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A pair of parallel rails (complete with sleepersExplain 'Sleeper (1)', chairsExplain 'Chair' and fishplatesExplain 'Fish Plate') on which trains run.
Track Circuit
A means of detecting trains or vehicles by passing an electrical current through the rails, which is diverted by the presence of vehicles whose wheels and axles form an electrical path from one rail to the other. First devised in the 1890s track circuiting was introduced only slowly (mostly from 1910 onwards) as the widespread use of Mansell coach wheelsExplain 'Mansell wheel' with wooden centres prevented the track circuit from operating, thus nullifying this important safety feature.
Traductor Arms
The extending arms fitted to a Travelling Post Office or the line side apparatus to which mail bags or pouches were attached enabling them to be transferred at speed. The receiving nets formed the other half of the apparatus.
Traffic Department
The department responsible for running the trains, as distinct from those providing the infrastructure, such as cuttings, embankments and track, or the signalling, or designing and building the rolling stock.
Trailing points
Points arranged in such a way that a train has to “set back” (reverse) to be diverted from the line on which they are standing. SidingsExplain 'Siding' are normally accessed via trailing points, as are emergency crossovers on double lines. They are safer than facing pointsExplain 'Facing Points' in the event that a train SPADsExplain 'SPAD (Signal Passed at Danger)' the signal protecting them as the train will force over the point bladesExplain 'Point Blades' and continue on the line, reducing the possibility of colliding with another train or de-railing.
Train Class
Both passenger and goods trains were classified in the Working Time TableExplain 'Working Time Table (WTT)' according to their relative importance and permitted speed, which in turn reflected the traffic carried and the type of vehicles used. This information was displayed in the arrangement of lamps on the leading locomotive, and also reflected in coded bell codesExplain 'Bell Code' passed between signal boxesExplain 'Signal Box' to describe the type or class of train.
Train Register
The written record kept in a signal boxExplain 'Signal Box' of the time each signalling activity occurred. The primary purpose of the register is to remind the signalmanExplain 'Signalman' of the position of the trains he is dealing with at any time.
Tramcar Trolley
A low wagon specially designed to carry tramcars.
Tranship goods were goods that had to be trans-shipped into a different wagon to complete their journey. Often they were crates, boxes, drums or barrels and were always less than a wagon-load. Diagram 60 was a van specially built for Tranship goods traffic although in later years ordinary goods vans were used.
Transhipment was initially carried out at most major cities but in 1903 the Tranship shed was built at Crewe to centralisethe work of transferring the goods.
On several LNWR lines (eg the Chester and Holyhead) one daily down goods train and one up was a “Tranship Goods”, specifically for tranships; on some other lines the working timetable noted which ordinary goods train also conveyed tranships.
Trap Points
Facing pointsExplain 'Facing Points' used to divert a train or wagon running away in the right direction into a sand drag or to intentionally derail it away from a passenger line. Trap points were once obligatory for connections between freight lines or sidings and passenger lines, and also in other situations, for example at the exit from passenger loops or bay platform lines, or on the approach to a swing bridge. In recent years these trap points have sometimes been dispensed with as an economy measure, resulting in several serious accidents where trains have over-run a signal.
A moveable platform for shifting a locomotive, carriage or wagon sideways from one running track to another. Used in railway workshops and formerly in passenger stations.
Trent Valley Railway
A railway along the Trent valley, originally from Rugby to Stone, was projected by the London and Birmingham, Grand Junction and Manchester and Birmingham Railways in 1835 but the project was delayed by disagreements between the companies. The line from Rugby to Stafford was eventually begun in 1845; when the then Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel, cut the first sod. It was taken over by the newly amalgamated LNWR before its completion in 1847 but its opening was further delayed by concerns over the strength of its bridges, following the collapse of the first (iron) Dee bridge at Chester. It finally opened for goods and local passenger trains in September and for through express trains in December 1847.
Trevithick, Arthur Reginald (1858—1939)
Son of Richard Francis Trevithick - Works Manager at CreweExplain 'Crewe Works' 1903–10.
Trevithick, Francis (1812—1877)
Son of Richard Trevithick. 1840 appointed resident engineer on Grand Junction RailwayExplain 'Grand Junction Railway (GJR)' between Birmingham and Crewe. 1841 appointed Locomotive SuperintendentExplain 'Locomotive Superintendent' of GJR at Edge HillExplain 'Edge Hill, Liverpool'. In 1843 he was transferred to the new works at Crewe as Locomotive Superintendent of the Northern DivisionExplain 'Northern Division' (McConnellExplain 'McConnell, James Edward (1815—1883)' was in charge of Southern DivExplain 'Southern Division' at WolvertonExplain 'Wolverton'). In 1857 the N and NE division combined and Francis was forced to resign to make way for Ramsbottom.
Trevithick, Richard (1771—1833)
Builder of the first machines to utilise the power of high-pressure steam with a carriage in 1800 and the first locomotive in 1803 at Coalbrookdale in Salop. Built two other locomotives, one in Merthyr Tydfil and one at Gateshead, but public interest was poor and so he turned his efforts to stationary engines.
A carriage with accommodation for first, second and third class passengersExplain 'Passenger Class'.
Tri-composite Break
A tri-composite with a guard’s compartment, often used as a through carriage for a comparatively minor destination and detached (or slippedExplain 'Slip Coach') from a main express at a suitable station. For example, the 2.40pm Euston-Manchester/Liverpool conveyed tri-composite breaks for: Aberystwyth (Welshpool in the winter) slipped at Rugeley; Windermere, detached at Crewe; Colne, detached at Stockport from the Manchester portion; and Southport, detached at Edge Hill from the Liverpool portion.
Triple Expansion
Triple expansion is using the steam three times rather than once (as in a simple engine) or twice (as in an ordinary compound).
The LNWR commonly referred to a Well Wagon as a ‘trolley’ and a ‘low trolley’ was the type of vehicle in general use and the various specialised sorts of ‘trolley’ which appear in the stock list are Well Wagons adapted for their particular purpose — e.g. ‘screw propeller trolley’, ‘boiler trolley’, ‘chemical pan trolley’ and so on. Clearly these loads would foul the loading gaugeExplain 'Loading Gauge (1)' if carried on a wagon whose floor was at the normal height.
Swivelling two or four- wheeled undercarriage on a locomotive which enables the vehicle to negotiate curves. Also known as a BogieExplain 'Bogie' when fitted to a carriageExplain 'Carriage'.
A general term for an Open Wagon, particularly one for a specialised purpose (e.g. “Fish Truck”).
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