derailments
Locomotives leaving tracks
Derailments are instances of trains leaving the tracks, or figuratively, any process that goes off course.
A literal derailment may be catastrophic or minor.
The figurative sense covers conversations, negotiations, or plans that veer away from their intended direction: The meeting suffered multiple derailments before we reached the main topic.
Sudden violent impacts
- wrecksDestroys completely
- collisionsForceful contacts between objects
- trackPath or monitored route
- locomotivesPowered rail vehicles
trains · carriages · signals · switches · points · crossings · accidents · investigators
Reversals of progress
- interruptionsBreaks in continuity
- obstaclesThings in the way
- delaysPauses before proceeding
- diversionsEntertainments or alternate routes
stoppages · interference · sabotage · obstructions · hindrances · complications · failures · breakdowns
Something blocking the way
- filibusterDelaying tactic through speech
- stonewallingDeliberately refusing to respond
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- blockingImpeding forward progress
opposition · gridlock · stalling · undermining · resistance · procedural · amendments · negotiations
Lines meeting curves once
- digressionsDepartures from main subject
- sidetrackingDiverting from main purpose
- diversionsEntertainments or alternate routes
- interruptionsBreaks in continuity
detours · rambling · off-topic · wandering · hijacking · deflection · distraction · veering
crashes
Sudden violent impacts
- wrecksDestroys completely
- collisionsForceful contacts between objects
- trackPath or monitored route
locomotives · trains · carriages · signals · switches · points · crossings · accidents · investigators · debris
setbacks
Reversals of progress
- interruptionsBreaks in continuity
- obstaclesThings in the way
- delaysPauses before proceeding
diversions · stoppages · interference · sabotage · obstructions · hindrances · complications · failures · breakdowns · snags
obstruction
Something blocking the way
- filibusterDelaying tactic through speech
- stonewallingDeliberately refusing to respond
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
blocking · opposition · gridlock · stalling · undermining · resistance · procedural · amendments · negotiations · legislation
tangents
Lines meeting curves once
- digressionsDepartures from main subject
- sidetrackingDiverting from main purpose
- diversionsEntertainments or alternate routes
interruptions · detours · rambling · off-topic · wandering · hijacking · deflection · distraction · veering · straying
- rail operationstrain schedules, signals, timetables, signaling, traffic control
- train accidentstrain accidents, train wrecks, collisions, crashes, head-on collisions
- transport metricsridership, passenger capacity, occupancy rate, average speed, transit time
- blundersblunder, blunders, blundered, mistakes, botch
- catastrophesdisasters, disaster, natural disasters, catastrophe, apocalypse
derailmentssuccesses
Favorable outcomes achieved
completions · continuations · follow-throughs · achievements · fulfillments
- train derailmentLocomotive leaving its track