilised diesel hydraulic transmission which was expensive to maintain. Nicknamed "Western" because all the locomotives' names began with that word.
Class 55
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Also called Deltics. Built in 1961. Design speed 100mph. Withdrawn in 1982.
Class 56
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. 125 ton Co-Co heavy freight units, built 1976-84.
Class 58
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. 130 ton Co-Co heavy freight units, built 1983-87.
Class 59
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. 121 ton Co-Co heavy freight units, built in the USA in 1985-1995.
Class 60
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. 129 ton Co-Co heavy freight units, built 1989-93.
Class 66
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1990's. CoCo freight diesel locomotive, still in service in 1999.
Class 70
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1940's. Electric locomotive, used on Southern Region, all now withdrawn.
Class 71
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1950's. Electric locomotive, used on the Kent coast services, all now withdrawn.
Class 73
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. 75-77 ton Bo-Bo electro-diesel dual-mode mixed traffic units, built 1962-67; power from diesel or third rail.
Class 74
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1960's as a rebuild of Class 71 into electro-diesel locomotives. All now withdrawn.
Class 86
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. 87 ton Bo-Bo electric passenger units, built 1965-66.
Class 87
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. 83 ton Bo-Bo electric passenger units, built 1973-75.
Class 89
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. 104 ton Co-Co experimental electric passenger unit, built 1987.
Class 90
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. 85 ton Bo-Bo electric passenger and freight units, built 1987-90.
Class 91
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. 84 ton Bo-Bo electric mixed traffic units, built 1988-91.
Class 92
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built 1993-95. 126 ton dual voltage CoCo electric locomotive which can obtain power from a catenary or a third rail. Used for Channel Tunnel freight services.
Class 101
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel railcar, used in Britain.
Class 159
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1990's. Three car semi-fast diesel unit used on the Waterloo-Exeter service. Still in service in 1999.
Class 201
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1950's. Six car diesel-electric multiple unit with a short underframe and narrow body, used on the Hastings line, all now withdrawn.
Class 202
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1950's. Six car diesel-electric multiple unit with a long underframe and narrow body, used on the Hastings line, all now withdrawn.
Class 205
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1950's. Three car diesel-electric multiple unit. Still in service in 1999.
Class 207
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1960's built. Two/three car diesel-electric multiple unit, still in service in 1999.
Class 218
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by DB.
Class 313
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1970's. Three car high density unit on used on the West London line in the Southern Electric area.
Class 319
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1990's. Four car outer suburban dual voltage unit used on the Thameslink line.
Class 325
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1990's. Four car Royal Mail dual voltage postal unit.
Class 332
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1990's. Four car express unit used on the Heathrow Express service.
Class 365
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1990's. Outer suburban dual voltage Networker unit.
Class 373
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1990's. Eurostar set for Channel Tunnel passenger services.
Class 375
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1990's. Four car main line unit.
Class 401
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 404
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 405
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 410
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 411
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 412
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 413
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 414
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 415
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 416
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 418
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 419
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 420
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 421
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 422
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 423
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 424
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. A projected Networker Classic rebuilding programme which in 1999 had not then taken place.
Class 430
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 431
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 438
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 442
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 455
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1980's. Four car high density suburban unit.
Class 456
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1980's. Two car high density suburban unit.
Class 458
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Outer suburban four car unit which in 1999 was due to enter service in 2000.
Class 460
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Eight car express unit which in 1999 was due to enter service in 2000.
Class 465
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1990's. Four car Networker suburban unit.
Class 466
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1990's. Two car Networker suburban unit.
Class 488
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1970's. Used on the Gatwick Express service.
Class 489
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Converted in the 1980's for use on the Gatwick Express service.
Class 508
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain. Built in the 1970's. Four car high density suburban unit, subsequently reduced to three car.
Class 930
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 931
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class 932
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive used in Britain.
Class I Railroad
RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA. As currently defined by the Surface Transportation Board of the Association of American Railroads, Class I railroads have an operating revenue of at least $261.9 million per year. The current (Jan-06) Class I railroads are Amtrak, Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), Canadian National (CN), Canadian Pacific (CP), CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern (KCS), Norfolk Southern (NS) and Union Pacific (UP). Some sources add GTW (Grand Trunk Corporation) and SOO (Soo Line Railroad) to the list.
Climax
RAILWAYS. Several types of narrow gauge steam locomotive used in New Zealand for logging railroads. I think Climax is probably the name of the manufacturer.
Clinchfield Railroad (CRR)
RAILWAYS. A railroad in the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains of the USA, running between Spartanburg, South Carolina and Elkhorn City, Kentucky. Officially called the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railroad. The last Class I railroad built in the USA east of the Rocky Mountains. Absorbed into the Chessie System in 1980 and then into CSX. A depiction of part of line is is available in its Clinchfield form for Trainz (with several versions) and in its CSX form for MSTS.
CM
TRAINZ. See "Content Manager".
CMP
TRAINZ. See "Content Manager Plus".
CN or CN Rail
RAILWAYS. Canadian National Railways. According to one source, the Canadian National Railway was acquired by the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad.
CNJ
RAILWAYS. Central New Jersey Railroad (or "Jersey Central"). Defunct?
Co-Co
RAILWAYS. A designation used in Britain for diesel locomotives with two bogeys, each having three axles and therefore three pairs of wheels. This designation is an example of UIC Classification (see that entry).
See also "Bo-Bo".
Coach
RAILWAYS. A term sometimes used in Britain to refer to which would be called a passenger car in the USA. In Britain, the term "carriage" is also often used.
COFC
RAILWAYS. Container on flat car. Probably a US term. See also "TOFC".
Cog Railway
RAILWAYS. See "Rack And Pinion".
Colour Position Light (CPL)
RAILWAYS. A type of signal. I think this term might possibly refer to the circular signals used on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) route in the USA.
ComEng
RAILWAYS. See "Commonwealth Engineering".
Command
TRAINZ. See "Driver Command".
Commonwealth Engineering (ComEng)
RAILWAYS. An Australian railway rolling stock manufacturer. Defunct?
Commodity
TRAINZ. Any product created by or used by an industry, and/or carried by a train. Also called a product.
Commodity Picker
TRAINZ. A feature in Driver Sessions which allows the user to specify which product or products a rolling stock vehicle can carry, for those types of rolling stock vehicles which can carry more than one type of product. For example, a user might use the Commodity Picker to restrict the use of a generalised oil tanker to carrying aviation fuel.
Conductor
- RAILWAYS. The US term for a railway employee who travels on a passenger train to sell tickets, check tickets, indicate to the driver when it is clear to start moving after a stop, control the behaviour of passengers, etc. Called a guard in the UK.
- RAILWAYS. Anything which conducts electricity, but especially a third rail which supplies electricity at a high voltage.
config.txt
TRAINZ. A text file which contains configuration information for a downloaded asset. Config.txt files have tags with their own syntax rules. Trainz Objectz detects many types of syntax errors in config.txt files (but not all), and can automatically correct some errors. Other computer programs may also have their own config.txt files, but with different formats. Config.txt files for Trainz can be edited in Notepad, but it is probably better to use the Trainz Objectz program which displays different syntax elements in different coloured text.
Connex South Eastern
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
Conrail
RAILWAYS. A former US railroad company. The official company name was Consolidated Rail Corporation. It was created in 1976 from six bankrupt railroad companies in the northeast of the USA.
From the "Railroads" article in Encarta 95: "In 1968, the Pennsylvania and New York Central railroads combined to form Penn Central, to which was later added the New York, New Haven, and Hartford railroads. Penn Central declared bankruptcy in 1970. In 1976, it and other failed railroads in the Northeast (including the Erie Lackawanna, Lehigh Valley, and Reading) were merged by an act of Congress to form the Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail)."
According to another source: "Conrail was jointly purchased by CSX and Norfolk Southern in 2001."
Another source says that Norfolk Southern and CSX agreed to acquire Conrail in 1997, government approval was passed in 1998 and the acquisition actually took place in 2001. As a result, Conrail was restructured into a switching and terminal railroad.
Consist
RAILWAYS. A train, usually without a locomotive. Any coupled set of carriages (passenger cars) and/or wagons (trucks, freight cars). I suspect that this term may have originated in the USA, although it also appears to be generally understood in Australia.
Consolidation
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 2-8-0 (o OOOO). Used for light freight and passenger services.
Content Creator Plus (CCP)
TRAINZ. A new feature in TRS2006 which checks that user-created assets are valid.
Content Creators Guide (CCG)
TRAINZ. A tutorial document for people who create additional items for Trainz. It can be downloaded free of charge from Auran's web site.
Content Dispatcher
TRAINZ. (ContentDispatcher.exe) A utility supplied as standard with Trainz 2004. I think it is used to create CDP files.
Content Manager (CM)
TRAINZ. (ContentManager.exe) A utility for checking and fixing problems with downloaded assets. Provided as standard with Trainz 2004, but with no documentation. Trainz Objectz is generally considered a far superior utility which performs the same functions and many additional tasks.
Content Manager Plus (CMP)
TRAINZ. A new feature in TRS2006 which was intended to reduce or eliminate many of the problems encountered by users with the TRS2004 Download Station (DLS) and Trainz Download Helper (TDH) system. However, many users find that CMP is even less reliable and regard it as not yet being fit for use.
Copper Canyon
RAILWAYS. A famous highly scenic railway line in Mexico. I have not yet found a Trainz layout for this line.
Cotton Belt
RAILWAYS. A US railway company. Defunct?
CountryLink (CL)
RAILWAYS. An Australian passenger railway service which links Brisbane (Queensland), Canberra (Australian Capital Territory), Melbourne (Victoria) and Sydney (New South Wales). See also "New South Wales State Rail Authority, Australia".
CP
- RAILWAYS. Canadian Pacific (CP Rail).
- RAILWAYS. Central Pacific (USA). Absorbed in the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1887, which in turn was absorbed into the Union Pacific Railroad in 1996.
- RAILWAYS. Control Point? (Some territories in the Train Dispatcher simulation program have numbered "CP" positions.)
CPL
- RAILWAYS. See "Colour Position Light".
- COMPUTERS. File extension. A control panel applet (mini-program).
Crossing Loop
RAILWAYS. An alternative name for a passing loop (see that entry).
Crossover
RAILWAYS. A connection between adjacent parallel tracks, almost always involving two junctions (one on each track) and an "S" shaped section of track between them. Because they tend to have tight turns, crossovers are usually subject to very low speed limits.
I have also seen crossovers referred to as X-crossings but that term might not be general usage and there is the obvious potential confusion with places where one railway track crosses another at an angle.
CRR
RAILWAYS. See "Clinchfield Railroad".
Crummy or Crummie
RAILWAYS. An alternative name for a caboose (the guardsvan or brake van of a freight train).
CSS
RAILWAYS. See "Cab Signalling System".
CSX
RAILWAYS. A US railroad company. I do not know what the initials stand for, if anything.
From the Railroads article in Encarta: "The Chesapeake And Ohio, Baltimore And Ohio, and Western Maryland railroads became affiliated into the Chessie System. In 1981 Chessie merged with the Family Lines - a combination of the Seaboard Coast Line, Louisville And Nashville, and Clinchfield - to form CSX Corporation."
According to another source, the Seaboard System was renamed the CSX Transportation System in 1987.
CTC
RAILWAYS. See "Centralised Traffic Control".
CTRL
RAILWAYS. See "Channel Tunnel Rail Link".
CTSR
RAILWAYS. See "Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad".
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (CTSR)
RAILWAYS. A highly scenic tourist railway line which runs between Antonito, Colorado, USA and Charma, New Mexico, USA, in the southern Rockies. The railroad derives its name from the fact that it runs over the Cumbres Pass and through the Toltec Gorge. No fully complete layout of this line is yet available for Trainz, as far as I know.
Custom, or Custom Content
TRAINZ. Material created by a user. Downloaded content is also regarded as custom. A Driver Session created by the user but based on a downloaded or built-in layout is regarded as custom. Custom assets are marked with a "c" in the Surveyor and Driver menu lists. (This may also apply in the Scenario menu list.)
Cut
RAILWAYS. The term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for what in Britain is called a cutting.
Cutoff
- RAILWAYS. One of the two main controls of a steam locomotive, the other being the regulator. In simple terms the cutoff is roughly analogous to the gear level of a car and the regulator is analogous to the accelerator.
- RAILWAYS. A shorter route, constructed so as to replace an older inferior route which is longer, steeper, or has more tight bends, etc.
CWR
RAILWAYS. Continuous welded rail.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
D
D & C
RAILWAYS. Diamond & Caldor Narrow Gauge Railroad.
D & RG
RAILWAYS. Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (USA; defunct; appears to have been absorbed into the Union Pacific Railroad, although the dates of this event vary between sources from 1921 to 1991).
D & RGW
RAILWAYS. Denver and Rio Grande Railroad West (or Western) (USA; defunct).
D & SNGRR
RAILWAYS. See "Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad".
D40-2
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by Amtrak (and possibly other railroads).
Dark Territory
RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA (and possibly Canada) to refer to sections of tracks which do not have signals. Trains are controlled by means of "track warrants". A track warrant grants a train exclusive permission to occupy a section of track between specified mileposts or stations over a specified time period.
DB
RAILWAYS. Deutsche Bahn, the German national railway system. I'm informed that in 1994 the West German Deutsche Bundesbahn merged with the East German Deutsche Reichsbahn to form Deutsche Bahn. Deutsche Bahn is still state-owned but supposedly operated in the same way as a private company, with the intention of floating on the stock exchange by 2008.
DBSO
RAILWAYS. The British Rail passenger carriage designation code for a driving brake standard open carriage, which incorporates a driver's cab at one end of the carriage. This code might only be used with MK1 coaches.
DC
TRAINZ. See "Dispatcher Code".
DCC
TRAINZ. Digital Command Control. The simpler of the two locomotive driving modes. The alternative mode is CAB. DCC mode emulates the control system of a modern model railway system. Operation is made as straightforward as possible, trains react much more rapidly than they would in reality, and the effects of gradients and overall train weights are minimised.
DD35A and DD35B
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by Union Pacific. The "A" unit has a cab; the "B" unit is a booster unit without a cab.
DD40X
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by Union Pacific.
DDA40X
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by D & RGW, Norfolk Southern and Ontario Northland.
DE (or DED)
RAILWAYS. Dragging Equipment detector. A device on the track which checks for any equipment hanging off passing rolling stock.
Decapod
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 2-10-0 (o OOOOO). Used for heavy freight services.
Deltic
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used in Britain. Also called Class 55 (see that entry).
DEM
TRAINZ. See "Digital Elevation Model".
DEMU
RAILWAYS. Diesel-electric multiple unit.
Dependency
TRAINZ. An asset upon which another assets relies upon, in order to operate properly. Some examples (this is far from a complete list, merely intended to demonstrate the concept):
- Most rolling stock requires bogies.
- Most powered rolling stock requires engine specifications, engine sounds and horn sounds.
- Re-skinned rolling stock usually requires the original asset.
- Layouts usually require a large number of assets of a wide variety of types, normally including ground textures, track, signals, speedboards (speed limit signs), buildings, industries, roads, and so on.
- Driver Sessions usually require a layout and one or more items of rolling stock.
- Scenarios usually require a layout, one or more items of rolling stock, and a script.
Many dependencies are downloaded automatically from Auran's Download Station (DLS) when the Download Helper (DLH) program is used. However, with Driver Sessions and Scenarios there are usually some missing assets. The Trainz Objectz utility program is extremely useful for listing details of missing assets. Locating missing assets is a major subject in its own right and beyond the scope of this article.
Depot
RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for a small railway station. Pronounced "dee-po".
Derail
RAILWAYS. See "Catchpoints".
Desiro
RAILWAYS. A type of passenger train used by Connex Germany, Deutsche Bahn and the Slovenian State Railway Network. In addition they are currently (Oct-04) being introduced by Southwest Trains in Britain, and OBB (Austrian Railways) use an electric version.
Detonator
RAILWAYS. An explosive charge attached to track, set off by a train running over it, so as to act as an emergency warning. Called a "torpedo" in the USA, I think.
DF
- RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by the Australian Indian Pacific (IP) service for a dining car.
- The passenger carriage designation code used by the Australian Ghan service for a type of dining car.
DHR
RAILWAYS. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.
Diamond
RAILWAYS. A place where two railway tracks cross each other, without any means of transferring between them, I think. Also called an "at grade" crossing, I think.
Diesel-Electric
RAILWAYS. The most common type of diesel locomotive, in which a diesel engine powers a generator, the electrical output of which drives electric motors which turn the wheels. There is a good explanation of how this type of locomotive works on How Stuff Works (external link verified Aug-04).
Diesel-Hydraulic
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive which does not have generators or electric motors. Instead, the power is transferred from the diesel engine to the wheels by a hydraulic system (probably something similar to a fluid flywheel). According to one web site, diesel-hydraulic locomotives have not been used in Britain for many years. However, according to a posting on an Auran forum, DMU's (diesel multiple units) are diesel-hydraulic.
Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
TRAINZ. A means of automatically creating terrain maps from real-world satellite data. I suspect that the DEM system can be used with other railway simulators and for other purposes.
Direct Traffic Control (DTC)
RAILWAYS. A train control system.
Disc Headcode
RAILWAYS. See "Headcode".
Dispatcher
RAILWAYS. The term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for a person responsible for the organisation and routing of trains, combining the responsibilities of signalman and controller.
Dispatcher Code
TRAINZ. A term used in the Razorback Railway system (external link verified Jan-05). A Dispatcher code is a sixteen character code issued with most tasks. The code must be entered before the task can be run for real, but is not required for the "Just Play" familiarisation mode. Dispatcher Codes must always be entered with Caps Lock off and Shift keys not pressed, but may be displayed in upper or lower case, and with or without delimiting hyphens or spaces between each group of four characters. See also "RDC".
Distant
RAILWAYS. An advance signal, located before a corresponding home signal, giving train drivers time to slow down before reaching the home signal.
Ditch Lights
RAILWAYS. Roughly speaking, the equivalent in railway terms of the sidelights or running light on a car. Lights, usually on a locomotive or other powered item of rolling stock, whose primary purpose is to indicate the presence of the train to other trains (and road users at level crossings), rather than headlights which illuminate the track and ground ahead for the train driver. This may be a slang expression and it may be limited to use in Australia.
Division
RAILWAYS. From Virtual Railroader Magazine, Sep-04: "Traditionally, US railroads have been operated by division. In the early days of railroading, divisions were roughly 150 miles in length, with each end being a 'division point'. At these points, locomotives needed to be fuelled (steam locomotives also required more extensive maintenance approximately every 300 miles) and fresh crews were needed to replace tired ones. Further, each division was divided into 'sections' of anywhere from 15 to 30 miles, as this was the most feasible length of line that one 'section gang' could be responsible for. So the railroads needed some sort of facilities at the division points, to service locomotives, to house crews, and to make and break trains to manage traffic flow."
DLR
RAILWAYS. Docklands Light Rail, east London, UK. No Trainz layout exists for the DLR as far as I know.
DLS
TRAINZ. See "Download Station".
DMU
RAILWAYS. Diesel Multiple Unit. I think these are probably diesel-hydraulic rather than diesel-electric. Sometimes called Railcars. Probably the same as RDC (Rail Diesel Car).
Donkey, Donkey Engine
A static steam engine, for example one used to pull logs. Not a locomotive.
Down
RAILWAYS. In the UK, the direction away from London or another major city.
Download Helper (DLH)
TRAINZ. A program, supplied as a standard part of Trainz, which is used to download additional assets from Auran's Download Station (DLS) web site.
I've never had any problems with Download Helper, but some users report serious difficulties and prefer to use alternative programs, such as Trainz Agent, Trainz Downloader Pro, and Trainz Objectz (see those entries for details). All these programs download material from the same source (DLS); only their method of doing so varies.
Download Station (DLS, or very occasionally DS)
TRAINZ. That part of Auran's web site from which optional additional material created by other users can be downloaded. See also "First Class Ticket".
DR
RAILWAYS. Deutsche Reichsbahn. The former East German railway system, which I'm informed merged in 1994 with the West German Deutsche Bundesbahn to form Deutsche Bahn.
Drain, The
RAILWAYS. The derogatory nickname of the Waterloo & City Line of the London (England) Underground network.
Driver
- TRAINZ. That part of TRS2004 and TRS2006 in which Driver sessions can be run. See "Driver Sessions".
- COMPUTERS. Software components which interface the Windows operating system (and thereby programs) with physical devices such as display adaptors (video boards), sound boards and sound chips, etc. If you are experiencing problems with such a device, the recommended first course of action is to download the latest version of the driver from the device's manufacturer. Be careful to select the driver for your exact device name and model number, and your exact operating system version.
Driver Command
TRAINZ. A command which can be given to an AI driver in a Driver Session. Commands can be specified when the Session is created in Surveyor, or by the user when the Session is played.
A number of standard built-in driver commands are available by default when a Driver Session is created. The availability of additional commands (built-in and custom) can be specified with the "Driver Command" Rule when a Driver Session is created in Surveyor.
Driver Commands are not the same as Rules, although the two are closely related.
Information about Driver commands can be found in the "Driver Commands and Working With Industries" section of the "Engineers Handbook" manual which is supplied in electronic form as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file with TRS2004.
Driver Session
TRAINZ. Also often merely "Session". A Driver session has a layout (topology, track and scenery objects), plus locomotives and rolling stock, plus Driver commands. Driver sessions are listed on the Driver menu, sorted into layout name order. A Driver session can have AI drivers. A Driver session normally does not have a script but one can be added in order to make it operate in a very similar way to a Scenario. Driver Sessions are called "Profiles" in Trainz Objectz.
Driving Van Trailer (DVT)
RAILWAYS. A vehicle which allows a train driver to operate a locomotive from the rear end of a train, thus allowing a train to operate in either direction. Examples include the British HST and the Australian XPT.
Driver Vigilance System (DVS)
RAILWAYS. A system which requires a driver to sporadically press a button in response to an audible alarm signal inside the cab within a few seconds, as a safety device to confirm that the driver is still being attentive. A variation on the principle of the deadman's handle.
DriverCharacter
TRAINZ. A category of assets in Trainz Objectz. Possibly the name and photograph of an AI driver.
DriverCommand
TRAINZ. A category of assets in Trainz Objectz. See "Driver Command".
DS
TRAINZ. See "Download Station".
DSNGRR
RAILWAYS. See "Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad".
DTC
RAILWAYS. See "Direct Traffic Control".
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D & SNGRR)
RAILWAYS. One of the most famous and most scenic railway lines in the world, passing through the beautiful and spectacular San Juan Range of the Rocky Mountains between the two towns for which it is named. No fully complete layout is yet available for Trainz, as far as I know.
DVS
RAILWAYS. See "Driver Vigilance System".
DVT
RAILWAYS. See "Driving Van Trailer".
Dwarf
RAILWAYS. A signal mounted on the ground beside the track (not on a pole or a gantry).
Dwell Time
RAILWAYS. The time that a passenger train is stopped at a station.
DX Goods
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive.
Dynamic Brake
RAILWAYS. A type of braking system often found in electric and diesel-electric locomotives, in which the electric motors are made to operate as generators. See also Westinghouse.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
E
EC
RAILWAYS. See "EuroCity".
East Coast Main Line (ECML)
RAILWAYS. From London King's Cross to York and beyond (UK).
EuroCity (EC)
RAILWAYS. A high-speed train network that operates between many mainland European countries, and which has therefore effectively replaced Trans Europe Express (TEE).
ECML
RAILWAYS. See "East Coast Main Line".
EE
TRAINZ. Engineers' Edition (of Trainz). A possible future version of Trainz.
EEP - Virtual Railroad 3
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. This is just a place holder to note the existence of this railway simulator program, since I know nothing more about it, other than the fact that has no connection at all with Auran or Trainz.
Eight-Wheeler
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 4-4-0 (oo OO).
"El"
RAILWAYS. The nickname (widely understood in the area) of the elevated passenger railway system in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Electro-diesel
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive which can derive the electric power for its drive motors either from on-board diesel generators or from a pickup from a third rail (or possibly from a pantograph).
Embankment
RAILWAYS. The term used in Britain for what in the USA is called a fill.
EMD
RAILWAYS. The Electro-Motive Division of General Motors. A US locomotive manufacturer.
EMU
RAILWAYS. Electric Multiple Unit.
Engine
- RAILWAYS. A term often used in Britain to refer to a locomotive.
- TRAINZ. An engine specification of any type of powered rolling stock, such as a locomotive or a multiple unit of any kind.
- COMPUTERS. That part of a graphical program which handles fundamental movement and display operations.
Engineer
RAILWAYS. The term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for a train driver.
English Scottish And Welsh Railways (ESW)
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
Environment
TRAINZ. A category of assets in Trainz Objectz, which can only be displayed by using the "All" option. Details of the sky (clouds, etc).
EOT
RAILWAYS. End Of Train (Device). Same as ETD, ETM and FRED.
ePortal
TRAINZ. A system developed by TrainzProRoutes. From the name, I would guess that ePortal provides a means of sending trains between two computers via the Internet, while both computers are running Trainz. The system might only be operative with TRS2006.
ER
- RAILWAYS. Erie Railroad (USA). Defunct?
- RAILWAYS. The designation code used by the Australian Ghan service for a type of crew car.
ETD
- RAILWAYS. End Of Train Device. Same as ETM and FRED.
- RAILWAYS. Estimated time of departure.
ETH
RAILWAYS. Electric train heating, which replaced the steam train heating system that was previously used, even with early diesel locomotives.
ETM
RAILWAYS. End Of Train Marker. A light, usually red, at the rear end of a train. Also called a BOG (Battery Operated Guard), apparently. See also "Flashing Rear End Device".
Eurostar
RAILWAYS. The Channel Tunnel passenger service.
Evolution
RAILWAYS. A locomotive, manufactured by GE. Diesel-electric, probably. Claimed by GE to be fuel-efficient and to produce less emissions than other locomotives.
Exchange Track
RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA, and possibly other countries. An exchange track is a track in a freight yard where full and empty freight wagons are exchanged between trains of two or more different railroad companies. See also "Team Track".
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
F
F3A-Series
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, manufactured by EMD.
F40PH
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by Amtrak.
F7A and F7B
RAILWAYS. A type of locomotive, manufactured by EMD and used by ATSF, B & O, Burlington, CP, Milwaukee Road, New York Central, Ontario Northland, Pennsylvania Railroad, Southern (Southern Pacific?), Union Pacific and VIA. The "A" unit has a cab. The "B" unit is a booster with no cab.
FA1
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, manufactured by Alco and used by Rock Island and VIA.
Facing
RAILWAYS. A junction approached in the direction in which the train could take one of two possible routes, depending on which way the junction is set. The opposite of "trailing".
Fairlie
RAILWAYS. A type of articulated steam locomotive.
Fallen Flag
RAILWAYS. A term often used in the USA to refer to a railroad company which is no longer in operation, either due to closure or by having been taken over by another company.
FCT
TRAINZ. See "First Class Ticket".
FDS
TRAINZ. See "Freightcar Destination System".
Feather
RAILWAYS. A diagonal line of white lights on the top of some signals, indicating the direction in which the next junction is set. Feathers are usually only used to indicate diversions from main tracks. Feathers are used in Britain and Queensland, Australia, and maybe other places. In Trainz, feathers will only work correctly if the track elements are in the correct order: first the signal, then the junction lever, and finally the spline point at which the tracks diverge.
FEC
RAILWAYS. Florida East Coast Railroad. Still operative, as at autumn 2004.
Feu Convoi
RAILWAYS. The French name for red tail lights on the end of a train. See also "End Of Train Device" and "Flashing Rear End Device".
FFS
RAILWAYS. See "SBB-CFF-FFS".
Fiddle Yard
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. See "Staging Area".
Fill
RAILWAYS. The term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for what in Britain is called an embankment.
First Class Ticket (FCT)
TRAINZ. An option, for which there is a charge, to download optional additional assets at a faster speed than normal from DLS (Download Station) on Auran's web site. A First Class Ticket does not provide access to any more assets than that provided to other users, but it does provide faster access, especially for users connected via broadband.
First Great Western Link
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
First North Western
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
First Scot Rail
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company. My thanks to reader Les Blake for informing me (in March 2005) that First Scot Rail is now operating the franchise previously held by Scotrail Railways.
First TransPennine Express
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
Fishplate
RAILWAYS. The UK term for a plate which connects two rails in jointed track. Called a joint bar in the USA.
FixedTrack
TRAINZ. Track which is similar to that provided with model railway sets, with fixed lengths of straight tracks, and fixed lengths of curved track with a fixed radius. The normal track in Trainz is not fixed, but has variable radius using splines, making it much more realistic. Normal Trainz track can have gradients; I do not know whether FixedTrack can.
FK
RAILWAYS. The British Rail passenger carriage designation code for a first class corridor coach, which had a number of compartments, all of which were first class, linked by a side corridor. This code might only be used with MK1 coaches.
Flange
RAILWAYS. The rim of a wheel. Perhaps surprisingly, flanges are added largely as a cosmetic feature to reassure the public. Even at high speeds on bends, wheel flanges hardly ever touch the sides of the rails, with the wheels' positions relative to the rails being controlled by the shape of the wheels' main surfaces and the rail profiles.
Flatcar
RAILWAYS. A type of freight wagon with a flat surface, on which items such as containers can be loaded. See also "Bulkhead" and "Centre-Beam Bulkhead".
Flashing Rear End Device (FRED)
RAILWAYS. A flashing light, usually red, at the end of a train. See also "BOG" and "ETM".
Fleeting
RAILWAYS. A term used in train dispatching to refer to a route which remains active after a train has passed, so it can be used by subsequent trains. Fleeting is normally used for regular services which take the same route. Trains remain fully protected by normal signalling even when fleeting is used. I believe that fleeted routes may also sometimes be called auto routes or automatic routes.
Flying Junction
RAILWAYS. A junction in which trains do not have cross over the route of trains travelling in the opposite direction. A flying junction therefore always requires at least one bridge or tunnel. The railway equivalent of a motorway or freeway junction.
Flying Shunt
RAILWAYS. Any operation where wagons move while not being coupled to a locomotive. Flying shunts are generally considered as being exceedingly dangerous and are therefore normally strictly forbidden, the exception being hump yards.
Forward
TRAINZ. In TrainzScript, "Forward" refers to the central diverging route of a three-way junction, the other two diverging routes being "Left" and "Right". The merged route of any junction is "Back".
Example One:
------Left-------
/
------Back------------Right------
Example Two:
------Back------------Left-------
\
------Right------
Example Three:
------Left-------
/
------Back------------Forward----
\
------Right------
Four Foot
RAILWAYS. That part of a railway track between a pair of rails. An abbreviation for four foot eight and a half inches, the standard gauge. See also "Six Foot" and "Ten Foot".
FPS
COMPUTERS. See "Frame Rate".
FR
RAILWAYS. Ffestiniog Railway, Wales. Some Ffestiniog layouts for Trainz are now available on Auran's Download Station, and numerous items of Ffestiniog rolling stock for Trainz are available at http://www.festrail.co.uk/downloads_for_trainz.htm (external link verified Dec-04).
FRA
RAILWAYS. Federal Railroad Administration. The US federal government agency responsible for the regulation of railroads in that country.
Frame Rate (Frames Per Second, FPS)
COMPUTERS. The number of frames which the computer renders per second. The term is particularly applicable to 3D games and simulations. The higher the frame rate, the more realistic and less jerky movement is on the screen. The frame rate depends on a large number of factors including:
- The power of the computer's processor.
- How much memory (ram) the computer has.
- The quality of the computer's graphics board (also called a video card or display adaptor) and how much memory it has.
- The screen resolution (in terms of x and y, and also the number of colours).
- The choice of graphics handling system (OpenGL or DirectX).
- The video board's quality versus speed settings for OpenGL or DirectX as appropriate (provided the board offers such options).
- The quality versus speed settings of the program. In the case of Trainz, these include smoke effects, fog effects, shadows, how far into the distance objects are displayed, etc.
- On a second-by-second basis, the number of objects in the image currently being displayed and their complexity, whether any movement is currently taking place on screen, whether any other games-related processing is being performed (for example, determining the routes taken by AI drivers in Trainz), and whether the user is moving the camera.
It is generally considered that a frame rate of 25 frames per second is the least acceptable, as with television and films. However, I have seen frame rates as low as 15 at times in Trainz with no noticeable effect on the screen.
Fraps (external link verified Nov-04) is a freeware utility which displays the current frame rate when a game or simulation program which renders images (including Trainz) is being used. Fraps also includes some other potentially useful facilities including the ability to record a video file of activity while running a game or simulation.
If any Driver Session or Scenario has been run during a Trainz session, then the Jetlog.txt file includes an average FPS figure at the end.
The generally perceived wisdom is that the frame rate will fall when the computer is very busy. However, on my computer Fraps shows the frame rate falling when trains and the camera viewing them are stationary, when the computer is presumably performing the least amount of processing. Perhaps Trainz is intelligent enough to realise that the screen does not need to be updated so frequently when the image is not changing, in somewhat the same way as stat-muxing (statistical multiplexing) works with digital television.
Fraps
COMPUTERS. See "Frame Rate".
FRED
RAILWAYS. See "Flashing Rear End Device".
Freight Train
RAILWAYS. The term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for what is called a goods train in Britain.
Freightcar Destination System (FDS)
TRAINZ. A system developed by TrainzProRoutes.
Freightliner
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
Frog
RAILWAYS. In a junction or a crossover, the place at which the rails cross so as to form an X. Subject to a high rate of wear.
FS
RAILWAYS. Italian Railways.
Funicular
RAILWAYS. A very steep mountain railway, running on rails but with the rolling stock usually hauled by means of cables. I don't think cog railways (rack and pinion railways) count as being funiculars but I could be wrong about that. I think some funicular devices are available for Trainz, but I haven't yet researched this properly.
Funnel
RAILWAYS. A term sometimes used for the place in a steam locomotive where the smoke exits. More correctly called the chimney (UK) or the smokestack or stack (US). According to one source, funnel is the correct terminology in at least part of Australia.
Funnel, The
RAILWAYS. The 85-mile long BNSF route between Spokane (Washington State) and Sandpoint (Idaho). Highly scenic.
Fylde Coast Tramway
RAILWAYS. The official name, rarely used, for the famous Blackpool Tram system in Lancashire, England. No layout for this system is available for Trainz, as far as I know.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
G
GameScript
TRAINZ. The appears to be the same as TrainzScript (see that entry), or possibly a slightly earlier version of the language than TrainzScript.
Gantlet Track
RAILWAYS. See "Gauntlet Track".
Gantry
RAILWAYS. A structure which overhangs the track, usually but not necessarily made of steel, from which items such as signals and catenary wires can be suspended.
Gatwick Express
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04). Operates passenger trains between Victoria Station (London) and Gatwick Airport.
Gauge
RAILWAYS. The distance between the rails of one track.
Gauntlet Track
Spelt "Gantlet" in US English.
- RAILWAYS. A section where two parallel tracks are interlaced and all four rails are mounted on the same sleeper. There are no junctions or other moving parts, and trains cannot be routed between the two tracks. The arrangement is occasionally used when two separate lines pass over a bridge or through a narrow cutting.
- RAILWAYS. A section where parallel tracks of different gauges are interlaced and mounted on the same sleepers.
- RAILWAYS. The sharing of a third central rail between trains travelling in opposite directions. Occasionally used in funiculars and cliff railways, usually with a section in the middle where the tracks diverge onto four rails so as to allow the two cars to pass each other. An example is the Angels Flight funicular in Los Angeles, California.
GE
RAILWAYS. See "General Electric".
GE Dash 9-44CW
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive designed for heavy freight operations, used by BNSF and CSX. Although designs of the GE Dash 9-44CW for Amtrak and D & RGW are available for Trainz, these are fictitious combinations of a real locomotive and real railway companies. Neither Amtrak nor D & RGW ever used this locomotive in reality.
General Electric (GE)
RAILWAYS. A locomotive manufacturer. Despite the name, I believe GE also produce diesel locomotives.
GEVO
RAILWAYS. A General Electric Evolution Series locomotive. I do not know if this is an official name or not.
Ghan, The
RAILWAYS. An Australian passenger railway service between Adelaide (South Australia), Alice Springs (Northern Territory) and Darwin (Northern Territory). The name comes from the camels imported from Afghanistan many years ago to carry goods along the same route.
GIF
COMPUTERS. File extension. Graphics Interchange Format. Compressed graphics (non-lossy). GIF files can be animated (by means of multiple frames). GIF files can have one colour specified as being transparent. A standard Windows file type.
GMax
- COMPUTERS. A freeware program which can be used to create 3D models for use in Microsoft Train Simulator, Auran's Trainz and a few other 3D programs. GMax was originally developed by the Discreet division of AutoDesk, but is currently available from TurboSquid (external link verified Oct-05). Free registration is required before the program can be used. See also Trainz Asset Creation Studio (TACS).
- TRAINZ. File extension. Presumably a 3D object such as a mesh, created by the GMax program.
GMW
TRAINZ. File extension. I'm extremely grateful to M. Ronald Smith, President, Digital Relay Geologix (external link verified Jul-05) for the following information:
[The GMW file format] is used in the oil and gas industry for GIS mapping. The term is "General Maintenance Workstation". In the oil and gas industry, GIS mappers use different types of files such as DXF, CGM, LAS, PRJ, and GMW. A General Maintenance Workstation handles all of these types of files and allows for interaction and conversion of file types. A better word for workstation would be software, since the workstation can be just about any PC. Railroads are included in GIS mapping and the Railroad Commission of Texas is in charge of these government documents in our state. [Related subjects include] Global Mapper software, Seismic Micro Technology, Petra for oil and gas, and Landmark/GeoGraphix.
GND
TRAINZ. File extension. Purpose not known. The height of each point in a map, maybe? Probably an Auran specific file type.
GNER
RAILWAYS. Great North Eastern Railway. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
Golden Spike National Historic Monument
RAILWAYS. The place near Promontory, Utah, USA, where the tracks of the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific met in 1869, completing the Transcontinental Railroad. Located about thirty miles west of Brigham City, and administered by the always excellent US National Park Service.
Gondola
- RAILWAYS. A name used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for a type of bulk freight wagon. Definitions of this term vary considerably between sources, suggesting different usage by different railroad companies. According to most definitions gondolas have straight sides and ends and no top covering. The bottom is flat or approximately so. Opinions seem to differ on whether or not gondolas have doors at the bottom to release their contents, what exact form these doors might have, and whether the contents can be dumped between the rails or outside them. One source suggests that hoppers are special types of gondolas. Another source says that gondolas come in various types, such as high side, low side, drop end, drop bottom, general purpose and convertible. See also "Hopper".
- RAILWAYS. On the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway (Colorado, USA), the term gondola is used to refer to open-sided passenger carriages which I suspect have been converted from goods wagons.
Goninan
RAILWAYS. An Australian railway rolling stock manufacturer. Now called United Goninan. Web site http://www.unitedgoninan.com.au (external link verified May-05).
Goods Train
RAILWAYS. The term used in Britain for what is called a freight train in the USA.
GP-38 and GP38-2
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by (amongst many others) CN, Conrail, CSX, Milwaukee Road, Norfolk Southern, Ontario Northland, Seaboard System and Union Pacific. I'm informed that "GP" stands for "general purpose".
GP40-2
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by (amongst others) CSX and Norfolk Southern.
GP7
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by L & N.
Grade
RAILWAYS. The term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for a gradient or slope. However, "at grade" means "at the same level", and a "grade crossing" is a level crossing. In the UK, gradients are expressed as "rise in distance", for example 1 in 50 (a rise of 1 unit in 50 units travelled) or 1 in 75 (a rise of 1 unit in 75 units travelled). In the USA, gradients are usually quoted as rise over distance expressed as a percentage, for example 1% means the track rises 1 unit for every 100 units travelled, and 3% means a 3 unit rise per 100 units travelled. In both cases there is some debate as to whether the sine or the tangent is used, but at normal railway gradients the difference is minimal.
Grade Crossing
RAILWAYS. The term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for what in Britain is called a level crossing. A crossing of a railway line and a road at the same level, usually with lights and barriers or gates to control road vehicles.
Grand Union
RAILWAYS. A complicated junction between two double-track railway lines in which trains from any direction can be directed to any of the other three directions. Relatively common with US street railways but otherwise very rare, it would appear.
Grasshopper
RAILWAYS. A very early type of steam locomotive.
Great Eastern
RAILWAYS. A UK railway company (defunct).
Great North Eastern
RAILWAYS. A UK railway company (defunct).
Great Western Main Line (GWML)
RAILWAYS. London Paddington to Bristol and Cornwall (UK). I do not know if the line from Bristol to Cardiff and South Wales is also included.
GS
TRAINZ. File extension. A GameScript (i.e. TrainzScript) source file. A TrainzScript script in plain text format, containing the source version of a program which controls the operation of a scenario. GS files are input to the GSC Game Script Compiler program. An Auran specific file type.
GSC (or GSC.EXE)
TRAINZ. The GameScript (i.e. TrainzScript) Compiler program. A program written by Auran which reads a GS (GameScript/TrainzScript) source file, compiles it, and outputs a GSL (GameScript/TrainzScript Library) file. Some people use "GSC" to refer to the GameScript/TrainzScript language, probably because it's much shorter and easier to type.
GSE
TRAINZ. File extension. A TrainzScript script in encrypted format, used to control the operation of a scenario. I do not know if it holds the source code or the compiled object code. An Auran specific file type.
GSL
TRAINZ. File extension. GameScript (i.e. TrainzScript) Library. A GSL file is the object file output by the GSC Game Script Compiler program. GSL files are read by the runtime system when a scenario is run. GSL files are in binary format and cannot be read or edited by a text editor program such as Notepad. An Auran specific file type.
GST
TRAINZ. File extension. GameScript (i.e. TrainzScript) Template. A plain text file which is cloned to create default GS files. An Auran specific file type.
Guard
RAILWAYS. The UK term for a railway employee who travels on a passenger train to sell tickets, check tickets, indicate to the driver when it is clear to start moving after a stop, control the behaviour of passengers, etc. Called a conductor in the USA and Australia.
Guardsvan
RAILWAYS. The British term for what is called a caboose in the USA.
Guideway
RAILWAYS. A term often used to refer to the "track" on which a maglev train runs. See "Maglev".
GWML
RAILWAYS. See "Great Western Main Line".
GWR
RAILWAYS. Great Western Railway (UK; London Paddington to Bristol, via Reading and Swindon; company defunct but route still very much in use). Affectionately referred to by many people as "God's Wonderful Railway".
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
H
Hamilton
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive.
HB (or HBD)
RAILWAYS. Hot Box detector. A device on the track which detects overheated axle bearings on passing rolling stock.
Head
RAILWAYS. A term used in signalling. I think it might refer to the number of backplates (each containing a set of individual lights), or the number of lights per backplate, or the total number of lights.
Head End
RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for the front of a train - the locomotive.
Head End Power (HEP)
RAILWAYS. The provision of electrical power to passenger carriages from the locomotive's engine, instead of by means of a separate generator.
Headcode
- RAILWAYS. In Britain, often used with the same meaning as a Train Reporting Number, a number which uniquely defines a train for signalling and routing purposes. This web site has more information: http://www.2d53.co.uk/Headcode/headcode.htm (external link verified Dec-05). Similar systems are probably used in most other countries.
- RAILWAYS. In Britain, often used to refer to a disc headcode. On the front of the leading vehicle of a train are four discs, arranged with one disc above and the other three discs in a horizontal row below. Each disc has a hinged semi-circular plate which can be adjusted so that the disc has one of two colours. In the examples I have seen the two possible colours are white and yellow but this might depend on the locomotive. The combination of disc colours signifies the type of train. This web site has more information: http://www.2d53.co.uk/Headcode/headcode.htm (external link verified Dec-05). This system appears to no longer be in use. I do not know whether all trains in Britain used this system, nor do I know whether any other countries have ever used a similar system.
Heartland Corridor
RAILWAYS. A project in the USA to increase the height of twenty-eight tunnels through the Appalachian Mountains, thereby greatly reducing the length of the route between Norfolk, Virginia and Chicago for double-stack freight trains. The old route via Harrisburg, Virginia is 1264 miles and takes 60 hours for a freight train. The new route via Columbus, Ohio will be 1031 miles and take 48 hours.
Heathrow Express
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04). Operates passenger trains between Paddington Station (London) and Heathrow Airport.
Heavy Rail
RAILWAYS. A term sometimes used to distinguish full size railways from light rail - trams, streetcars, etc. Underground railways (subways, mass transit systems) are normally thought of as being light rail but according to one source are actually classified as being heavy rail.
HEP
RAILWAYS. See "Head End Power".
HGM
- RAILWAYS. The designation code used by the Australian Indian Pacific (IP) service for a brake, power and baggage car.
- RAILWAYS. The designation code used by the Australian Ghan service for a type of power car.
Highball
RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for an indication from a train's guard to its driver that the train can pull out of a station.
HM
- RAILWAYS. The designation code used by the Australian Indian Pacific (IP) service for a baggage or mail car.
- RAILWAYS. The designation code used by the Australian Ghan service for a type of baggage car.
HOG
TRAINZ. A utility which can be used to import terrain data. That data can be real from geographical surveys, or fictional created by an external fractal maths computer program, etc. According to some sources the name HOG comes from "Hand Of God" (!).
Home
RAILWAYS. A signal which is not a distant signal.
Hopper
RAILWAYS. A name used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for a type of bulk freight wagon. Definitions of this term vary considerably between sources, suggesting different usage by different railroad companies. According to one source the difference between a hopper and a gondola is that a hopper has bottom doors to release its contents whereas a gondola does not. However, many sources say that gondolas can have such doors, and sources differ regarding the details of the design of the doors and whether the contents can be dumped between the rails or outside them. Another source suggests that the difference is that a gondola has one compartment whereas a hopper always has at least two compartments. Yet another source suggests that the difference is that a hopper can be covered whereas a gondola cannot. According to one source a hopper is a special type of gondola, while according to other sources the two terms are mutually exclusive. See also "Gondola".
Hornby Virtual Railway
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. A railway simulator program published by the British model railway set manufacturer.
Hostler
- RAILWAYS. A term sometimes used in the USA for someone who services railway locomotives, or a driver who works in or around a locomotive servicing shed under the direction of the engine house foreman.
- RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA for a small power and brake controller provided for the driver at certain positions on a locomotive or multiple unit train for shunting movements where the expense of a driver's cab is not considered necessary. Also called hostler's controls. Known in the UK as a shunting controller.
Hot Box (or Hotbox)
RAILWAYS. An overheated axle bearing.
Hot Box Detector (or Hotbox Detector)
RAILWAYS. Equipment located between the rails which detects overheated axle bearings on trains which pass over it, that information usually being automatically relayed to the driver by radio or a signalman by wires.
Hp
RAILWAYS. A prefix used in the designations of some German railway signals.
HST
RAILWAYS. High Speed Train (UK).
HTM
COMPUTERS. File extension. Hypertext Markup File. Holds the text and formatting of a web page, but not its graphics. A standard Windows file type. The alternative four letter file extension HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is also often used, with exactly the same meaning.
HUD
TRAINZ. Head Up Display. The control panel which normally appears at the top right of the screen when driving a train.
Hudson
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 4-6-4 (oo OOO oo). Used for passenger services.
Hull Trains
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
Hump Yard
RAILWAYS. A freight yard where wagons are sorted by pushing them over a hill (hump) and letting them roll down under gravity, not coupled to a locomotive, to the desired tracks via a number of junctions.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
I
IC
- RAILWAYS. Illinois Central Railroad (USA). Also ICRR. Merged with the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad in 1972 to form the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad, which according to one source was purchased by the Government Of Canada in 1998. However, according to another course the Canadian National Railway was acquired by the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in 1998.
- RAILWAYS. Intercity.
ICE
RAILWAYS. Inter City Express. A high speed passenger train network operated mainly by Deutsche Bahn (the German national railway system), with some services being operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS; the Netherlands national railway system).
IECC
RAILWAYS. See "Integrated Electronic Control Centre".
IJ
RAILWAYS. See "Insulated Joint".
IM
TRAINZ. File extension. Indexed mesh file. Probably an Auran specific file type. See also "PM".
IND
- RAILWAYS. Independent. A subway (underground railway) system in New York City, opened in 1932. Originally an independent company but now part of New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (NYMTA). The lines built by IND are still commonly known by that name. See also "BMT", "IRT" and "PATH".
- TRAINZ. Indicates that a rolling stock asset (freight wagon or passenger carriage) is compatible with the standard built-in Trainz industry/commodity system. See also "LARS", which is a separate but possibly related industry and freight movement system.
Indexed Mesh File
TRAINZ. See "IM".
Indian Pacific (IP)
RAILWAYS. A passenger railway service which runs east-west across the Australian continent, between Perth (Western Australia) on the Indian Ocean and Sydney (New South Wales) on the Pacific Ocean. The service commenced in 1970, following the completion of gauge standardisation on the route in 1969. In 1982 the section between Crystal Brook (South Australia) and Adelaide (South Australia) was gauge standardised and the service now runs via Adelaide. The route includes the crossing of the Nullarbor Plain, the longest section of straight railway track in the world, 479km long. At a distance of over 2300 miles the Indian Pacific is the second longest transcontinental railway service in the world, presumably behind the Trans-Siberian Railway. The journey takes four days.
Industry
TRAINZ. A scenery asset which interacts with trains, producing or using products. The term also includes passenger stations which accept and receive passengers. See "IND" (2) and "LARS".
InfranView
COMPUTERS. See "IrfanView".
Inglenook Sidings
MODEL RAILWAYS. A famous shunting puzzle for model railways, devised by Alan Wright in 1979. The puzzle is sometimes referred to simply as "Inglenook". Inglenook Sidings has been recreated for various railway simulators, including a version for Trainz which can be downloaded free of charge from TaFWeb's web site (external link verified Mar-06). Inglenook Sidings will also be included in the forthcoming Razorback Shunt layout from the Razorback Railway (external link verified Apr-06).
INI
COMPUTERS. File extension. A files used to store a program's configuration details, usually but not always in plain text. A widely used file type, but the format is specific to each program.
Insulated Joint (IJ)
RAILWAYS. A joint between rails which does not conduct electricity. Some railway systems such as subways as possibly others use insulated joints for several purposes:
- To detect the location of trains. The wheels and axles of each train provide an electrical connection between the two rails which can be detected. Insulated joints are required between sections in order to detect which sections are occupied.
- In a third-rail system, to isolate the electricity supply from a section of rails should a train pass a red signal, another emergency situation arise, or a section of track be closed for maintenance or repairs.
Integrated Electronic Control Centre (IECC)
RAILWAYS. The term used by Network Rail in the UK for a train dispatcher's place of work, a signalling centre. The modern electronic equivalent of a signalling box, although IECC's control large areas.
Interlock
RAILWAYS. A set of locking devices used to control a complex track crossing or a junction involving several adjacent individual junctions, designed so that only one route can be open at a time, in order to avoid collisions. Early versions used complicated mechanical devices called interlocking machines with linkages and blocking gates. Later versions used electro-mechanical devices such as relays. Modern system use computer technology such as PLC's (Programmable Logic Controllers). PLC's are also often used for process control purposes in factories.
Interlocking Tower
RAILWAYS. The name used in the USA, and perhaps some other countries, for what is called a signal box in the USA. Also sometimes just called a tower.
Intermodal
RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, to refer to the shipping of goods in standardised cargo containers that can be easily transferred between rail, road truck and sea without repacking. An Intermodal Yard is a marshalling yard where the containers are loaded onto trains or taken off them and where trains consisting of such containers are made up.
Interurban
RAILWAYS. As used in the USA, "interurban" refers to a trolley (streetcar, light railway) system which ran between two different towns or cities. Electric powered interurban systems were fairly common in the USA in the early decades of the twentieth century but almost all of them ceased operation once car (automobile) ownership became common.
IP
RAILWAYS. See "Indian Pacific".
iPortal
TRAINZ. A new feature in TRS2006 which will allow players to send each other trains via portals, using the Internet.
IrfanView
COMPUTERS. A well-known freeware (or shareware?) utility for performing operations on graphics files. There are a number of similar utilities; I prefer LView but this is very much a matter of personal preference. These programs tend to offer facilities such as cropping images, enlargement, altering the colour balance, changing the gamma (in simple terms, the brightness) and the contrast. They also usually allow images to be converted from one graphics file format to another. They do not usually provide any facilities for drawing pictures. With regard to Trainz, such a utility can be handy to inspect images when investigating problems with downloaded content, and is obviously indispensable to a content creator. http://www.irfanview.com (external link verified Oct-04).
I'm not sure whether "InfranView" is a misprint for "IrfanView", or a separate but similar program.
Iron Duke
RAILWAYS. An early type of steam locomotive.
IRT
RAILWAYS. Interborough Rapid Transit. A subway (underground railway) system in New York City, opened in 1904. Originally an independent company but now part of New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (NYMTA). The lines built by IRT are still commonly known by that name. See also "BMT", "IND" and "PATH".
Island Line
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
Island Platform
RAILWAYS. A platform which has tracks on both sides.
iTrainz
TRAINZ. A new feature in TRS2006 which will provide in-game IRC facilities.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
J
JA
- TRAINZ. File extension. Jet Archive. Contains compressed collections of assets. Almost certainly an Auran specific file type.
- COMPUTERS. The JA file extension is also used outside Trainz for Java files.
Janus
TRAINZ. An extremely useful utility which can be downloaded free of charge, created by the Razorback Railway. Currently (Feb-05) Janus has two modes of operation:
- Janus Asset Check. This is a facility which checks for missing assets in Janus-compatible Razorback scenarios, with links displayed to download the missing assets from Auran's DLS (Download Station) or the Razorback web site.
Older Razorback scenarios, written for use with V5 of the Razorback layout, are not inherently compatible with Janus, since they were written before Janus was created. A utility is available from the Razorback Railway which will patch all such scenarios found installed on a user's computer. The utility should be re-run after downloading and installing any V5 scenario. The utility patches the scenario's target files in its kuid folder, not the scenario's distribution exe file. Therefore even after running the utility, Janus is not invoked automatically and must be run manually.
Newer Razorback scenarios, written for use with V6 of the Razorback layout, are not only Janus-compatible, but also cause Janus to be invoked automatically at the end of their installation procedures. However, if the user has numerous assets installed then there may be a delay of many minutes after a scenario's installation procedure completes and Janus appears. During this time there is no indication of progress other than considerable hard disk activity. If only the built-in assets, Razorback assets and a few other assets are installed then the delay is minimal.
- Janus Scan Jetlog. This is an entirely separate facility (although provided by the same program) which automatically extracts a Razorback Return Dispatcher Code from the user's jetlog.txt file and submits it to the Razorback web site's Dispatcher facility. It saves the user having to manually record the RDC and then type it in, a process which is rather prone to error. As far as I know this facility is compatible with all Razorback scenarios which create an RDC (which nearly all do). This facility must always be invoked manually immediately after completing a scenario and shutting down TRS2004, should you wish to submit the RDC. Update (Sep-05): With the withdrawal of the Razorback Railway Dispatcher system, this mode of operation has been removed from Janus.
Jenolan
TRAINZ. The nickname of Larry Lewis, one of the creators of the Razorback Railway. I suspect that Larry's nickname comes from the famous Jenolan Caves, located in Australia's Blue Mountains not far from Lithgow and its even more famous Zig Zag Railway.
Jet
TRAINZ. See "Auran Jet".
Jingpeng Pass
RAILWAYS. A famous railway line in China. I have not yet found a Trainz layout for this line.
JiTong Railway
A 600 mile long mainline route in China, one of the last to be operated by steam locomotives. I have not yet found a Trainz layout for this line.
Joint Bar
RAILWAYS. The US term for a plate which connects two rails in jointed track. Called a fishplate in the UK.
Journal
RAILWAYS. The term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for an axle bearing.
JPG
COMPUTERS. File extension. Joint Photographic Group. Compressed graphics (lossy). A standard Windows file type.
JR
RAILWAYS. Japanese Railways.
Junction
TRAINZ. The word used in Trainz for what is called a switch in the USA or points in Britain. A place where railway lines diverge (or merge, for trains running in the other direction).
Just Trains
TRAINZ. The company which distributes Trainz in the UK. This appears to be the company as Just Flight but I'm not sure which is the more recent name.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
K
KCS
RAILWAYS. Kansas City Southern Railroad, USA.
KIN
TRAINZ. File extension. KIN files appear to be associated with animations of parts of assets, for example rotating rolling stock wheels in bogeys, pantographs which can raised or lowered, opening passenger carriage doors, or moving semaphore signal arms. Probably an Auran specific file type.
Krokodil
RAILWAYS. A type of electric locomotive, used by SBB-CFF-FFS.
KRS
Kuju Rail Simulator, also known as Rail Simulator. Version two of KRS is called Railworks.
KUID
TRAINZ. Koolthingz Unique Identifier. A unique ID given to each asset in Trainz. There are two formats, of which the second is the more modern:
- kuid:usernumber:assetnumber
- kuid2:usernumber:assetnumber:versionnumber
The delimiter between the parts of a kuid differ. Depending on the context it can be a colon, an underline character, a space, or occasionally a hyphen.
Kuju
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. The software company which created the Microsoft Train Simulator program (MSTS). In the summer of 2005 Kuju announced that they were developing a new train simulator called Rail Simulator in conjunction with Electronic Arts. Details: http://www.kuju.com/news/news_railsimulatorannouncement_230605.htm
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
L
L & N
RAILWAYS. Louisville and Nashville Railroad. USA. Absorbed in the Seaboard System in 1980.
LANG
TRAINZ. File extension. Language file, which holds phrases displayed by the program in various human languages. A fairly widely used file type, but the format is probably specific to each program.
Lap, or Lap The Brakes
RAILWAYS. I am somewhat confused about this expression. However, it does always seem to be used in reference to the Westinghouse air brake system.
I think its meaning is probably to hold the brake pipe pressure at its current value, with the pipe neither connected to the main cylinder nor to the outside atmosphere. Therefore the brakes are held in their current state, usually partially applied.
From usage in various contexts, the expression also seems to be used on occasion with the alternative meanings to apply the brakes partially, or to apply the brakes for a short period of time.
LARS
- RAILWAYS. Load And Ride Solutions. A BNSF term for measures taken by them to prevent or reduce damage to freight while in transit.
- TRAINZ. Logistics And Resource System, a commodity/freight transportation system for Trainz created by Lars Ljunberg of TrainzProRoutes (external link verified Mar-07) and downloadable free of charge from that web site. The name is a deliberate pun on its creator's first name. Some downloadable rolling stock assets include LARS in their names, presumably indicating that they are compatible with this system.
There is an article about LARS in the 15-Apr-04 edition of the Virtual Model Railway Journal free online magazine, now renamed Virtual Railroader (external link verified Dec-04).
I do not yet understand how the LARS system relates to the built-in IND industry system in TRS2004.
Layout
TRAINZ. Topology, and usually tracks and scenery objects, but no locomotives or rolling stock. Appears in the Surveyor menu. Add locomotives and rolling stock to a Layout so as to create a Driver Session. Add a script as well so as to create a Scenario. The terms Layout, Map and Route are synonymous. The term Layout tends to be used to describe fictional tracks, coming from model railway terminology. The term Route tends to be used for prototypical tracks, based on real railway lines.
LCL
RAILWAYS. Less than carload. Freight traffic in volumes less than an entire goods wagon.
Le Shuttle
RAILWAYS. The Channel Tunnel service for cars and their drivers and passengers. I have not yet found a Trainz layout for the Channel Tunnel.
Lead
RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for a short length of track used in switching (shunting) to hold a number of rolling stock items. See also "Siding" and "Spur".
"Leaves On The Line"
RAILWAYS. Some years ago, a railway spokesperson in Britain famously claimed that delays were being caused by leaves on the line, making train wheels slip. Later, another spokesperson said that delays were being caused by "the wrong type of leaves", ones for which they did not have an appropriate solution to wheel slippage. Both terms have now entered the British vernacular as humorous or mocking references to any ludicrous fabricated excuse for a delay.
Lego Masterpiece Loco
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. A railway simulator program published by the children's plastic block manufacturer. This product may no longer be in production.
Level Crossing
RAILWAYS. The British term for what in the USA is called a grade crossing. A crossing of a railway line and a road at the same level, usually with lights and barriers or gates for road vehicles.
Level Of Detail (LOD)
TRAINZ. A mechanism by which assets can have several meshes with different levels of graphical detail. I'm not sure whether this means different resolutions, or the optional inclusion of small points of detail. Trainz presumably selects a mesh depending on the user's choice of tuning setting, the size of the object as displayed on the screen, and perhaps factors such as the screen resolution, the computer's processing power, the choice of graphics board, the amount of memory, the frame rate, the number of objects being displayed, etc. The LOD system supersedes a similar earlier mechanism called "progressive meshes". Trainz Objectz includes a column to indicate whether an asset has the LOD feature.
Lever
RAILWAYS. A lever for manually changing the direction of a junction. In many cases the lever also indicates the direction in which the junction is set. Most junctions are now operated by electric motors. Also called a points lever or a switch lever.
Lgs
RAILWAYS. The rolling stock designation code used by MAV (Hungarian State Railways) for a flatcar with low sides, capable of carrying a container.
Library
TRAINZ. A category of assets in Trainz Objectz. Not yet understood.
Light Rail Vehicle (LRV)
RAILWAYS. A tram, streetcar, trolley, cable car (San Francisco type) or similar. The term might also include subway cars.
Limited
- RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, to refer to an express passenger train. Presumably the term is derived from the fact that the train only stops at a limited number of stations.
- RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, to refer to a restricted speed, indicated by signals.
Linear Induction Motor
RAILWAYS. See "Maglev".
Living Railway (The Living Railway, TLR)
TRAINZ. A series of scenarios for the Razorback Railway layouts (see that entry) (external link verified Jan-05). As a user completes each scenario, a Return Dispatcher Code (RDC) is displayed. Entering the RDC on the Razorback Railway web site updates the users' performance record and also allows the next scenario to be downloaded.
LMB
TRAINZ. Left mouse button. This abbreviation is used extensively in Auran documentation.
LMS
RAILWAYS. London, Midland And Scottish Railway (UK; defunct).
LNER
RAILWAYS. London and North Eastern Region (British Rail; defunct).
Loco-Commotion
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. This program is not a railway simulation, although it has excellent graphics which nicely depict the movements of trains through a southern German or Alpine style of landscape. The program is actually an extremely good logic puzzle game, involving the routing of trains to destinations. There are numerous levels, ranging from tutorial through simple to very difficult. I found this program on sale at a low price, which made it an excellent purchase.
Locomotive
RAILWAYS. Engine (with motive power and driver cab but no passenger or freight space).
LOD
TRAINZ. See "Level Of Detail".
Loop
RAILWAYS. See "Passing Loop".
LRV
RAILWAYS. See "Light Rail Vehicle".
LT
RAILWAYS. London Transport (UK). The organisation which operates (or used to operate?) the capital's underground railway system ("the Tube") and bus network. See also TFL.
LTS
RAILWAYS. A UK railway company (defunct? fictional?).
LU
RAILWAYS. London Underground (UK). Often referred to as "the Tube".
LV
RAILWAYS. Lehigh Valley Railroad (USA; defunct?).
LView
COMPUTERS. See "IrfanView".
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
M
M Set
RAILWAYS. A type of double-decker passenger electric (pantograph) multiple set used by CityRail in New South Wales, Australia. See also "S Set" and "V Set".
Maglev
RAILWAYS. Magnetic levitation. The transportation system invented by Professor Eric Laithwaite, in which trains are both supported and propelled by means of electromagnetism - specifically, by use of linear induction motors. If the term "railway" is restricted to mean a transportation system in which steel wheels run on steel rails, then maglev systems obviously cannot be included. However, it seems appropriate to me to include the term here.
The term "guideway" is often used to refer to the "track" on which maglev trains run.
Maglev test tracks have been built in China, Germany, Japan and South Korea. There have also been a number of attempts to construct passenger-carrying maglev systems in Britain, Germany and the USA, most of which have stalled or have been abandoned for various reasons.
As far as I know, the only currently operative high speed passenger-carrying maglev system is the
nineteen mile long shuttle line between downtown Shanghai (China) and Pudong International Airport. According to a newspaper article published in October 2004 the trains on this system reach 270mph on their eight-minute journey. The system cost the equivalent of 1.2 billion US dollars and took two and a half years to construct.
There is a fictional and highly fanciful maglev system featured in the graphical puzzle-solving computer adventure game called Riven, the first sequel to Myst. The controls, once figured out, are extremely simple.
TRS2006 includes maglev guideway and rolling stock.
A payware maglev add-on is available for the Microsoft Train Simulator, depicting a route between Barstow (California) and Las Vegas (Nevada). However, customer reviews of this product on Amazon are generally less than positive.
Maintenance of Way (MoW)
RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for rolling stock used for track maintenance.
Map
TRAINZ. Same as Layout and Route. See "Layout".
Maple Leaf Tracks
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. Publishers of add-ons for the Microsoft Train Simulator, mainly set in Canada and the USA. Web site (verified Sep-05): http://www.mapleleaftracks.com
MARC
RAILWAYS. Maryland Area Rail Commuter (USA).
Marias Pass
RAILWAYS. A famous highly scenic route in northwestern Montana, USA. The route roughly parallels that of US 2 around the southern edge of Glacier National Park. Various Trainz layouts for the Marias Pass route are available, including a payware version created by HP Trainz (external link verified Mar-07)
MARTA
RAILWAYS. Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. The underground railway system in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
MAS
RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by the Queensland Rail (Australia) for a "Sunlander" first class sleeper car with a side corridor.
MAV
- RAILWAYS. Hungarian State Railways.
- RAILWAYS. Possibly an alternative abbreviation for magnetic levitation, although the term maglev is normally used.
MB
- Manitoba.
- COMPUTERS. Megabytes.
- Mercedes Benz.
- TRAINZ. In Trainz custom items, the MB prefix usually indicates an item created by Mike Banfield.
- COMPUTERS. Motherboard, i.e. a computer's system board. Also sometimes abbreviated to mobo.
MBC
RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by the Queensland Rail (Australia) for a "Sunlander" baggage car.
MBL
RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by the Queensland Rail (Australia) for a "Sunlander" economy class car.
MBS
RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by the Queensland Rail (Australia) for a "Sunlander" economy class sleeper car.
MBTA
RAILWAYS. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. The organisation responsible for public transport in the Boston, Massachusetts, USA area. Boston had the first subway (underground railway) system in the USA.
MCC
RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by the Queensland Rail (Australia) for a "Sunlander" club car.
MDmot Ax
RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by MAV (Hungarian State Railways) for a type of first class coach.
MDmot Bx
RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by MAV (Hungarian State Railways) for a type of second class coach.
MEC
RAILWAYS. Maine Central Railroad (USA). Under the ownership of Guilford Industries since 1981.
Merseyrail Electrics
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
Mesh
TRAINZ. A file which specifies the shape of a 3D object. The term is used fairly generally in computer graphics.
Metro
- RAILWAYS. A term used in many countries for an underground railway system (what would be called a subway in the USA).
- In the USA, the term might refer to an underground or light railway system, or a local bus system.
Metro-North
RAILWAYS. A series of commuter railway services operated by the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) of New York State, including the Port Jervis Line, the Pascack Valley Line, the Hudson Line, the Harlem Line and the New Haven line. A map of the routes is available here (external link verified Jul-07). A depiction of part of the Harlem Line is available in Auran's Trainz Classics simulator.
Metrolink
RAILWAYS. A commuter railway system which serves the Los Angeles, California, USA area.
MFX
TRAINZ. This appears to be a feature, facility or utility created by TrainzProRoutes but unfortunately I couldn't find any meaningful documentation about it on their web site when I searched in December 2005.
Metrorail
RAILWAYS. The subway (underground railway) system in Washington, DC, USA.
Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS)
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. Not related in any way to Auran or Trainz. Web site (verified Sep-05): http://www.microsoft.com/games/trainsim. Originally developed by Kuju. Not to be confused with TrainMaster Train Simulator (TMTS).
Midland Main Line (MML)
RAILWAYS. London St Pancras to Sheffield (UK.
Midland Mainline
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
Mikado
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 2-8-2 (o OOOO o). Used for freight services.
MML
RAILWAYS. See "Midland Main Line".
Mocrossing
TRAINZ. In Trainz Objectz, the sub-category within the Track/Trackside category which includes level crossings (grade crossings) and roads. I do not know whether this is an Auran term or a term devised by Trainz Objectz.
Mogul
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 2-6-0 (o OOO). Used for light freight and passenger services.
Mojunction
TRAINZ. In Trainz Objectz, the sub-category within the Track/Trackside category which includes junction levers and motors. I do not know whether this is an Auran term or a term devised by Trainz Objectz. Nor do I know why the term has the prefix "Mo" when it refers to track and trains, not road vehicles.
Monorail
RAILWAYS. A railway system in which only one "rail" is used. The word "beam" or "beamway" is sometimes used instead of "rail" or "track". Trains usually either straddle the single rail, or are supported from above by it.
Although the construction of junctions for monorail systems might at first sight be thought to be difficult or impossible, in fact this is not a problem in practice.
Famous monorail systems in which trains straddle the rail include those at Disneyland (Anaheim, California, USA) and Disney World (Orlando, Florida, USA). There is also a similar monorail system, recently greatly expanded, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
There is a famous overhead suspended monorail system called the Schwebebahn in Wuppertal, Germany. See "Schwebebahn".
Monorail "track", rolling stock and a demonstration layout for TRS2004 are available at http://trainz.luvr.net/projects-view.php?pid=123 (external link verified Dec-04). These items may also work in TRS2006.
Montana Rail Link (MRL)
RAILWAYS. A real railway company which operates over 900 miles of track in Montana, Idaho and Washington State, USA. http://www.montanarail.com A fully complete layout of the MRL route now exists for Trainz, created by TrainzProRoutes.
Mosignal
TRAINZ. In Trainz Objectz, the sub-category within the Track/Trackside category which includes signals (for trains). I do not know whether this is an Auran term or a term devised by Trainz Objectz. Nor do I know why the term has the prefix "Mo" when it refers to trains, not road vehicles.
Mospeedboard
TRAINZ. In Trainz Objectz, the sub-category within the Track/Trackside category which includes speed limit signs (for trains). I do not know whether this is an Auran term or a term devised by Trainz Objectz. Nor do I know why the term has the prefix "Mo" when it refers to trains, not road vehicles.
Mountain
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 4-8-2 (oo OOOO o). Used for heavy freight and passenger services.
MoW
RAILWAYS. See "Maintenance of Way".
MP
RAILWAYS. Missouri Pacific (USA; absorbed into the Union Pacific Railroad in 1980).
MPC/C
RAILWAYS. The designation code used by the Queensland Rail (Australia) for a "Sunlander" AC power car.
MR
RAILWAYS. Milwaukee Road (USA; defunct?).
MRL
RAILWAYS. See "Montana Rail Link".
MSTS
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. See "Microsoft Train Simulator".
MTA
RAILWAYS. Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York State. There may be other organisations with the same or very similar names. Responsible for the Metro-North commuter railway lines, amongst other services. See "Metro-North".
MU
RAILWAYS. Multiple Unit, for example a DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) or EMU (electric multiple unit). Probably includes RDC's (Rail Diesel Cars).
MUNI
RAILWAYS. A passenger light railway system which serves the San Francisco area in California, USA. Some MUNI rolling stock is available for Trainz. MUNI are also responsible for San Francisco's local buses and its famous cable car system. See also "BART".
Murchison
TRAINZ. A well-known layout for Trainz, created by SirGibby, the nickname of Michael Sutton http://www.trainzone.co.nz (external link verified Jan-05). Set in Murchison County, New Zealand, the layout is highly scenic and has an emphasis on narrow-gauge logging. The layout itself is available free of charge on Auran's Download Station (DLS) but many of the assets used are payware and can only be purchased at http://www.trainzone.co.nz. There are several geographical features in New Zealand's South Island named Murchison.
My Collection
TRAINZ. In previous versions of Trainz, "My Collection" was a utility similar to the Railyard option in TRS2004, used to display locomotives and rolling stock.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
N
Narrow Gauge
RAILWAYS. Any gauge less than standard gauge.
NDA
COMPUTERS. See "Non-Disclosure Agreement".
NEC
RAILWAYS. See "Northeast Corridor".
New South Wales State Rail Authority, Australia (NSW SRA)
RAILWAYS. Also called StateRail. Now part of RailCorp. Includes (or is closely connected with) CityRail and CountryLink. Depictions of CountryLink rolling stock are available for Trainz. (All external links verified Jan-04.) See also "CityRail" and "CountryLink".
Next Week
COMPUTERS. A term used by computer software developers and custom content creators to refer to an indeterminate time, possibly within the next few years.
This entry was kindly suggested by Charlie Lear ("cjlear").
NG
- RAILWAYS. Narrow gauge.
- TRAINZ. Norris Green, i.e. the Norris Green branch line on the Razorback Railway.
NH
RAILWAYS. New Haven Railroad (or New Haven And Connecticut Railroad?), a commuter railway between New York City and New Haven, Connecticut. Defunct. The New Haven line is now operated by Metro-North. Also, confusingly, NH is the official abbreviation for the US state of New Hampshire.
NI Railways
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04). Serves Northern Ireland, presumably.
NLKY
RAILWAYS. The NSWGR (New South Wales Government Railways, Australia) rolling stock designation code for a louvred van.
NMBS-SNCB
RAILWAYS. Belgian Railways.
NOD
RAILWAYS. The NSWGR (New South Wales Government Railways, Australia) rolling stock designation code for a gondola.
Nogura
TRAINZ. The network controller of the Razorback Railway (external link verified Jan-05). Named after Starfleet Admiral Nogura, a character in "Star Trek - The Motion Picture", or more likely the same person. Fictional, although he claims otherwise.
Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
COMPUTERS. An agreement between two or more organisations or persons, such that information will not be publicly disclosed. Typically this is an agreement between a computer software publisher and an external beta tester.
NORAC
RAILWAYS. An organisation which specifies the signalling system used by several, but not all, US railroads. NORAC Rules are the rules that engineers (engine drivers) must follow in response to each combination of signal colours.
Norris
- RAILWAYS. An early type of steam locomotive.
- TRAINZ. The Norris Green Branch Line is a major new feature of version 6 of the Razorback Railway layout.
Northeast Corridor (NEC)
RAILWAYS. The Amtrak passenger train service between Boston, New York City and Washington DC. Sometimes also called the Northeastern Corridor. I have not yet found a Trainz layout for the NEC, but NEC signals are available. Part of the NEC is modelled as a built-in route in MSTS.
NORTA
RAILWAYS. New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (Louisiana, USA).
Northern
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 4-8-4 (oo OOOO oo). Used for heavy freight and passenger services.
NQO
RAILWAYS. The NSWGR (New South Wales Government Railways, Australia) rolling stock designation code for a flatcar.
NR
RAILWAYS. National Rail (Australia). Also a class of heavy diesel locomotives used by that organisation.
NS
- RAILWAYS. Nederlandse Spoorwegen, the Netherlands national railway system.
- RAILWAYS. Norfolk Southern Railroad (USA).
NSW SRA
RAILWAYS. See "New South Wales State Rail Authority, Australia".
NSWGR
RAILWAYS. New South Wales Government Railways, Australia.
NURB
Non-uniform rational B-spline. The term seems to be effectively synonymous with a Bezier curve. Whereas TRS2006 and earlier only apply Bezier curve mechanisms to tracks, appearently TRS2009 may be able to apply them to other structures so as to give them smooth rounded surfaces. There is some doubt as to whether gmax can create objects with NURB's.
NYC
RAILWAYS. New York Central (USA). Defunct?.
NYCTA
RAILWAYS. New York City Transit Authority. A division of NYMTA.
NYMTA
RAILWAYS. New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
O
OBB
RAILWAYS. Austrian Railways.
OBS
TRAINZ. File extension. The exact purpose is not known but it may well be to hold information about the objects on a map, although possibly only for some types of objects such as trackside objects. It doesn't appear to be related to the obsolete asset mechanism. Probably an Auran specific file type.
Occupancy Control System (OCS)
RAILWAYS. A system of track control involving permission to proceed from one location to another.
OCR
TRAINZ. Overlord Consolidated Railways - a fictional Trainz railroad http://iwgn.net/ocr
OCS
RAILWAYS. See "Occupancy Control System".
Offsider
RAILWAYS. A driver's assistant, or "second person". The term is presumably derived from the fact that in steam locomotives and many diesel locomotives there is no direct view ahead, so the driver maintains a watch on one side and his assistant covers the other side. With a steam locomotive this role would be taken by the fireman. While the term "fireman" is sometimes used nowadays it is obviously anachronistic. The term "offsider" might be a slang expression, and might be restricted to Australia. Many modern locomotives are operated by a single driver with no assistant.
OHLE
RAILWAYS. See "Overhead Line Equipment".
Old
TRAINZ. A term sometimes used in rolling stock names to indicate that the asset has been deliberately made to appear weathered (dirty or rusty, etc - in other words far from new). Therefore it is quite possible that a newly created version of a rolling stock asset could include the word "old" in its title, which could potentially be very confusing. Sometimes the words "used" or "weathered" are used with the same meaning.
One Anglia Services
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04). The successor to Anglia Railways (UK). Operates services in East Anglia.
One Great Eastern Services
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
One Stansted Express Services
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04). Operates passenger services from a London terminus to Stansted Airport.
One West Anglia Services
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
ONR
RAILWAYS. Ontario Northland Railway. Canada.
Overhead Line Equipment (OHLE)
RAILWAYS. Catenary wires and their supporting gantries, etc.
Overland, The
RAILWAYS. An Australian passenger railway service which links Adelaide (South Australia) and Melbourne (Victoria).
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
P
Pacific
- RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 4-6-2 (oo OOO o). Used for passenger services.
- RAILWAYS. Part of the name of many US and Canadian railroads, most notably those of Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific.
Paint Shed
TRAINZ. Also called Trainz Paint Shed (probably to distinguish it from the Microsoft Train Simulator version). A utility which allows rolling stock to be given new colours and textures. Trainz Paint Shed can be downloaded free of charge from the "Downloads" page on Auran's web site. Paint Shed is required in order to use some custom rolling stock assets, although in that case it merely needs to be installed, with no understanding or what it does or how to operate it.
Pannier Tank
RAILWAY. See "Tank Engine".
Pantograph
- RAILWAYS. A device on the roof of some types of electric locomotives, used to obtain power from an overhead catenary wire. Other types of electric locomotives pick up power via a shoe which rides on a third rail, instead of using a pantograph.
- TRAINZ. In Trainz, pantographs have four states, normally used to allow each of two pantographs to be up or down. Clicking the pantograph control rotates round the four states.
In most cases, the pantograph control in Trainz operates an actual pantograph on a locomotive. However, in a few cases the pantograph control actually operates some other animated feature, such as carriage doors (open or closed), snowploughs/cow catchers (up or down), or aircraft landing gear (up or down).
Pass
RAILWAYS. Passenger service.
Passenger Edition
TRAINZ. I'm almost sure that this is a retail version of Trainz Railway Simulator 2004 (TRS2004) with Service Pack 2 (SP2).
Passing Loop
RAILWAYS. A length of double track where trains can pass each other, on a railway line which is mainly single track. Alternatively, a length of additional track alongside the main line, allowing faster trains to pass slower trains. A passing loop is therefore parallel to the main track, and not really a loop at all. I'm not sure whether the term also includes additional sections of parallel tracks at stations, allowing non-stopping trains to pass trains stopped at the station. Passing loops are also sometimes called crossing loops or just loops.
Patentee
RAILWAYS. An early type of steam locomotive.
PATH
RAILWAYS. Port Authority Trans-Hudson. PATH operate a subway (underground railway) line with the same name in the New York City area. See also "BMT", "IND", "IRT" and "NYMTA".
PC
RAILWAYS. See "Power Car".
PDF
COMPUTERS. File extension. Portable Document Format. A document which can be displayed by the Adobe Acrobat Reader program. A standard Windows file type.
Pendolino
RAILWAYS. A type of tilting train used by Virgin Trains in Britain, but perhaps with the tilt mechanism disabled due to the state of the British track.
Permanent Way
RAILWAYS. The track and track-bed.
Phoenix
TRAINZ. The Razorback Railway system which will allow its scenarios to be run on both TRS2004 and TRS2006. Currently (Sep-06) under development.
Physics
COMPUTERS. In any computer program which purports to be a realistic simulation, including railway simulators and flight simulators, the algorithms which control movement. Most simulators, including Trainz, offer a choice of two physics. In Trainz DCC mode offers simple control and operation, while CAB mode attempts to be as realistic as possible. The term derives from Newton's laws of motion and other fundamental principles of physics.
Pilbara Rail
RAILWAYS. A railway company in the Pilbara region of northern Western Australia. Freight only, I suspect.
PKP
RAILWAYS. The Polish state railway system.
Planet
RAILWAYS. A very early type of steam locomotive.
PM
TRAINZ. File extension. Progressive Mesh file. Probably an Auran specific file type. See also "IM".
Points
RAILWAYS. The British name for what is called a switch in the USA. The word is always used in the plural form in this context. A place where two railway lines diverge (or meet, for trains travelling in the other direction). The word "junction" is used in Trainz.
Points Lever
See "Lever".
Poly, polygon
TRAINZ. A component of a mesh. The more detailed the shape of a 3D object, the more polygons it has, and therefore the greater processing power it requires to be rendered. The term is widely used in computer 3D graphics.
Polycount
TRAINZ. The number of polygons a 3D object has.
Pony Truck
RAILWAYS. A two-wheeled bogey at the front of a locomotive. I suspect that this term might only be used in the USA.
Portal
TRAINZ. A feature introduced with TRS2004 SP2. A portal acts as a "teleport". Trains can be made to appear out of portals or disappear into them. I think it may also be possible to use a portal to transport a train from one part of a layout to another, for example from a staging area to the main layout or vice-versa.
Power Car (PC)
RAILWAYS. In passenger trainsets such as the UK HST, the French TGV and the Australian XPT a power car is a locomotive, of which there is nearly always one at each end.
Prairie
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 2-6-2 (o OOO o). Used for light freight and passenger services.
Pre-SP3
TRAINZ. On Auran's Download Station, the category "Pre-SP3" means before SP3 of Trainz. It does NOT mean before SP3 of TRS2004. If you have TRS2004 then by default the "Pre-SP3" category on DLS is not ticked. This is because most Pre-SP3 items are not compatible with modern versions of Trainz. In addition, the way that Pre-SP3 items are installed is also incompatible with TRS2004. If a scenario, Driver Session or layout specifies a Pre-SP3 item and you have TRS2004, try contacting the author of both items to see if either of them can suggest a solution.
Pro Train
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. Pro Train publish a series of add-ons for the Microsoft Train Simulator program, mostly set in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. They are part of Blue Sky Interactive. Web site (verified Sep-05) http://www.deutsche-strecken.de
Pro Train Perfect (PTP)
TRAINZ. The name by which Auran's TRS2006 is published in Germany, that being in cooperation with Pro Train/Blue Sky Interactive.
Product
TRAINZ. Anything produced by or consumed by an industry. Also called a commodity. Trainz Objectz uses the term "Product".
Profile
TRAINZ. This term is used in Trainz Objectz to refer to a Driver Session.
Progressive Mesh
TRAINZ. See "PM".
Prototypical
TRAINZ. A layout or other feature which is intended to accurately depict reality, rather than a fictional or fanciful place or object.
PRR
RAILWAYS. Pennsylvania Railroad (USA) (defunct?).
PTP
TRAINZ. See "Pro Train Perfect".
PWA
RAILWAYS. The QR (Queensland Rail, Australia) rolling stock designation code for a flatcar with ends but no sides.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Q
QLX
RAILWAYS. The QR (Queensland Rail, Australia) rolling stock designation code for a louvred van.
QR
RAILWAYS. Queensland Rail (Australia).
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
R
Rack And Pinion
A mechanism which allows trains to negotiate steeper gradients than normal, and therefore typically found in mountain railways. A driven cog wheel (or pinion) on the locomotive engages with a third rail which is in the form of a toothed rack. Also called a cog railway.
Famous examples include the Pikes Peak Cog Railway in Colorado, USA and the Rigi-Bahn in central Switzerland which starts in the village of Vitznau on Lake Lucerne.
Rail Driver
TRAINZ. A physical control panel manufactured by P.I. Engineering (external link verified Mar-07). Rail Driver mimics a real locomotive control panel. It can be attached to a computer and used to control locomotives in Trainz 2004 or MSTS (Microsoft Train Simulator).
Rail Profile
RAILWAYS. The shape of the cross-section of a rail. The design of rail profiles is a surprisingly complicated subject.
Rail Simulator
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. A new train simulator program currently (Dec-05) being developed by Kuju, the same Japanese software company which created Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS), in conjunction with Electronic Arts.
Rail Traffic Controller (RTC)
RAILWAYS. This term is used in Canada to refer to a signalman (UK) or dispatcher (US).
Rail3D
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. A freeware train simulator. Web site (verified Sep-05): http://www.rail3d.net
RailCar
RAILWAYS. A multiple unit, especially a diesel multiple unit.
RailCorp
RAILWAYS. See "New South Wales State Rail Authority, Australia".
Railroad
RAILWAYS. The term used in the USA, and some other countries, for a railway. However, both terms are generally understood in the USA.
Railway
RAILWAYS. While everyone knows what a railway is, the word is actually quite difficult to define. Many people feel that the term should be restricted so as to only refer to transportation systems in which steel wheels run on steel rails, although that definition would exclude maglevs and some underground railway (subway) systems which use rubber tyres. It might also exclude monorail systems but include many roller coasters!
Railpictures.net
RAILWAYS. A web site which offers a huge collection of excellent photographs of real railways, locomotives and trains. The site includes pictures from all around the world but there is a bias towards the USA and Canada. http://www.railpictures.net (external link verified May-05)
Railroad Tycoon
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. A classic programme which simulates railroad management. The graphics are prehistoric compared with today's standards, but the gameplay is quite addictive.
Rails Across America
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. This appears to be a variant of the classic "Railroad Tycoon" programme, set in the USA and Canada.
Railworks
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. Version two of KRS, Kuju Rail Simulator.
Railyard
TRAINZ. The mode of TRS2004 in which installed rolling stock items can be displayed. A similar option in some previous versions of Trainz was called "My Collection".
Rake
- A set of coupled freight wagons, parked as a group or moved as a group while being shunted or marshalled.
- A set of freight wagons or passenger carriages semi-permanently joined by articulation rather than by normal couplers.
RAR
COMPUTERS. A rarely used archive file format, similar to ZIP (see that entry). The contents of RAR archive files can be extracted using the "Unzip Them All" utility, which is available via http://www.bykeyword.com or downloaded directly from http://www.herve-thouzard.com/unzinst.exe (both external links verified Jun-04).
Razorback Classic
- TRAINZ. The Razorback Layout V6.2 for TRS2004 SP4, downloadable from the Razorback Railway web site.
- TRAINZ. The Razorback Classic layout which is a built-in item in TRS2006. A mandatory patch is downloadable from the Razorback Railway web site.
The two layouts are identical in appearance but there are some technical differences. The patch eliminates those differences which would cause problems.
Razorback Railway (RBR)
TRAINZ. The Razorback Railway (external link verified Jan-05). A large layout for Trainz, set in Australia, vaguely in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. Many of the place names are real but their depictions and relative locations are fictional.
There is a Razorback Mountain in British Columbia (between Williams Lake and the coast, north of Vancouver), but Encarta World Atlas lists nothing under that name for Australia. In Australia, a razorback is a type of wild boar. In the layout, I suspect that the mountain near Razorback station has a similar shape. My guess (and it is only a guess) is that the name derives from the Razorback Range near Rockhampton, on Queensland's eastern coast about 320 miles (as the crow files) north of Brisbane.
In my opinion, both the Razorback layout and the Living Railway scenarios designed for use with it are of the very highest quality. If you only ever explore one source for downloading additional content for Trainz, I do not think you will be disappointed by the Razorback Railway's offerings.
See also "Living Railway".
RazorCam
TRAINZ. Webcams set up by the Razorback Railway developers, which show frequently updated views at various interesting locations on the layout. http://www.rbrdevelopers.co.uk/RazorCam (external link verified 2-Apr-05)
RBR
- RAILWAYS. The British Rail passenger carriage designation code for a restaurant coach (dining car). This might be a misprint for BRB.
- TRAINZ. See "Razorback Railway".
RCS
RAILWAYS. See "Remote Controlled Signalling".
RDC
- RAILWAYS. Rail Diesel Car. Probably the same as DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit).
- TRAINZ. See "Return Dispatcher Code".
Re-Skin (or just Skin)
TRAINZ. To create new graphics for an asset, but use the original mesh (the original 3D shape). For example, a truck road vehicle might be given a new company logo. I think re-skinning is the main purpose of the Paint Shed program, but the process can presumably also be achieved by other means. The results of such a procedure are also called a re-skin or a skin. The Paint Shed program is also required in order to use some re-skinned assets, even if you never use the program to create a re-skin yourself.
Re460
RAILWAYS. A type of electric locomotive, used by SBB-CFF-FFS.
Red Hen
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel railcar used by South Australian Railways. The Red Hen's visual appearance is somewhat similar to that of a London Underground train, although Underground trains are electric.
Redbird
RAILWAYS. A type of subway car used in New York City (and maybe elsewhere).
Reefer
RAILWAYS. I think this is probably a slang expression for a refrigerated freight wagon.
Regional Passenger Transit (RPT)
TRAINZ. A fictional layout set in the northern USA in winter, created by TrainzProRoutes and as yet only available to registered users of their forums. The name may well also be used in reality.
Regulator
RAILWAYS. One of the two main controls of a steam locomotive, the other being the cutoff. In simple terms the regulator is roughly analogous to the accelerator or a car and the cutoff is analogous to the gear level.
Remote Controlled Signalling (RCS)
RAILWAYS. The name used by QR (Queensland Railways, Australia) for CTC and similar systems.
Render
COMPUTERS. The process of generating a 3D image on a computer. In most cases such images are created by taking a set of meshes (3D shapes), applying textures (2D patterns) to their sides, then applying the effects of lights and shadows. Most modern computer games which create 3D images as the user traverses their world use rendering. Exceptions include Myst and Riven, where the rendering was performed by the program creators and the user is effectively presented a series of mainly static images. As examples, Trainz and the "Tomb Raider" series of computer games use rendering. Rendering is incredibly processor intensive, involving millions of calculations. All modern graphics boards (video cards) perform much of these calculations, relieving the main processor of the task. The better the video board, the faster the rendering process, and the more frames that can be displayed per second, and so the smoother the image. Displaying the video images of a movie film on DVD does not involve rendering, but it does involve some relatively straightforward processing for factors such as image size, aspect ratio, brightness and contrast.
Renfe
RAILWAYS. The Spanish national railway system. I don't know if the name is an acronym which should be capitalised, or a word.
Return Dispatcher Code (RDC)
TRAINZ. A term used in the Razorback Railway system. When a task is completed, a Return Dispatcher Code is displayed. This code can be entered in the Dispatcher section of the Razorback Railway web site in order to update the user's performance record and obtain the next task. Return Dispatcher Codes must always be entered with Caps Lock off and Shift keys not pressed, but they may be displayed in upper or lower case, and with or without delimiting hyphens or spaces between each group of four characters. See also "Dispatcher Code".
Reversing Wye
RAILWAYS. See "Wye".
RMB
- RAILWAYS. The British Rail passenger carriage designation code for a restaurant miniature buffet carriage, i.e. a coach with both passenger seating an a small buffet. This code might only be used with MK1 coaches.
- TRAINZ. Right mouse button. This abbreviation is used extensively in Auran's documentation.
Road Train
Not a train, but a road truck with several trailers. Road trains are widely used in Australia, where they are apparently a serious hazard to other road traffic.
Robe River
RAILWAYS. A railway company in the Pilbara region of northern Western Australia. Freight only, I suspect.
Rock Island
RAILWAYS. A US railway company (defunct; ceased operation 1979/1980).
Rolling Stock (RS)
RAILWAYS. Anything which moves along the rails, powered or unpowered. The term includes locomotives, multiple units, passenger carriages and freight wagons of all types.
Rolling Stock Classification Codes
RAILWAYS. Many railway organisations use a system of suffix codes to classify unpowered rolling stock, especially passenger carriages. These codes usually consist of one or more letters. They are used to indicate whether the rolling stock is a normal passenger carriage, a dining car, a sleeping car, a baggage car, and so on. Unfortunately, it seems that each railway organisation has its own code scheme. Equally unfortunately, in most cases the meanings of the codes are not obvious to someone who is unfamiliar with railway terminology.
The following articles on Wikipedia are useful (both external links verified Jan-05):
If anyone can suggest web sites which list the rolling stock classification codes used by significant railway organisations in other countries, I would be very grateful if they would contact me.
See also "Class Numbers" and "Total Operations Processing System (TOPS)".
Rolling Stock Part (RS Part)
TRAINZ. Any asset which is a dependency of a rolling stock asset. The most common rolling stock parts are bogeys, engine specifications and engine sounds. Rolling stock part assets can be shared by numerous rolling stock assets.
Route
TRAINZ. Same as Layout and Map. See "Layout".
RPT
TRAINZ. See "Regional Passenger Transit".
RR
RAILWAYS. Railroad.
RS
RAILWAYS. See "Rolling Stock".
RS Part
TRAINZ. See "Rolling Stock Part".
RSA
RAILWAYS. South African Railways.
RTC
RAILWAYS. See "Rail Traffic Controller".
RTSA
RAILWAYS. Railway Technical Society Of Australasia.
Rule
TRAINZ. A command which runs when a Driver Session is started. The inclusion of Rules and their parameters is specified when a Driver Session is created in Surveyor. However, some Rules only fire when an event occurs as the Session is being played. For example trigger Rules only fire when the relevant train enters the relevant trigger.
Rules can be indented, in which case they will only be obeyed when the master Rule immediately above the indented Rules fires. For example, a master trigger Rule can have a play sound Rule indented under it, so that the sound will be played when a train enters a trigger. This is analogous to an IF/THEN statement and its dependent statements in traditional computer programming.
A few standard built-in Rules are available by default when a Driver Session is created in Surveyor and additional built-in and custom Rules can be added as desired.
In Trainz Objectz and also in some Auran documentation, Rules are called Behaviors (with Australian/US spelling, not British spelling).
Rules are not the same as Driver commands, although the two are closely related. The Driver Command Rule specifies which Driver commands will be available in a Driver Session.
Rules are not the same as Scriptlets. Scriptlets are GameScript coding associated with assets such as rolling stock items and industries.
Information about Rules can be found in the "Session and Rules Management" section of the "World Builders Manual" (i.e. the Surveyor manual) which is supplied in electronic form as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file with TRS2004.
The Auran-produced document "TRS2006 Sessions & Rules Guide" covers usage of Rules in great detail. Much of the information in this document is also applicable to TRS2004. The document can be downloaded from Auran's web site. This document does not contain any information about the creation of Rules, only their usage.
The Auran-produced document "TRS2004 SP2 Variable Rules Tutorial", also downloadable from Auran's web site, explains the usage of the new variable Rules introduced with TRS2004 SP2. The downloadable package includes a sample tutorial route and Driver Session.
Russkiye Zheleznye Durogi (RZD)
RAILWAYS. The Russian state railway system.
RZD
RAILWAYS. See "Russkiye Zheleznye Durogi".
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
S
S Set
RAILWAYS. A type of double-decker passenger electric (pantograph) multiple set used by CityRail in New South Wales, Australia. See also "M Set" and "V Set".
S-Bahn
RAILWAYS. A type of passenger railway service in Germany.
SA
RAILWAYS. See "SAR".
Saddle
RAILWAYS. A plate bolted to the sleepers, which holds the rails in place.
Saddle Tank
RAILWAY. See "Tank Engine".
Sandpatch
RAILWAYS. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad route between Cumberland, Maryland and Rockwood, Pennsylvania (USA). Now owned by CSX. On the main line between Washington DC and Chicago Illinois, and on the route of the Amtrak Capitol Limited train. Depictions of the Sandpatch are available for MSTS (payware published by Maple Leaf Tracks) and TRS2004 (freeware published by TrainzProRoutes).
Sandy River And Rangeley Lakes Railroad (SR & RL)
RAILWAYS. A historical narrow-gauge railroad in Franklin County, Maine, USA. A depiction of the SR & RL, together with various items of rolling stock, is available for Trainz.
Santa Fe
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 2-10-2 (o OOOOO o). Used for heavy freight services.
SAR
- RAILWAYS. See "South African Railways".
- RAILWAYS. See "South Australia Railways."
Comment: In Trainz, there is often considerable confusion between these two meanings.
SARCC
RAILWAYS. See "South African Rail Commuter Corporation".
SAS
RAILWAYS. I'm guessing here, but I think SAS probably stands for the Afrikaans translation of "South African Railways", which based on Dutch could possibly be something similar to "Suid Africa Spoorwegen". See "South African Railways".
Saw-By
RAILWAYS. A series of operations whereby two long trains on a single-track line can pass each other at a passing loop which is not long enough to hold either train. I believe this name is used in the USA. It might also be used in other countries.
SBB-CFF-FFS
RAILWAYS. The Swiss national railway system. I think the initials are almost certainly those of the name in German, French and Italian.
Scenario
TRAINZ. A scripted activity. A Scenario consists of a layout (with topology, track and scenery objects), plus locomotives and rolling stock, plus a script. A scenario cannot have user-controllable AI drivers, but it can have scenario-controlled trains. Scenarios appear on the Scenario menu, in Scenario name order. A Scenario almost always has one or more objectives. In many cases Scenarios are scored, points normally being deducted for falling behind the timetable schedule or for exceeding speed limits, etc. TRS2006 does not inherently have the Scenario system, which was initially a highly controversial design decision until a method was discovered whereby Driver sessions could be created so as to run in a very similar way to true Scenarios.
Scenario Creation System (SCS)
TRAINZ. A freeware utility published by TrainzProRoutes (external link verified Mar-07), which creates scenarios for TRS2004. SCS is extremely clever and useful but it does suffer from some quite significant restrictions.
In January 2006 the Pest Patrol anti-adware/anti-spyware program reports finding an item of malware called "Backdoor.Punctes" in the file "C:\Program Files\TPR Scenario Creation System\TPR SCS.EXE". This was almost certainly a false positive which can be ignored.
SCS2006 is an entirely new version of SCS, for the creation of scenarios for TRS2006 (only). It also has additional features compared to the original SCS.
The initials SCS can also refer to ProTrainz' Subway Construction Set.
Scenery
TRAINZ. Includes buildings, trees, vegetation and static road vehicles.
Schedule
TRAINZ. AI-controlled trains in Driver Sessions can be assigned schedules. I do not yet know how these schedules are specified, or how they might interact with Driver Commands.
Schwebebahn
RAILWAYS. The famous monorail system in Wuppertal, Germany. Carriages are suspended from overhead rails, which are supported by steel gantries. The system was constructed many years ago (in 1901 according to one source) but is still operative. No Trainz layout exists for the Schwebebahn as far as I know, but one is apparently available for the BAHN simulator.
SCL
RAILWAYS. Seaboard Coast Line (USA). Absorbed into the Seaboard System in 1980.
Scotrail Railways
RAILWAYS. See "First Scot Rail".
Script
- COMPUTERS. A euphemism for a computer program, used by marketing people in the forlorn hope that naive users, scared of the phrase "computer programming", will be led into thinking that their creation is relatively simple. "Macro" is an alternative euphemism.
- TRAINZ. A computer program which controls the operation of a scenario. I think Trainz 2004 uses GS and GSE files to hold scenario scripts, in plain text and encoded format respectively. I think previous versions of Trainz used some other mechanism which is not compatible with TRS2004. I think it may also be possible to apply scripts to Driver Sessions, possibly in a rather different way to scenarios. I have seen at least one Driver Session which appears to operate almost as if it were a scenario, namely Freidman Forest (kuid 46435:500011) for the Razorback Railway V5 layout.
Scriptlet
TRAINZ. GameScript coding associated with an asset such as a rolling stock item or an industry. Therefore a Scriptlet is not the same thing as a Rule.
SCS
- TRAINZ. See "Scenario Creation System".
- TRAINZ. See "Subway Construction Set".
SCS2
TRAINZ. See "Scenario Creation System".
SD40-2
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by ATSF, BN, CN, Conrail, CSX, Norfolk Southern, Ontario Northland and Union Pacific.
SD40T-2
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by Cotton Belt.
SD45
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by Conrail, Norfolk Southern and Ontario Northland.
SD50
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by CSX.
SD80MAC
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by Conrail.
Seaboard System
RAILWAYS. A US railroad company, formed in 1980 by the merger of the Chessie System; the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad; the Louisville and Nashville Railroad; the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railroad; the Georgia Railroad; the Atlanta and West Point Railroad; and the Western Railway of Alabama. The Seaboard System was renamed the CSX Transportation System in 1987.
Section
RAILWAYS. See "Division".
Semaphore Signal
RAILWAYS. The type of old-fashioned signal where a hinged arm moves between two positions so as to indicate the signal's state. In most cases the lower position indicates "do not pass", providing a fail-safe should the signal actuating cable mechanism break. Semaphore signals usually have integrated coloured lenses through which a light shines to indicate the signal's state at night. Semaphore signals have been largely replaced by modern coloured light signals and in-cab signal indications. There are depictions of various types of animated semaphore signals available for Trainz, together of course with many types of modern coloured light signals.
SEPTA
RAILWAYS. Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. Serves Philadelphia and its suburbs.
Service Pack (SP)
TRAINZ. See "SP2", etc.
Session
TRAINZ. See "Driver Session".
SGR
RAILWAYS. See "South Gippsland Railway".
Sh
RAILWAYS. A prefix used in the designations of some German railway signals.
Shinkansen
RAILWAYS. The Japanese high speed "Bullet Train" network. I have not been able to discover any rolling stock or layouts for Trainz for this network.
Shoe
RAILWAYS. See "Third Rail".
Shunt
RAILWAYS. To assemble or disassemble a consist, or move it to the desired location. Shunting is nearly always performed at slow speed, and often by special purpose locomotives. In many Trainz scenarios, red signals can be legitimately passed while shunting. Some Trainz scenarios include some very frustrating shunting puzzles.
Shunter or Shunting Engine
RAILWAYS. Terms used in Britain for what in the USA is called a switch engine, switcher or yard switcher.
Shutter
TRAINZ. The nickname of Greg Furlong, one of the creators of the Razorback Railway.
Shuttle
RAILWAYS. See "Le Shuttle".
Side Tank
RAILWAY. See "Tank Engine".
Siding
RAILWAYS. A length of track, usually a dead-end, used to park rolling stock which is not currently in use. See also "Lead" and "Spur".
Signal Box
RAILWAYS. What the British call a signal box is, I think, called a tower in the USA.
Signal Passed At Danger (SPAD)
RAILWAYS. A British term for a train passing a red signal, almost always due to driver error.
Signalling Centre Software
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. A publisher of payware train dispatcher simulation programs, so far all set in Britain. Free samples with limited functionality can be downloaded. Web site (verified Sep-05): http://www.sigcent.com
Silverlink Train Services
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
Silverton
RAILWAYS. See "Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad".
SirGibby
TRAINZ. The nickname Michael Sutton, of the creator of the http://www.trainzone.co.nz web site (external link verified Jan-05), including the well-known Murchison layout.
Six Foot
RAILWAYS. The gap between two closely spaced tracks, which does not provide sufficient space for someone to stand between two trains. See also "Four Foot" and "Ten Foot".
SJ
RAILWAYS. See "Statens Jarnvagar".
SK
RAILWAYS. The British Rail passenger carriage designation code for a standard class corridor coach, which had a number of compartments, all of which were standard class, linked by a side corridor. This code might only be used with MK1 coaches.
Skin
TRAINZ. See "Re-skin".
Skunk Train
RAILWAYS. The delightfully named tourist railway line which threads its way through the coastal mountains between Fort Bragg and Willets, California, USA. Apparently the line got its name from the obnoxious smell produced by its locomotives. No fully complete Trainz layout exists as far as I know.
Sleeper
- RAILWAYS. The name used in Britain for what is called a tie in the USA. A block of wood or concrete on which the rails are mounted.
- RAILWAYS. A sleeping car.
Slug
RAILWAYS. A locomotive with only its chassis. Probably part of a diesel-electric locomotive, with electric motors but no diesel generators or cab. According to one source: "A slug is a small, ballasted, four or six axle unit, semi-permanently coupled to a locomotive. A slug does not have a prime mover, but does have traction motors. Slugs are generally used in yard duty where the switcher has enough horsepower, but not enough tractive force to push long strings of cars up a hump."
Smokestack or Stack
RAILWAYS. The US term for that part of a steam locomotive through which the smoke exits. Called a chimney (or sometimes a funnel) in the UK.
SNCB-NMBS
RAILWAYS. Belgian Railways.
SNCF
RAILWAYS. Societe National De Chemin-De-Fer Francaise, the French national railway system.
SO
RAILWAYS. The British Rail passenger carriage designation code for a standard class open coach, in which seats are arranged in sets of four around a table, with a central aisle. This code might only be used with MK1 coaches.
Soo Line
RAILWAYS. A railway company in the USA and/or Canada. The name presumably comes from the town of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario which has the nickname "The Soo".
Soon
COMPUTERS. A term used by computer software developers and custom content creators to refer to an indeterminate time in the far distant future.
This entry was kindly suggested by Charlie Lear ("cjlear").
South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC)
RAILWAYS. This organisation operates urban commuter services in South Africa. See also "Spoornet".
South African Railways (SAR)
RAILWAYS. Historical. South Africa's public rail services are now operated either by Spoornet (national railways) or the South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC), which operates urban commuter services.
South Australia Railways (SAR)
RAILWAYS. Historical. In 1975 South Australian Railways was sold to the Commonwealth of Australia, and they were combined with Commonwealth Railways to form Australian National.
South Gippsland Railway (SGR)
RAILWAYS. A restored tourist railway line between Korumburra and Nyora in Victoria, Australia, about 60 miles southeast of Melbourne. Their rolling stock includes redhens.
Southern Railway
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
Southwest Trains
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
SP or SPRR
RAILWAYS. Southern Pacific Railroad. USA. Absorbed into the Union Pacific Railroad in 1996.
SP2
TRAINZ. Service Pack 2. As used by Auran, by default this currently (Sep-04) means SP2 for Trainz 2004. SP1 for Trainz 2004 is no longer available since it is included in SP2.
The term is also widely used by other computer software companies, notably Microsoft, to refer to service packs for their products.
SP3
TRAINZ. Service Pack 3. Currently (Oct-04) used by Auran to refer to either SP3 for Trainz or SP3 for TRS2004 (often with no statement of which). SP1 for Trainz and SP2 for Trainz are no longer available and have been replaced by SP3 for Trainz. SP1 for TRS2004 is no longer available, having been replaced by SP2. SP3 for TRS2004 appears to be a relatively small update, mainly improving performance on some computers. SP3 for TRS2004 is additional to SP2 for TRS2004, not a replacement for it.
The term is also widely used by other computer software companies, notably Microsoft, to refer to service packs for their products.
SP4
TRAINZ. Service Pack 4 for TRS2004 was released in September or early October 2004. Like SP3, it is a largely a "tidying up" upgrade.
SPAD
RAILWAYS. See "Signal Passed At Danger".
Speedboard
RAILWAYS. A speed limit sign for trains.
Spinner
- RAILWAYS. An early type of steam locomotive.
- TRAINZ. Part of a turntable.
Spiral Tunnel
RAILWAYS. A tunnel which makes a turn of 270 degrees or more, and where in most cases the track passes over itself (although not usually entirely within the tunnel). Spiral tunnels were constructed so as to increase the length of the track, so enabling steep gradients to be reduced. There are (or were?) some spiral tunnels in Switzerland.
Probably most famous examples are the two spiral tunnels on the Kicking Horse Pass on the border between British Columbia and Alberta in the Canadian Rockies, between Field and Lake Louise (or more globally, between Golden and Banff). The tunnels are on the western (British Columbia) side of the pass and can be seen from a stopping point for road vehicles on the Trans Canada Highway. These tunnels are still very much in use by long freight trains, making their layout easier to make out through the trees.
There are also at least two pairs of spiral tunnels in New South Wales, Australia. The Bethungra spiral tunnels are near Wagga Wagga southwest of Sydney and are particularly unusual since they are only used for the uphill track. The Cougal spiral tunnels at Border Loop are just south of the Queensland border on the line between Sydney and Brisbane.
The problem of steep gradients can also be solved by means of a Zig Zag.
Spline Point
TRAINZ. A point which controls the location, height and curvature of a railway track with smooth curves of varying radii based on Bezier curves. Spline points also similarly control the location, height and curvature of other objects which behave in the same way with regard to their placement, such as catenaries, roads, power lines and rows of trees. Some objects such as stations, industries and level crossings have fixed spline points to which track can be attached. Spline points are indicated by white dashed circles in Surveyor.
Spoon
RAILWAYS. See "Third Rail".
Spoornet
RAILWAYS. The South African national railway system, previous known as SAR (South African Railways). "Spoor" is Dutch (and therefore presumably also Afrikaans) for "railway" or "train". See also "SARCC".
SpoorSim
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. A freeware railway simulator which has a South African theme. Available from http://homeworld.ntlworld.com/slsim/index.html (external link verified Jan-05). At this stage in the program's development it has fully textured terrain, a steam locomotive and a diesel locomotive each with all vital controls, various items of passenger and freight rolling stock, and an extremely lengthy sample run through a most impressive South African landscape (which could be mistaken for the US southwest). The program does not yet have variable speed limits, switchable junctions, signals, a map mode, and some other such features. Nor are there any facilities to allow the user to create routes. The program is most definitely worth exploring at this stage and I look forward to further developments with great interest. UPDATE: According to reports, development of SpoorSim has now sadly been discontinued.
Spur
RAILWAYS. A section of track from a main line to serve an industry, etc, where freight wagons are loaded and unloaded. See also "Lead" and "Siding".
SPURT
RAILWAYS. Self Propelled Ultrasonic Rail Testing, a rail defect detector car. This term might only be used in India.
SR
RAILWAYS. Southern Region (British Rail, UK). Defunct.
SR & RL
RAILWAYS. See "Sandy River And Rangeley Lakes Railroad".
SRA
- RAILWAYS. Strategic Rail Authority (UK).
- RAILWAYS. See "New South Wales State Rail Authority, Australia".
Stack
RAILWAYS. See "Smokestack".
Stack Dump
TRAINZ. An error message which occasionally occurs with Trainz. Stack dumps can be caused by a bug in Auran's coding, by a bug in a scenario creator's coding (normally revealed by the user doing something unusual), by an error in a dependency asset (especially but not necessarily a rolling stock item), by a problem caused by Windows, by a hardware problem (including a power supply glitch) or some other factor. If a stack dump occurs consistently, make a note of the full details and if possible contact the author of the item (such as a scenario) where it happens, asking for their assistance. Stack dumps can also occur with other computer programs - the term is general.
Staging Area
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. A term used in model railways and sometimes in railway simulation. A staging area is part of a layout where trains can be parked or assembled. It is usually out of sight and therefore has no landscaping or scenery features. A staging area can also be used to delay trains which continuously cycle round a layout so they not appear too frequently. In many cases features such as mountains and tunnels are used to separate staging areas from the main part of a layout. In Trainz, portals also can be used.
I think the term "fiddle yard" probably means the same as "staging area".
Standard Gauge
RAILWAYS. Four foot eight and a half inches (1435 mm). The most common railway gauge worldwide.
Statens Jarnvagar (SJ)
RAILWAYS. Swedish State Railways. A Google search shows many web pages with the name spelt as "Jarnvager", but "Jarnvagar" appears to be in the majority. Frustratingly, the organisation's own web site always uses the initials "SJ" and never the full name, and all the online Swedish-English dictionaries I tried did not include the word.
StateRail
RAILWAYS. See "New South Wales State Rail Authority, Australia".
SteamRanger
RAILWAYS. In South Australia the Australian Railway Historical Society (ARHS) operates train services under the name "SteamRanger".
Stirling
RAILWAYS. An early type of steam locomotive.
Stock Car
RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for a freight wagon used to transport live animals ("stock"). Not to be confused with a stockcar as in stockcar racing.
Stoker
RAILWAYS. An alternative name sometimes used for a fireman, a person who assists the driver of a steam locomotive.
Sub or subdivision
RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for part of a railroad's track system. Similar, but possibly not identical, to a territory. See also "Division".
Subway
- RAILWAYS. A term widely used in the USA (and possibly some other countries) to refer to an underground railway, usually a passenger-only rapid transit commuter system for a city.
- In Britain, a subway is usually a pedestrian walkway under a road or a railway line.
- A fast food chain which sells submarine sandwiches. The chain is extremely widespread in the USA and Canada, with more locations than McDonald's, and it is now also growing in Europe. A prominent "Subway" sign in a small American or Canadian town is far more likely to indicate one of this chain's outlets than an underground railway station.
Subway Construction Set (SCS)
TRAINZ. A collection of assets published by ProTrainz with which a subway (underground railway) layout can be created. (External link verified May-07)
The initials SCS can also refer to Trainz Pro Routes' Scenario Creation System.
Superelevation
- RAILWAYS. The UK term for what is called cant in the US, the raising of the outer rail of a bend above the inner rail.
- RAILWAYS. The gradual introduction of cant before a bend commences, often used on high speed lines.
Surveyor
TRAINZ. The mode of Trainz in which layouts can be created and edited.
SW7
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel shunter locomotive, used by Amtrak.
Switch
RAILWAYS. The term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, to refer to what in Britain are called points. A place where two railway lines diverge (or meet, for trains travelling in the other direction). The word junction is used in Trainz.
Switch Engine, Switcher or Yard Switcher
RAILWAYS. Terms used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for what is called a shunting engine in Britain.
Switch Lever
RAILWAYS. See "Lever".
Switchback
RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for a Zig Zag. See "Zig Zag".
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
T
TA
TRAINZ. See "TrainzAgent".
TAC
TRAINZ. See "Trainz Assistance Community".
TACS
TRAINZ. See "Trainz Asset Creation Studio".
TAD
TRAINZ. See "Trainz Asset Database".
Tank Engine
RAILWAYS. A steam locomotive which does not have a separate tender, and which therefore has an integral tank to carry additional water. The tank may be in various forms including side tank (each side of the boiler), saddle tank (an inverted U shape around and above the boiler), pannier tank (each side of the boiler) and well tank (below the boiler).
TARL
TRAINZ. See "Trainz Asset Repair Library".
TBM
RAILWAYS. Tunnel Boring Machine.
TC
TRAINZ.See "Trainz Classics".
TDE
TRAINZ. See "Trainz Driver Edition".
TDH
TRAINZ. See "Trainz Download Helper".
TDP
TRAINZ. See "Trainz Downloader Pro".
Team Track
RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA, and possibly other countries. A team track is a track in a freight yard which is used to exchange empty and full freight wagons between local and long distance trains of the same railroad company. See also "Exchange Track".
TEE
- RAILWAYS. See "Trans Europe Express".
- TRAINZ. See "Trainz Simulator 2009".
Ten Foot
RAILWAYS. The normal space between two adjacent tracks, where it is safe to stand between two trains. The name is used even if the space actually exceeds ten feet. See also "Four Foot" and "Six Foot".
Ten-Wheeler
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 4-6-0 (oo OOO). Used for passenger services.
Terrain
TRAINZ. A layout with topology only, and usually with no textures, tracks or other objects. Appears in the Surveyor menu.
Territory
RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for an area or a section of track handled by one dispatcher (signalman).
Texas
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 2-10-4 (o OOOOO oo). Used for heavy freight services.
TEXTURE
TRAINZ. File extension. Texture. A texture is a 2D coloured pattern. In Trainz, textures are used to colour the ground, and also to colour the sides of locomotives and rolling stock. I think they might also be used to colour static scenery assets. Probably an Auran specific file type.
TF
RAILWAYS. The British Rail passenger carriage designation code for a trailer first class open coach. This code might only be used with HST MK3 coaches.
TFL
RAILWAYS. Transport For London (UK). This appears to be the successor to London Transport, operating the capital's underground railway system ("the Tube") and bus network.
TGA
COMPUTERS. File extension. Compressed graphics (non-lossy). A standard Windows file type.
TGS
RAILWAYS. The British Rail passenger carriage designation code for a trailer guard standard class open coach. This code might only be used with HST MK3 coaches.
TGV
RAILWAYS. Train a Grande Vitesse. The French high-speed passenger train system. Electric (pantographs). I have not yet found any TGV layouts for Trainz, but some TGV rolling stock is available.
Thalys
RAILWAYS. A European high-speed passenger train system that connects Aachen, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Cologne, the Hague, Liege, Paris and Rotterdam. Uses rolling stock based on the TGV.
Thameslink Rail
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
Third Party Asset (TPA)
TRAINZ. An asset supplied to users by an organisation but not created by them.
Third Rail
RAILWAYS. A method of distributing power to electric locomotives. An alternative to the catenary and pantograph system. The third rail, which carries the power, can be situated between the running rails (as on the London Underground) or just outside one of the running rails (as on many parts of the British Rail Southern Region commuter network). The power is picked up by a shoe (or "spoon") which rides on the third rail. On double tracks the third rails tend to be outside the tracks except in stations where they tend to be between the tracks for safety. Sometimes the third rail is partially enclosed by vertical wooden boards as a safety precaution. At junctions third rails may be installed on both sides of the track so as to ensure continuity of supply. In icy conditions severe arcing often occurs with third rail systems. There is also the obvious risk of electrocution from a third rail to anyone trespassing on the track.
The term "third rail" is not usually used to refer to rack and pinion or cog railways.
TIBS
RAILWAYS. See "Train Information and Braking System".
Ties
RAILWAYS. The name used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for what are called sleepers in Britain. Blocks of wood or concrete on which the rails are mounted. In American pop songs, ties always bind [grin].
Timesaver
MODEL RAILWAYS. A famous shunting puzzle for model railways, devised by John Allen in 1972. The name is sometimes spelt as two words (Time Saver) but it would appear that one word (Timesaver) is the more correct form. A version of Timesaver created for Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS) can be downloaded free of charge from Railway Station.com (external link verified Mar-06). A version for Trainz Railway Simulator 2004 (TRS2004) will be included in the forthcoming Razorback Shunt layout from the Razorback Railway (external link verified Apr-06).
TLR
TRAINZ. The Living Railway. See "Living Railway".
TMTS
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. See "TrainMaster Train Simulator".
TO
TRAINZ. See "Trainz Objectz".
TOC
RAILWAYS. See "Train Operator Company".
TOE
TRAINZ. See "Trainz Objectz Explorer".
TOFC
RAILWAYS. Trailer on flat car. A US term, I think. See also "COFC".
TOPS
RAILWAYS. See "Total Operations Processing System".
Torpedo
RAILWAYS. A term used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for what is called a detonator in Britain. An explosive charge attached to track, set off by a train running over it, so as to act as an emergency warning.
Total Operations Processing System (TOPS)
RAILWAYS. Almost universally referred to by its initials, although according to some source the initial stand for Train Operations Processing System. A computer system for managing a railway system's locomotives and rolling stock. TOPS was originally developed by the Southern Pacific Railroad in the USA and widely sold to other railway organisation. It was used by British Rail and is still used to some extent by the current privatised train operating companies. Under the system, each locomotive and item of rolling stock is given a TOPS number. For more information about TOPS see this excellent article on Wikipedia (external link verified Jan-05). See also "Class Numbers" and "Rolling Stock Classification Codes".
Tower
RAILWAYS. I think this is the term used in the USA (and possibly some other countries) for what in Britain is called a signal box. Sometimes also called an Interlocking Tower.
TPO
RAILWAYS. Travelling Post Office. A special carriage converted for use as a postal letter sorting office. In some cases mailbags were automatically captured from lineside hooks as TPO's passed by.
TPA
TRAINZ. See "Third Party Asset".
TPR
TRAINZ. Trainz Pro Routes. A publisher of third party material, mainly free of charge, for Trainz. (External link verified Mar-07.)
TPS
- TRAINZ. Trainz Paint Shed. See "Paint Shed".
- TRAINZ. See "Trainz Partnership Scheme".
TPWS
RAILWAYS. See "Train Protection And Warning System".
Track Plan
TRAINZ. Another synonym (rarely used) for a Layout, Map or Route. See "Layout".
Trackage Rights
RAILWAYS. A contractual arrangement whereby one railway company can run their trains on tracks which belong to a different company.
TrackIR
COMPUTERS. A device manufactured by the NaturalPoint company which allows head movements to be processed as if they were mouse movements. TRS2006 will have a facility for input from TrackIR.
Trailing
RAILWAYS. A junction approached in the direction in which the train can only take one possible route. The opposite of "facing".
Train Dispatcher
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. A railway simulation program published by Signal Computer Consultants, which simulates the activities of a modern railway dispatcher (signalman). Despite its apparently simple nature, the program is strangely addictive. The program is available in freeware and payware forms. Not related in any way to Auran or Trainz. Freeware version: http://www.signalcc.com/train2/td2freeware.html (external link verified Aug-01)
Train Information and Braking System (TIBS)
RAILWAYS. Cabooses (guards vans) have been replaced on most railways in the USA and Canada with an electronic monitoring and control system. On the rear of each train is a small box which may have flashing light or only a reflector. This box is connected to the air hose of the last car and monitors the air pressure, and notes if the car is moving or not. It communicates this information by radio to a receiver box in the cab of the locomotive at the head of the train. Some can be commanded by the head end (the locomotive) to dump air at the rear, thus putting on the brakes. Essential components of TIBS are SBU, CLU, and IDU, or their equivalents (the exact terminology varies among railways).
Train Operator Company (TOC)
RAILWAYS. Any of the private companies which run trains under the current British railway privatisation system.
Train Operations Processing System (TOPS)
RAILWAYS. See "Total Operations Processing System".
Train Protection And Warning System (TPWS)
RAILWAYS. A safety system currently being introduced in Britain, to replace the ancient Automatic Warning System (AWS). TPWS is intended to bring a moving train to a complete halt in order to prevent red signals being passed. The system involves equipment on the track and in locomotives.
Train Reporting Number
RAILWAYS. See "Headcode".
Train Sim Modeller (Train Sim Modeler, TSM)
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. A payware program published by Abacus (external link verified Jul-07) for creating 3D items for use in Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS). The results cannot be used directly in Trainz. I'm informed that the only method would be to import items into 3DCanvas Pro and then export them in Trainz format.
Train-Sim.Com
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. This web site offers freeware and shareware add-ons, mainly but not exclusively for the Microsoft Train Simulator. Web site (verified Sep-05): http://www.train-sim.com
Traincar
TRAINZ. In Trainz Objectz, a sub-category within the Rolling Stock category. I am not sure what forms of rolling stock fall into the Traincar sub-category.
Traincar-Loco
TRAINZ. In Trainz Objectz, a sub-category within the Rolling Stock category. I am not sure what forms of rolling stock fall into the Traincar-Loco sub-category.
TrainMaster Train Simulator (TMTS)
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. A train new simulator program currently (Dec-05) being developed by P.I. Engineering. Not to be confused with MSTS (Microsoft Train Simulator).
Trans Europe Express (TEE)
RAILWAYS. A former European high-speed passenger train network which operated a number of routes from 1957 to 1991 in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland.
Trainset
RAILWAYS. A set of rolling stock vehicles, usually comprising a passenger train, which normally kept coupled together, for example the UK HST, the French TGV and the Australian XPT.
Trainz
- TRAINZ. All the various versions of the Trainz program.
- The original version of Trainz (pre UTC).
Trainz Agent (also sometimes just called Agent) (TA)
TRAINZ. A freeware third-party utility program. An alternative to Auran's Download Helper (DLH). Regarded by some users as being more reliable than DLH. Trainz Agent also downloads assets from Auran's Download Station (DLS) and attempts to obtain dependencies. For reasons which I do not understand, Trainz Agent often lists more missing dependencies than Trainz Objectz. Trainz Agent has a "drag and drop" user interface which users may prefer, or may (like me) find utterly bewildering and frustrating. Although Trainz Agent generally receives very favourable comments, I cannot understand how to operate it and therefore have never had any success with it. However, please do not be put off by my negative comments as many other users recommended the program. Trainz Agent is downloadable from http://www.sectionshed.com/english/downlprog.html (external link verified Oct-04) or from the "Files" section of the Razorback Railway web site (external link verified Jan-05). When I checked, the copy on the Razorback Railway site was more modern.
Other alternatives to Auran's Download Helper (DLH) include Trainz Downloader Pro and Trainz Objectz (see those entries for details).
Trainz Asset Database (TAD)
- TRAINZ. A web site which acted as a search engine for Trainz missing assets. This was an extremely useful facility but appears to have now ceased operation. http://www.trainzhaven.com/TAD/index.php (external link verified Oct-04 but failed Mar-06; see also Trainz Asset Repair Library as that has inherited the trainzhaven.com domain name)
- TRAINZ. A new feature in TRS2006 for storing downloaded and user-created assets. The TRS2006 TAD is held in the file assets.tdx which is in the TRS2006 root folder. The TAD system was intended to improve the loading times of assets when they are used in TRS2006, but due to a number of design failures and program bugs the TAD can easily become corrupted. The TAD is not always updated when assets are changed, for example when an asset is deleted using CMP. If a corrupted TAD has to be deleted and rebuilt the process takes a very long time, and includes re-downloading all the Auran DLS indexing information.
Trainz Asset Creation Studio (TACS)
TRAINZ. A software component published by Auran which customises the GMax 3D graphics program so as to produce output which is compatible with Trainz. TACS can be downloaded from of charge from Auran's web site.
Trainz Asset Repair Library (TARL)
TRAINZ. An attempt to repair the huge number of faulty Trainz assets. Now defunct.
Trainz Assistance Community (TAC)
TRAINZ. The web site URL http://www.tacroute.tripod.com failed when I tried it in January 2005 and also in March 2007, so it would appear that this organisation has ceased operation.
Trainz Classics (TC)
TRAINZ. Published by Auran. In Britain Trainz Classics is called Trainz Railways and in the USA it is called Trainz Railwayz. This is the version of Trainz after TRS2006. It has some software updates but a very severely limited range of built-in assets. The three editions of TC are meant to merge their content and update their game engine but in practice this doesn't work smoothly, and possibly not at all.
Trainz Download Helper (TDH)
TRAINZ. A utility program supplied as a standard part of Trainz 2004, which helps when downloading optional additional assets and their dependencies. In most cases TDH will also automatically download dependencies if they are available. TDH will also detect an attempt to download an asset which has already been installed, and not repeat it. In addition, TDH will normally download and install the latest version of an asset, which is not always the version required by a layout, Driver Session or scenario. In this case the old version must be downloaded explicitly using the FTP link instead of TDH.
Trainz Downloader Pro (TDP)
TRAINZ. A freeware utility which provides an alternative way of downloading assets from Auran's Download Station (DLS). Trainz Downloader Pro requires Microsoft's .NET Framework to be installed. TDP works in conjunction with Internet Explorer, in a split screen display. I found operation of the programme extremely mysterious. I couldn't find any way to use it to download missing assets from an installed layout which is not on DLS. However, please do not be put off by my negative comments as some other users recommended the program. TDP can be obtained free of charge from http://www.huijelte.com/trainz/downloaderpro.php (external link verified Nov-04 but failed with a 404 page not found error Mar-07).
Other alternatives to Auran's Download Helper (DLH) include Trainz Agent and Trainz Objectz (see those entries for details).
Trainz Driver Edition (TDE)
TRAINZ. A demo version of Trainz Railway/Railroad Simulator 2006 (TRS2006) sold at a reduced price in the USA. It includes a number of layouts and driver sessions but not Surveyor (so layouts cannot be created or editor) and no access to Auran's Download Station (DLS). Additional assets cannot be installed manually, nor can any of Trainz Driver Edition's built-in assets be exported.
Trainz Exchange
TRAINZ. A menu option in TRS2004 which was intended to access the Auran server and display up-to-date news, etc. The system was never made operational at the server end.
Trainz Map
TRAINZ. See "TrainzMap".
Trainz Objectz (TO)
TRAINZ. An excellent and indispensable freeware third party utility which detects and often fixes problems with downloaded assets. Available from the "Downloads" page on Auran's web site, or TafWeb, or http://www.trainzobjectz.co.uk (both external links verified Oct-04; both URL's lead to the same content). Generally considered to be far superior to Content Manager. Frequently referred to as TO. Not to be confused with Trainz Objectz Explorer (TOE).
When the list of assets for a layout is displayed, any missing asset can be right-clicked to invoke some very useful options, including displaying the "type" (whether it is scenery, track, etc), searching for it on Auran's Download Station (DLS), or downloading it from DLS if it is available. Most of these options can be applied to the one clicked missing asset or to all missing assets.
Trainz Objectz is only compatibly with TRS2004.
Trainz Objectz Explorer (TOE)
TRAINZ. A freeware third-party utility program which displays images of assets. Trainz Objectz Explorer is a separate program to Trainz Objectz and not distributed with it, although Trainz Objectz does include a toolbar button to display an object using Trainz Objectz Explorer. Created by Adam Wojcieszyk (nickname "Tolaris"). Frequently referred to as TOE. Downloadable free of charge from http://trainz.luvr.net
Trainz Paint Shed
TRAINZ. See "Paint Shed".
Trainz Partnership Scheme (TPS)
TRAINZ. A scheme instigated by Auran while developing TRS2006, whereby content from external creators would be supplied as part of the product.
Trainz Railways
The name used in Britain for Trainz Classics (see that entry).
Trainz Railwayz
The name used in the USA for Trainz Classics (see that entry).
Trainz Routes
TRAINZ. Published by Auran. Layouts for TRS2006 and most of their associated dependencies. These are add-ons only and no program elements are included. Some dependencies that are not available on DLS may be missing. It isn't yet clear whether Trainz Routes will work with the original version of TRS2006 or only after SP1 has been applied. Nor is it yet clear whether all the dependencies included with Trainz Routes have been corrected so as to be compatible with TRS2006.
Trainz Simulator 2009 (TS2009)
TRAINZ. Often referred to as TRS2009 so as to be consistent with the names of previous versions of Trainz. TS2009 was originally intended to be released in two editions:
- TS2009 World Builder Edition (WBE) was released in late 2009. It includes Surveyor, Driver, Railyard and Content Manager Plus.
- TS2009 Engineers Edition (TEE) was due for release some time in 2009. It was to include Driver, Content Manager Plus and some new content, but not Surveyor. Due to intractable problems creating assets for TS2009 native mode, TEE has been postponed indefinetely or abandoned.
Each edition was to be a standalone product and in theory if both were installed on the same computer they would have been merged.
TrainzAgent
TRAINZ. See "Trainz Agent".
TrainzDiag
TRAINZ. A program supplied as part of TRS2006 and later versions of Trainz, installed in C:\Program Files\Auran\TRS2006\Bin. TrainzDiag displays information about the user's computer and whether various aspects of it meet the requirements for running TRS2006 (etc).
TrainzMap
TRAINZ. A freeware third-party utility for Trainz, which displays and prints layout maps. It can be downloaded from http://www.vistamaresoft.com/page.php?a=3&p=0 (external link verified Mar-07).
TrainzScript
TRAINZ. The programming language, devised by Auran, in which Trainz scenarios are written. TrainzScript bears a strong resemblance to C and Java, and is therefore extremely difficult for most people both to learn and also to write programs in. There are few if any sources of comprehendible documentation for the language. GameScript appears to be an alternative name for TrainzScript, or possibly a slightly earlier version of the language.
TrainzUtil
TRAINZ. A program supplied as part of TRS2006 and later versions of Trainz, installed in C:\Program Files\Auran\TRS2006\Bin. It provides a means of performing some operations on the Trainz Asset Database (TAD). For normal use it must be run in an MS-DOS window. Running it with no parameters causes it to display its help text. It can also be run invisibly by another program, which is how the Razorback Railway TRS2006 installation procedure works.
Transfer Table
RAILWAYS. A device for moving locomotives or other rolling stock items laterally between a set of parallel tracks. The transfer table has a short section of track which can be moved at right angles to the track direction. A transfer table performs a similar operation to a roundhouse turntable but with a different geometry and no turnaround facility. Transfer tables can also be called traversers. Three transfer tables are currently (Jul-06) available for Trainz on Auran's Download Station.
Transit
RAILWAYS. This term is usually used to refer to small-scale passenger carrying light railway systems, for example those used to shuttle passengers between different terminals of an airport. Such systems may be above ground (for example, at Gatwick Airport in England, and Orlando and Tampa Airports in Florida, USA) or below ground (for example, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport [SeaTac] in Washington State, USA).
Traverser
RAILWAYS. See "Transfer Table".
Triangle
RAILWAYS. Another name for a wye (see that entry).
TRFB
RAILWAYS. The British Rail passenger carriage designation code for a trailer restaurant first class buffet coach. This code might only be used with HST MK3 coaches.
TRK
TRAINZ. File extension. The exact purpose of this file is not known but it seems reasonable to guess that it might contain the positions of the track spline points on a map and the types of track which joins them, quite possibly plus some other information. Probably an Auran specific file type.
TRS2004
TRAINZ. Trainz Railway Simulator 2004 (or Trainz Railroad Simulator 2004), published by Auran. The third major version of the Trainz program.
TRS2006
TRAINZ. Auran's Trainz Railway Simulator 2006 (or Trainz Railroad Simulator 2006). Also marketed as Pro Train Perfect in Germany.
TRS2009
TRAINZ. See "Trainz Simulator 2009".
TRSB
RAILWAYS. The British Rail passenger carriage designation code for a trailer restaurant standard class buffet coach. This code might only be used with HST MK3 coaches.
Truck
- RAILWAYS. In the UK, in the context of railways the word "truck" refers to a goods wagon (usually open-topped).
- RAILWAYS. In the USA (and possibly some other countries) in the context of railways the word "truck" refers to a bogey.
TS
RAILWAYS. The British Rail passenger carriage designation code for a trailer standard class open coach. This code might only be used with HST MK3 coaches.
TS2009
TRAINZ. See "Trainz Simulator 2009".
TSM
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. See "Train Sim Modeller".
TSO
- RAILWAYS. The British Rail passenger carriage designation code for a tourist standard class open coach. Similar to a normal SO (second class open coach), but with less legroom and therefore greater seating capacity. In both cases seats are arranged in sets of four around a table, with a central aisle. This code might only be used with MK1 coaches.
- TRAINZ. File extension. According to one source, the initials stand for "Trackside Object", and TSO files hold details of assets such as signals and speed limit signs placed in layouts. However, TSO files appear to be very closely associated with scenarios, which leads me to think that the initials might possibly stand for something such as "TrainzScript Objects". These two possible meanings need not be mutually exclusive, of course. TSO files are in binary format and cannot be read or edited with a text editor program such as Notepad. Almost certainly an Auran specific file type.
TTX
RAILWAYS. A major US manufacturer of freight cars (goods wagons).
Tube, The
RAILWAYS. The universally understood nickname for the London (England) Underground system. So far I have not found depictions of any underground sections of the London Underground for Trainz, but there is now a depiction of the surface section between Epping and Ongar, and also some rolling stock.
Tulloch
RAILWAYS. An Australian railway rolling stock manufacturer. Defunct?
Twelve-Wheeler
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive used historically in the USA. 4-8-0 (oo OOOO).
TXT
COMPUTERS. File extension. Text file. Can be edited with Notepad. Mainly used for config.txt files which hold the details of each asset. A standard Windows file type.
Type 1 Train
RAILWAYS. In the USA, the fastest type of train, typically a passenger express. (This term might only be used by the Train Dispatcher program.)
Type 2 Train
RAILWAYS. In the USA, a slower train than Type 1. (This term might only be used by the Train Dispatcher program.)
Type 3 Train
RAILWAYS. In the USA, a slower train than Type 2. (This term might only be used by the Train Dispatcher program.)
Type 4 Train
RAILWAYS. In the USA, the slowest type of train, typically heavy goods. (This term might only be used by the Train Dispatcher program.)
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U
U-Bahn
RAILWAYS. I think this is the term used in Germany for an underground railway.
U30C
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by Union Pacific.
UIC Classification
RAILWAYS. A system for specifying the wheel arrangement of locomotives, used worldwide but less so (especially in the past) in the UK and USA. The system counts axles, not wheels. Driving axles are denoted by upper case letters, A for a single axle, B for two axles, and so on. Non-driving axles are denoted by numbers, 1 for as single axle, 2 for two axles, and so on. An apostrophe after a letter of digit indicates that the axles are mounted on a bogey. A lower case letter o suffix indicates that the axles are individually driven by electric motors, as with most electric and diesel-electric locomotives. Therefore the most common wheel arrangements in modern locomotives are denoted as Bo'Bo' or Co'Co', often written in Britain as simply BoBo and CoCo (or Bo-Bo and Co-Co).
The UIC is the International Union Of Railways.
See also "oo OOO o (etc)" and "Whyte Notation".
Ultimate Trainz Collection (UTC)
TRAINZ. This was a version of Trainz between the first version (Trainz) and the third version (TRS2004). I think UTC comprised Trainz (Version 1) Service Pack 3 and an extensive collection of custom assets.
Underground Railway
- RAILWAYS. A railway which runs for a significant part of its length underground. Usually a passenger-only rapid transit commuter system for a city. Often called a subway in the USA or a metro in many countries.
- The network of safe houses used by runaway slaves escaping north in nineteenth century USA, in the days before slavery was abolished. In this sense, neither a railway, nor underground in the literal meaning.
Union Station
RAILWAYS. In the USA, a station shared by two or more railway companies.
United Goninan
RAILWAYS. See "Goninan".
Up
RAILWAYS. In the UK, the direction towards London or another major city.
UP
- RAILWAYS. Union Pacific Railroad (USA) (also UPRR). This company, forever associated with the historic construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, is still fully operative.
- Upper Peninsula (of the state of Michigan, USA).
Used
TRAINZ. A term sometimes used in rolling stock names to indicate that the asset has been deliberately made to appear weathered (dirty or rusty, etc - in other words far from new). Sometimes the words "old" or "weathered" are used to express the same meaning.
UST
TRAINZ. US Trainz, a third-party custom content creator for Trainz. http://www.ustrainz.com (external link verified Oct-04).
UTC
TRAINZ. See "Ultimate Trainz Collection".
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V
V & SAR
RAILWAYS. Victoria & South Australia Railways.
V Set
RAILWAYS. I think this is probably a type of passenger electric (pantograph) multiple set used by CityRail in New South Wales, Australia. It might be double-decker. See also "M Set" and "S Set".
V/Line
RAILWAYS. Victorian Railways (Victoria, Australia).
V200
RAILWAYS. A type of diesel locomotive, used by DB.
Valley Lines
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
Van
RAILWAYS. The UK and Australian term for a freight wagon with a flat base, enclosed on all four sides and by a roof, which can be loaded and unloaded via doors on the sides. Called a boxcar in the USA.
VIA
RAILWAYS. The national passenger railway system in Canada.
Virgin Trains
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04). However, many of Virgin's customers might question the use of the word "operative" :)
Virtual Railroader
TRAINZ. A free bi-monthly online magazine, mainly but not exclusively Trainz and BVE oriented. Previously called Virtual Model Railway Journal (VMRJ). http://www.virtualrailroader.com (external link verified Jan-05).
Virtual Southern Region (VSR)
TRAINZ. A web site created by James Moody (nickname "Major Denis Bloodnok"), offering a number of British Rail Southern Region related assets for download. http://www.vsr.org.uk (external verified Jan-05).
VMD
TRAINZ. Virtual Motive Division (external link verified Aug-04). A third-party content creator for Trainz.
VMRJ
TRAINZ. Virtual Model Railway Journal. Now renamed as Virtual Railroader - see that entry.
Vr
RAILWAYS. A prefix used in the designations of some German railway signals.
VR
RAILWAYS. Victorian Railways (Victoria, Australia).
VSR
TRAINZ. See "Virtual Southern Region".
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W
Wadloper
RAILWAYS. A type of DMU (diesel multiple unit) used in some part of the Netherlands. "Loper" is Dutch for "runner" (hence the British word "lope"), and these units are very similar to UK "sprinters". Wadloper rolling stock is available for Trainz.
WAGN
RAILWAYS. West Anglia Great Northern. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04). Pronounced "wagon".
Waybill
- RAILWAYS. A list of pickups and deliveries to be undertaken by a freight train.
- TRAINZ. In Trainz, waybills list the pickups and deliveries to be made by a train at the various interactive industries. I think they are only used in Driver Sessions.
WBE
TRAINZ. See "Trainz Simulator 2009".
WCML
RAILWAYS. See "West Coast Main Line".
Wd
TRAINZ. A prefix used for wooden (toy train) rolling stock.
Weathered
TRAINZ. A term often used in the names of rolling stock to indicate that the asset has been deliberately made to appear dirty, rusty, or generally far from new. Sometimes the words "old" or "used" are used with the same meaning.
Webb Compound
RAILWAYS. A type of steam locomotive.
Well Tank
RAILWAY. See "Tank Engine".
Wessex Trains
RAILWAYS. A British train operating company (operative as at Sep-04).
West Coast Main Line (WCML)
RAILWAYS. London Euston to Glasgow (UK).
Westinghouse
RAILWAYS. An extremely common form of air-brake system fitted to railway trains throughout the world, since it is to some extent fail-safe. When the brakes are released by the train driver, compressed air from a main cylinder charges an auxiliary cylinder and holds off the brakes in each vehicle of the train. When the brakes are engaged by the train driver, or if the brake pipe connecting each vehicle to the next is accidentally broken, the compressed air in the auxiliary cylinders activates the brakes on each vehicle.
Trains also commonly have handbrakes and dynamic brakes.
WHR
RAILWAYS. Welsh Highland Railway, Wales.
Whyte Notation
RAILWAYS. A notation system used in Britain and the USA, and probably other countries, to denote the wheel arrangement of steam locomotives. The system was devised by Frederick Methvan Whyte.
The first number indicates the number of unpowered wheels in front of the powered wheels, sometimes called leading wheels. The second number indicates the number of powered or driven wheels. The third number indicates the number of unpowered wheels behind the powered wheels, sometimes called trailing wheels. In this example (4-6-2) the locomotive has four unpowered wheels (two axles) in front, six powered wheels (three axles), and two unpowered wheels behind (one axle).
If there are four numbers, for example 4-8-8-4, then there are two sets of driven wheels.
In every case, the number of axles is half the number of wheels specified.
The unpowered wheels may or may not be on separate bogeys. Wheels on tenders are not included.
I do not know whether this system is used in any other countries, but suspect that this is probably the case. As far as I know it is only ever used for steam locomotives.
See also "oo OOO o (etc)" and "UIC Classification".
WMATA
RAILWAYS. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The organisation responsible for the operation of the Washington DC (USA) Metrorail subway system.
Wmz
RAILWAYS. The passenger carriage designation code used by OBB (Austrian Railways) for a type of express train coach, which appears to have both passenger accommodation and a guard's/baggage compartment.
Woodbridge's Train Simulation Craftsman Magazine
RAILWAY SIMULATORS. This appears to be an online magazine for which a charge is made. When I tried to access the web site http://www.trainsimmodeler.com on several occasions in December 2004 and January 2005 it failed, so perhaps this organisation has ceased operation.
Wye
RAILWAYS. Y-junction, often used for reversing and therefore sometimes called a reversing Y. Also called a triangle.
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X
X-Crossing
RAILWAYS. See "Crossover".
XAM
RAILWAYS. The NSWGR (New South Wales Government Railways, Australia) passenger carriage designation code for an XPT first class sleeping car.
XB
RAILWAYS. The NSWGR (New South Wales Government Railways, Australia) passenger carriage designation code for a type of XPT first class car.
XBH
RAILWAYS. The NSWGR (New South Wales Government Railways, Australia) passenger carriage designation code for a type of XPT first class car with guardsvan.
XBR
RAILWAYS. The NSWGR (New South Wales Government Railways, Australia) passenger carriage designation code for an XPT first class car with buffet.
XD
RAILWAYS. The NSWGR (New South Wales Government Railways, Australia) passenger carriage designation code for a type of XPT first class car.
XDH
RAILWAYS. The NSWGR (New South Wales Government Railways, Australia) passenger carriage designation code for a type of XPT first class car with guardsvan.
XDR
RAILWAYS. The NSWGR (New South Wales Government Railways, Australia) passenger carriage designation code for an XPT first class car with buffet.
XF
RAILWAYS. The NSWGR (New South Wales Government Railways, Australia) passenger carriage designation code for an XPT economy class car.
XFH
RAILWAYS. The NSWGR (New South Wales Government Railways, Australia) passenger carriage designation code for an XPT economy class car with guardsvan.
XL
RAILWAYS. The NSWGR (New South Wales Government Railways, Australia) passenger carriage designation code for an XPT deluxe class car.
XPT
RAILWAYS. eXpress Passenger Train. A type of express train in Australia, which went into service in 1982. Very similar in concept to the British Intercity 125, with a power car at each end. XPT services connect Sydney (New South Wales) to Brisbane (Queensland), Dubbo (New South Wales) which is about 190 miles northwest of Sydney, Grafton (New South Wales) which is about 160 miles south of Brisbane, and Melbourne (Victoria).
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Y
Yak
TRAINZ. A term used by the Razorback Railway system. A simulated radio conversation system, mainly used merely to add atmosphere to a scenario, but occasionally also used to convey information and instructions. Also sometimes called yakety-yak.
Yard
RAILWAYS. The term used in Australia and the USA, and possibly some other countries, for what in Britain is called a goods yard or a marshalling yard.
Yard Limit
RAILWAYS. A trackside sign, indicating the point beyond which shunting operations must not pass for safety reasons.
Yard Switcher or Switcher
RAILWAYS. These terms are used in the USA, and possibly some other countries, for what in Britain is called a shunter or shunting engine.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Z
Zig Zag
RAILWAYS. One solution to a steep gradient up the side of a hill or mountain, the other best-known solution being spiral tunnels. On a zig zag, trains have to proceed along a short spur line, wait for the junction to be changed, then reverse along the next section of main track to the next spur, and so on. Operation is slow, laborious and somewhat hazardous. Called a switchback in the USA.
Probably the most famous example of a Zig Zag is the Zig Zag Railway at Lithgow on the western slope of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia. Web site: http://www.zigzagrailway.co.au (external link verified May-05). The "Zig Zag Layout" (kuid 102657:100046) appears to be an accurate depiction of the Zig Zag Railway for Trainz.
Another example is the Cass Scenic Railway in West Virginia, USA. The layout "Cass Scenic Railroad" (kuid 30071:100005) appears to be an accurate depiction for Trainz. The Cass layout has two missing assets which I cannot find but these don't seem to affect operation.
ZIP
- COMPUTERS. File extension. Compressed archive file. Used as a distribution file format by some content creators. In Trainz, the contents of a Zip file tend to be installed into one of the sub-folders of the World\Custom folder, with a specific folder name based on the asset's name. A standard Windows file type.
- COMPUTERS. Iomega Zip drives and the special disks used in them. A high capacity and relatively fast exchangeable magnetic disk system. Each disk can hold 100MB or 250MB. With the widespread introduction of CD and DVD writer drives, and USB pen key drives, the Iomega Zip system is no longer in common use.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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