railworker
Lays the tracks
A railworker is someone employed by a railroad, whether operating trains, maintaining tracks, or handling cargo and passengers.
The term encompasses engineers, conductors, signalmen, track laborers, and station staff.
The railworkers' union threatened to strike over safety concerns.
One who directs musicians
- engineerTechnical design professional
- dispatcherOne who allocates resources
- yardmasterTrain depot manager
- switchmanRail junction operator
brakeman · signalman · carman · foreman · technician · mechanic · fireman · porter
Railway pulling machine
- freightGoods being transported
- carriageWheeled passenger vehicle
- trackPath or monitored route
- signalMessage-conveying cue
coupler · caboose · junction · terminus · switch · spike · tie · ballast
Joining into one
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- picketPointed fence stake
- solidarityUnity among allies
- bargainingNegotiating mutually acceptable terms
collective · brotherhood · sisterhood · rights · contract · negotiation · dues · grievance
Itinerant without fixed address
- gandy dancerRailroad maintenance laborer
- Casey JonesHeroic locomotive engineer
- John HenryLegendary steel-driving laborer
- whistle-stopMinor station or hamlet
bunkhouse · roundhouse · iron horse · boxcar · freight hopping · campfire
Protective construction headwear
- workbootsDurable footwear for manual labor
- overallsTrousers with bib front
- safetyFreedom from harm
- vestSleeveless upper-body garment
gloves · goggles · lantern · wrench · tools · hammer · radio · flashlight
Preserving working condition
- inspectionFormal assessment of condition
- repairRestore to working order
- switchingChanging from one to another
- couplingJoint between systems
loading · dispatching · signaling · braking · scheduling · shunting · welding · gauging
conductor
One who directs musicians
- engineerTechnical design professional
- dispatcherOne who allocates resources
- yardmasterTrain depot manager
switchman · brakeman · signalman · carman · foreman · technician · mechanic · fireman · porter · stationmaster
locomotive
Railway pulling machine
signal · coupler · caboose · junction · terminus · switch · spike · tie · ballast · gauge
union
Joining into one
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- picketPointed fence stake
- solidarityUnity among allies
bargaining · collective · brotherhood · sisterhood · rights · contract · negotiation · dues · grievance · seniority
hobo
Itinerant without fixed address
- gandy dancerRailroad maintenance laborer
- Casey JonesHeroic locomotive engineer
- John HenryLegendary steel-driving laborer
whistle-stop · bunkhouse · roundhouse · iron horse · boxcar · freight hopping · campfire
hardhat
Protective construction headwear
vest · gloves · goggles · lantern · wrench · tools · hammer · radio · flashlight · earplugs
maintenance
Preserving working condition
- inspectionFormal assessment of condition
- repairRestore to working order
- switchingChanging from one to another
coupling · loading · dispatching · signaling · braking · scheduling · shunting · welding · gauging · greasing
railworkertruck driver
Commercial vehicle operator
sailor · seaman · longshoreman · dockworker · bus driver