| 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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