Glossary Results for prefix "fl"
Flange | The fundamental element of the wheel-on-rail guidance system. The inner edge of each wheel is shaped to a larger diameter than the wheel tread resting on the rail to act as a guide for the wheel set. The two flanges of the wheels on an axle guide the wheel set to follow the route of the track. A characteristic squealing sound can often be heard on sharp curves as the outer wheels' flanges slice along the inner edges of the rails. | |
Flangeless Wheel | Common on many early locomotives to ease travel around curves. Also used on later designs such as 0-8-0 locomotives for the same purpose. | |
Flat-bottomed rail | As distinct from bullhead![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Flitch plate | A steel plate bolted on the outside of the wood underframe of a wagon to significantly increase its strength. | |
Flyover | Arrangement of tracks at a major junction where one or more running lines were carried over others by means of an embankment and overbridge rather than crossing on the level, thus avoiding conflicting movements. The first flyover built to replace a flat junction was at Weaver Junction, brought into use in November 1881; it carried the new up Liverpool main line via Runcorn, after the building of Runcorn bridge, over the up and down main lines. Other important flyovers were at Vauxhall (Birmingham), Rugby Clifton Road and Liverpool Edge Hill. Lack of space prevented the construction of flyovers at other busy locations where they would have been beneficial. A few more flyovers were in fact constructed in later (BR) years, including Rugby North (No.7 box) and Bletchley, thelatterbeing something of a white elephant. | |
Fog Cottages | Cottages provided by the railway company to house staff who might be called on for fog-signalling![]() |
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Fogman | During fog and falling snow (when visibility was less than 200 yards) special signalling regulations came into force. A person, usually a railwayman normally employed in some other capacity such as platelayer![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Foot Plate | That area behind the fire box![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Footplates | Another name for Running Plates![]() |
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Foot Warmers | Metal cylinders filled with very hot water or chemicals at stations and placed on the floor of coaches not fitted with any form of heating. Steam and electric heating rendered them obsolete by the mid 1920s. | |
Foreman | ?? | |
Fouling | The act of blocking one line with a movement or stationary train on another line. Usually occurs when train has not pulled far enough into a siding![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Four Cylinder Compound | Any compound![]() |
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Four foot | A commonly used term for ‘between the rails’ (UK standard gauge being 4 foot 8½ inches). |