Railway Terminology

noun goods or merchandise carried by a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle

• The cargo ship was loaded with containers full of goods bound for export.
• The cargo truck is coming to pick up the packages later today.
• I heard they're smuggling some illegal cargo in those crates.
• Her emotional baggage felt like a heavy cargo weighing her down.

verb to bend or arch one's back into a hump shape

• The camel humped its way across the desert.
• I humped my backpack up the mountain trail.
• He humped his way through the crowded party to get to the bar.
• The project humped along slowly due to unforeseen complications.

noun a specific width between the rails of a railway track that is narrower than the standard gauge

adjective describing something as having a narrow width or being of a specific narrow gauge

• The railway line was built with a narrow gauge to accommodate the mountainous terrain.
• The old steam train runs on a narrow gauge track through the countryside.
• I love riding the tiny narrow gauge train at the amusement park.
• Her perspective on the issue was like a narrow gauge, limited and inflexible.

noun a collective term for all the vehicles, such as locomotives and railway carriages, used on a railway system

• The company is investing in new rolling stock to improve their transportation services.
• They're getting some new trains to make the commute better.
• Check out the fresh new wheels they're adding to the fleet.
• The rolling stock of ideas in the brainstorming session was diverse and innovative.

noun a cessation of movement or action

verb to cease or discontinue

• Please stop talking during the meeting.
• Can you stop texting for a minute and pay attention?
• Hey, stop being such a buzzkill!
• Sometimes we need to stop and smell the roses.

noun a standard measurement of the distance between the two rails on a railroad track, typically wider than the standard gauge

adjective describing something that is wider or broader than usual or standard

• The new railway line was constructed with a broad gauge to accommodate heavier trains.
• The trains on this track are running on a broad gauge, so they can carry more goods.
• I heard they're switching to a broad gauge on that route, so the trains will be faster.
• Having a broad gauge perspective allows you to see the bigger picture in any situation.