N |
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Narrow Gauge | Track with a gauge less than 4 feet 8 1/2 inches. |
Navvy | RR construction workers who "navigated" (roamed) from job to job. (plural is navvies). |
NEC | North-East Corridor. The Amtrak route with intensive passenger traffic that connects Washington, DC, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston. |
News Butcher | Peddler who sells magazines, candy, fruit, 'etc., in trains. Usually employed nowadays by Union News Co. |
Nickel Grabber | Streetcar conductor. |
Nipping | Supporting the tie while another track worker drives spikes. |
NMRA | National Model Railroad Association. The NMRA helps to promote the hobby, establish standards, reward modelers for their talents as Master Model Railroaders, and much more. |
No Bill | Nonunion or nonbrotherhood railroad worker. Also called nonair. |
Normal | Usual position of points or signals before action initiated by signalman to allow a train movement. |
Normal Gradient | The condition that exists when the air brake system is fully charged and there is no difference in air pressure between the front and back ends the train. |
Nose | Front end of locomotive. |
Nose On | Couple on with head end of engine. |
Nose Suspended Motor | A traction motor mounted on bearings on an axle that is driven via a flexible connection attached to a cross member on the truck. The gear on the axle is in constant mesh with the pinion on the armature shaft. |
Nosebag | Lunch carried to work. Put on the nosebag means to eat a meal. |
Number Dummy | Yard clerk or car clerk. Also called number grabber. |
Nut Splitter or Nut Buster | Machinist. |