Glossary Results for prefix "ra"
Races to the North | In summer 1888 the West Coast companies (LNWR and Caledonian Railway![]() |
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Rack and Pinion | Rack and pinion drive converts rotary motion into linear motion (or vice versa) by a toothed wheel engaging a matching rack. Some very early locomotives used this system before it was realised that, except on very steep gradients, the weight of the locomotive provided adequate adhesion. But the system is necessary on some mountain railways. | |
Radial Axle | Axles designed to move laterally entering a curve in an effort to reduce the flange![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Radial axle-boxes | Arrangement used on certain locomotives and carriages where the axle-boxes are fixed in curved guides and given limited radial sideways movement so as to provide some flexibility and enable the vehicle to negotiate curves smoothly. | |
Radial Chassis | The underframe of a vehicle fitted with radial axleboxes. | |
Radial Shed | See Round House![]() |
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Radius Link | An oscillating link in the Walschaerts valve-gear. | |
Radius Rod | A rod in the Walschaerts, Gooch and Allan straight-link valve-gears. | |
Rail Motor | The steam forerunner of the diesel rail car — a passenger carriage with a steam engine incorporated into it. In LNWR rail motors the engine was not immediately apparent, as it was inside the coachwork. | |
Railway Clearing House (RCH) | An office in which the mutual claims of the different railways for through tickets and freights are settled. | |
Railway Housing | At the end of 1913 the LNWR owned no fewer than 9,022 dwelling houses or cottages, far more than any other railway company in Britain. In those days before mass council house construction this probably made the LNWR the largest landlord in the country, possibly in the world. War conditions meant that construction of dwellings virtually ceased after 1915 , and the widespread provision of municipal council housing estates from 1919 onwards made further new railway property mostly unnecessary. | |
Railway Operating Division | A division of the British Army Royal Engineers, largely recruited from railway companies, which controlled and operated standard and narrow gauge railways behind British fronts in France, Belgium, Greece, Egypt and Russia during the First World War. Formed in 1915. | |
Railway Village | Most railway cottages were spread around the system in small groups of any number from one to ten, but there were several locations (excluding the three railway towns of Crewe![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Rainhill Trials | A competition held in 1829 to determine the best means of propulsion on the soon-to-be-completed Liverpool and Manchester Railway![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Ramsbottom, John (1814—1897) | Locomotive superintendent![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Railway Correspondence & Travel Society (RCTS) | Founded in 1928, it is one of the largest British societies for railway enthusiasts, primarily catering for those interested in the fine detail of day-to-day operations. Publishes the monthly Railway Observer and very detailed and well-regarded locomotive histories. Affectionately known as ‘The Royal Corps of Train Spotters’ | |
Refrigerator Van | Covered insulated (double skinned) goods van![]() ![]() |
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Refuge (1) | A siding![]() ![]() |
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Refuge (2) | A small recess in a wall inside a railway tunnel into which a person can stand when a train is passing. | |
Renown Locomotive Class | In 1908 Whale began converting Webb’s “Jubilee”![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Reversing Gear | A mechanism to affect the phasing of the valve operations. This allows regulation of the expansion of steam in the cylinders by adjusting the cut-off point![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |