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Railroad Dictionary


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Lacing the Air The act of coupling train line air hoses and cutting in the air.
Ladder A single "lead" track with many tracks branching off to form a classification yard. The main switching track in a yard, from which industrial tracks lead.
Lading Freight or cargo making up a shipment.
Land-Bridge Term which designates that traffic originates overseas, then moves across the US by rail and is next exported to its destination overseas.
Landing Gear Retractable legs used to support the nose end of a trailer when it is not attached to a tractor or hitch.
Latch A device for catching and holding the lever of a switch stand in position.
Lateral Motion The motion which takes place, crosswise of the track, of all car parts except the wheels and axles.
Law Department The department to which ultimate referral is made after all avenues for collecting lawful charges have been used.
Lawful Rate A rate published in conformity with the provisions of the regulatory law and which does not violate any other provisions of such law.
Lead End The leading end of any movement.
Lead Track An extended track connecting either end of a yard with the main track.
Lead, Straight The distance between the actual switch point and half-inch frog point along the tangent center line of a lateral turnout. In a curved turnout the lead is measured along the center line of the curve with the longer radius.
Leased Track Track (s) assigned to a user through a written agreement. Leased Tracks will be treated the same as private tracks. Private cars will not be subject to Demurrage while stored on Lease Tracks.
Less Than Carload (LCL) The quantity of freight less than that required for the application of a carload rate.
Less Than Carload Pricing System for rating a partial carload carrying a mixture of commodities (i.e., a partitioned tank car).
Less Than Trailer Load (LTL) Term applied to a shipment which does not fill a trailer or container.
Light Engine An engine moving without caboose or cars attached.
Light Repairs As reported to the AAR, repairs to revenue freight cars requiring 20 man-hours or less.
Light Signal A fixed signal in which the indications are displayed by the color or position of a light or lights, or both.
Light Weight (AKA Tare Weight) The weight of an empty railroad car.
Lighter A flat-bottomed boat usually used in inland waterways.
Lighterage Limits The limits of the area within which freight is handled by lighters or barges under certain lightering charges, rules and regulations.
Lightering The hauling of freight on lighters or barges.
Lightning Arrestor A device for protecting circuits and apparatus against lightning or other abnormal potential rises of short duration.
Limitation of Liability An agreement by the shipper or consignee that the rate being charged can be reduced in order to limit his ability to file a claim for damage or loss to a carload if the damages are not in excess of an agreed upon amount. Not to be confused with Full Liability.
Limited Speed A speed not exceeding 45 miles per hour.
Line A transportation term denoting the condition of the track in regard to uniformity of direction over short distances on tangents, or short distances on curves. OR A transportation carrier such as a truck line or a rail line.
Line Capacity The maximum number of trains that can operate safely and reliably over a given segment of track during a given period of time.
Line Haul The movement of freight by a carrier over its line or part of its line, excluding switching, pick-up or delivery.
Line Haul Switching The moving of cars within yard or switching limits or a station preceding or following a line haul.
Line of Road Trackage between terminals.
Line-Up (AKA Consist) Information pertaining to the operation of regular and extra trains.
Links (ARZ) An association between a local patron code and a billing patron code. There are two kinds of links: Regular Link (AKA Straight): Patron's local address is linked to same patron's billing address. Third Party Link: One patron's local address is linked to a different patron's billing address.
Lite OK Term applied to a light repair car which has been fixed.
Livestock Bill of Lading A bill of lading that covers the shipment of cattle, horses, sheep, swine, etc.
Load Limit The maximum load in pounds which the car is designed to carry.
Load Meter A meter on the locomotive control stand, which monitors amperage.
Local (ARZ) City and state location of a patron.
Local Action Any non-productive internal chemical reaction tending to decompose the elements in a cell.
Local Moves Shipments which originate and terminate on CSXT tracks and involve no other railroad.
Local Rate A rate applying between stations located on one railroad.
Local Shipment Shipment originating and terminating on the same railway without an intermediate haul by a connecting railway.
Local Tariff A tariff containing rates applicable only between stations located on the same railroad.
Local Traffic Traffic moving between stations located on the same railroad.
Local Waybill A waybill covering the movement of freight over a single railroad.
Lock Box Banks P.O. Box, representing any one of our banks, to which customers are instructed to send their freight payments.
Locked Patron (ARZ) Patron to which no updates may be allowed without prior approval of customer accountant.
Locking Bar A bar in an interlocking machine to which the locking dogs are attached.
Locomotive (AKA Locomotive Consist) A self-propelled unit of equipment, or combination of units operated under a single control, and designed solely for moving other equipment.
Long Ton (AKA Gross Ton) 2,240 pounds.
Long-and-Short Clause The Fourth Section of the Interstate Commerce Act which prohibits railroads from charging more for a shorter than for a longer haul over the same route, except by special permission of the Surface Transportation Board.
Lookout See Cupola.
Looseleaf Tariff A tariff that is not bound and is three-hole punched so that it can be placed in a three-ring binder.
Low Rail The inner rail of a curve which is maintained at grade while the opposite or outer rail is elevated.
Low Side Gondola A gondola car with sides and ends 36 inches high or less.
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