Glossary of Australian railway terms


This page contains a list of jargon used to varying degrees by railfans, trainspotters, and railway employees in Australia, including nicknames for various locomotives and multiple units. Although not exhaustive, many of the entries in this list appear from time to time in specialist, rail-related publications. There may be significant regional variation in usage; state variances may be indicated by the state abbreviation.

B

; Bandicoot
; BETY
; Blue babies
; Broad gauge
; Brown bomber

C

; Centralized traffic control
; Conductor
; Creamy Kate
; Cyclops

D

; DERM
; Detonator
; Dog or dogspike
; Doggies
; Dolly

E

; Electric staff
; Electric multiple unit
; Evans set

G

; Gabby
; Guard
; Gunzel

H

; Harris
; High Flyer

K

;Katie

L

; Lamp
; Light-headed guard

N

; Nanny
; Number nicker or number shark

O

; OSCAR

P

; PawPaw
; Peg
; Petrol electric rail motor
; Pig
; Plastic Fantastic

R

; Rail motor stopping place
; Rattler
; Red Rattler
; Red Rattler

S

; Silver
; Six-volt guard
; Snapper
; Spark
; Standard gauge
; Steel set
; Stick
; Sweat Set

T

; Tangara
; Tait
; Tin Hare
; Twix

U

; Uniform gauge

W

; White set
; Waratah