- Railbus: A passenger rail vehicle (typically non-articulated or rigid frame) that was derived from bus propulsion and construction technology, but which may evolve into larger dimensions, performance and characteristics similar in appearance to a light DMU Railcar
- Railcar: A powered single unit or articulated passenger car, usually “railroad-derived” light DMU or EMU, with a driver's cab at one or both ends.
- Railfan: A hobbyist or enthusiast of trains (q.v. "Foamer").
- Rail grinder: a machine used to remove irregularities in the surface of the rails. May be self powered or part of a consist.
- Rail profile The cross section shape of rail. There are many rail profiles which are often specific to individual railroads. Rails need to be periodically scanned electronically, the data inspected and analysed, then re-profiled with rail grinding machines to maintain the safe and proper "rail profile". Rails that cannot be brought back to the proper rail profile are condemned and replaced.
- Railroad car: A railroad vehicle that is not a locomotive.
- Railroadiana: Artefacts of railways around the world.
- Rail sled (US): A form of wheel chock that slips onto the rail under the wheel of rolling stock which prevents the vehicle from rolling.
- Rail Tractor: A small petrol (gas) or diesel shunting (switcher) locomotive.
- Railway line may refer to:
- A railway route connecting two or more places or other railway routes.
- A railway route constructed by an organization, usually one formed for that purpose.
- A railway route which has been given the line name officially (e.g. by ELRs in the UK).
- A set of railway routes which are bundled for publicity purposes by, e.g., a UK TOC.
- A set of railway routes without official standing, on which railfans have bestowed a title.
- Railway station : A train station, a stopping point for trains, usually with passenger access.
- Rake: (UK) A group of passenger coaches coupled together.
- Red: A colour generally associated with stop, when shown by signals or flags.
- Red zone: The area between, under, or within a few feet of cars and locomotives; to enter the zone, a ground employee must obtain protection from the locomotive engineer (if a locomotive is coupled) or a blue signal (if no locomotive is coupled).
- Reefer: A refrigerated railcar, used to transport perishable goods.
- Refuge siding: A siding used as a passing place on a main line, where slow trains may be held whilst an express passes. A simpler, but less convenient, form of the passing loop.
- Rent-a-Wreck (slang, U.S.): A (usually old) locomotive owned by a leasing company.
- Reporting mark: A two- to four-letter code, assigned by the Association of American Railroads, that is applied to equipment operating on North American railroads to identify the owner.
- Rerail frog or rerailer a metal casting slotted over the rail near the wheel of a derailed train car. The engine then pushes or pulls the car so that the derailed wheel runs up the rerailer and back onto the track.
- Restricted speed (US): A speed not exceeding 20 mph which allows stopping within half the range of vision short of an obstruction on the tracks.
- Retarder: A device installed in a classification yard used to reduce the speed of freight cars as they are sorted into trains.
- Reverser or Reverser handle: the handle that controls the directional control on a locomotive (see also Cut off, above).
- RFE (US): abbr. Road Foreman of Engines.
- Ribbon Rail: Continuously welded rail.
- Right-side failure: A failure in a signalling or other safety critical system which leaves the system in a safe condition.
- RoadRailer: A highway trailer, or semi-trailer, that is specially equipped for direct use on a railroad.
- Roll-by: (US; also "Rollby") Visual inspection of a passing train by personnel on the ground for defects or dragging equipment.
- Rolling stock: (UK) A railway vehicle that is not a locomotive; 'railway car'. (US) Any railroad car and/or locomotive.
- Rookie: See Trainee.
- Rotary: Short for rotary snowplow, an extreme-duty railroad snowplow used mainly in the mountain ranges of the American West.
- Roundhouse: A circular or semi-circular structure used for storage and running maintenance of locomotives.
- Rule G (US): The universal rule prohibiting the use of drugs and alcohol.
- Ruling grade: The longest and/or steepest grade on a division; sets the standard for track speeds, locomotive tonnage ratings, and train handling instructions.
- Runaway: A heavy train that has lost speed control while descending a steep grade, due to either brake failure or poor preparation by the crew.
- Running track: An other-than-main track, typically providing access to a yard or industry and governed by the requirements of restricted speed.
- Run-round (runaround (US)): the practice of detaching a locomotive from its train, driving it to the other end of the train and re-attaching it, to allow the train to proceed in the direction it has just come from (e.g. when it reaches its destination and forms a service in the other direction).
(See headshunt for diagram of a 'run-round loop'.)
- Run-through power: Locomotives that remain attached to a manifest or unit train from their home rails over the tracks of a receiving railroad until the train reaches its final destination.
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