pointsmen
Railway junction operators
Pointsmen is the plural of pointsman, a British term for a railway worker who operates the points—the movable rail sections that direct trains from one track to another.
The role requires vigilance and precise timing: The pointsmen worked through the night to keep freight moving.
In older usage, a pointsman could also be a traffic officer directing vehicles at an intersection.
One directing traffic visually
- switchmanRail junction operator
- shunterLocomotive for repositioning cars
- trackmanRailroad maintenance worker
- gangerSupervisor of laborers
dispatcher · yardmaster · trainmaster · signalbox · junction · interlocking · turnout · token
Point where paths meet
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
- traffic flowMovement of vehicles
- directionWay something faces
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
hand signals · whistle · white gloves · uniform · pedestrians · vehicles · congestion · rush hour
Path selection process
- dispatchSend with speed
- communicationExchanging ideas or information
- synchronizationAligning timing across systems
- timetableArranged list of events
scheduling · network · operation · logistics · oversight · supervision · shift work · relay
Luminous safety garment
- helmetProtective head covering
- visibilityRange of clear sight
- hazard awarenessRecognizing potential dangers
- precautionPreventive safety measure
training · signage · barrier · protection · patrol · vigilance · risk · emergency
signalman
One directing traffic visually
- switchmanRail junction operator
- shunterLocomotive for repositioning cars
- trackmanRailroad maintenance worker
ganger · dispatcher · yardmaster · trainmaster · signalbox · junction · interlocking · turnout · token · level crossing
intersection
Point where paths meet
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
- traffic flowMovement of vehicles
- directionWay something faces
guidance · hand signals · whistle · white gloves · uniform · pedestrians · vehicles · congestion · rush hour · junction
routing
Path selection process
- dispatchSend with speed
- communicationExchanging ideas or information
- synchronizationAligning timing across systems
timetable · scheduling · network · operation · logistics · oversight · supervision · shift work · relay · handoff
reflective vest
Luminous safety garment
- helmetProtective head covering
- visibilityRange of clear sight
- hazard awarenessRecognizing potential dangers
precaution · training · signage · barrier · protection · patrol · vigilance · risk · emergency · alert
pointsmenengine drivers
Those operating railway locomotives
conductors · engineers · motormen · passengers · stationmasters