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Railroad Dictionary


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W.O.R.S. (Work Order Reporting System) Computerized system for relaying and updating switching and other work orders performed by road and yard crews.
Washout Signal An emergency stop signal made by violently swinging both arms in a downward arc by day, and violently swinging a lantern in a wide, low semicircle across the tracks by night.
Watt The unit of power due to a current of one ampere flowing under an electromotive force of one volt with unity power factor.
Waybill A shipping document prepared by a carrier at the point of origin showing the point of origin, destination, route, shipper, consignee, description of shipment, weight, charges and other data necessary to rate, ship and settle. It is forwarded with the shipment by mail, TDCC transmission or EDI transmission to the foreign road agent at the interchange point or mailed to destination.
Waybill Correction A computerized form issued to change the information on a waybill.
Waybill Date The date the waybill was prepared.
Waybill Number A specific number from an assigned series placed on the waybill and used for accounting control.
Waybill Sequence A listing of outstanding items in sequential waybill number order.
Waybill Suspense List A computer record of all incomplete waybills that have been prepared by the current waybilling system.
Waybill, Interfaced A waybill which has rates and charges applied.
Waybill, PPO Prepaid only waybill which is used to prepay reconsignment and/or any additional freight charges due on a prepaid shipment because of increased rates after reconsignment.
Waybill, Suspensed Suspense status indicates the waybill created in AWS has been processed but has some information missing. Suspense codes corresponding with the type of missing information are printed on the bottom left corner of the waybill.
Waycar See Caboose.
Wayside Signal A fixed signal located along the track right-of-way.
Weather Interference Natural conditions which render loading or unloading a car impracticable.
Weigh Car Car used to test scales.
Weighing and Inspection Bureau Bureau acting as agent for railroads to assure compliance with tariff regulations relating to weight, description of commodities, transit operations, etc.
Weight Agreement An agreement between shipper and carrier, usually following a series of weighing tests, under which carrier agrees to accept shipper's goods at certain agreed weights.
Welded Rail Rail, welded in lengths of up to one mile.
Well Car A flat car with a depression or opening in the center which allows the load to extend below normal floor level.
Wharfage Charge made for handling traffic on a wharf or charge made for docking vessels at a wharf.
Wheel Flange The projection edge or rim on the circumference of a car wheel for keeping it on the rail.
Wheel Report A list of cars in a train showing destination, weight, load or empty status, etc. for each, and which the conductor updates as the train picks up and sets out cars en route.
Wheel Stops See Car Stop.
Whistle Stop Station for flag stop only.
White Light An expression used by train crews meaning that the white light on a Defect Detector is lighted, which denotes no defect has been detected in the train. OR Night signal for flagging duties.
White Line Term used to designate that a car can no longer be used safely in transportation service.
White-Hat (AKA White-Shirt) (Slang) Any railroad official.
Wide-Body Locomotive (Dash-8, Dash-9) A new type of locomotive, characterized by an extra wide body, the cab entry door through the center of the locomotive, and a desk-like console for the train crew. Provides higher horsepower and tractive effort than previous models.
Wire Transfer Method of payment whereby a customer's bank wire transfers freight payments to a CSXT Lock Box which debits the customer's bank account and credits CSXT's bank account.
Wood Check See Switch List.
Work Order Instructions to the switch/train crew used for making an industrial switch.
Work Train A train which is assigned to serve the maintenance-of-way department in track repair and maintenance.
Working Current The electrical value which, when applied to an electromagnetic instrument, will cause the moving member to move to its full energized position to provide maximum front contact pressure.
Wye Track An arrangement of tracks in the form of a "Y", used for turning engines, cars, and trains.
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