Railroad Accident Legal Glossary
Glossary of Railroad Accident Terms
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P Q
R
S
T U
V
W X
Y
Z #
< Legal Glossaries Main Page
- C -
Cab Signal: A signal located in engineer's
compartment or cab, indicating a condition affecting the
movement of a train or engine and used in conjunction
with interlocking signals and in conjunction with or in
lieu of block signals.
Caboose: End of train; non-revenue car.
Caboose Valve: A rotary valve type of device
providing means for making a controlled rate of brake
pipe reduction for making a service or emergency
application from the caboose.
Car Toad: Car inspector who checks the condition
of the freight and passenger cars and conducts the air
brake tests.
Centralized Traffic Control: A remotely
controlled block signal system under which train
movements are authorized by block signals which
indicators supersede the superiority of trains.
Clear Block: A block not occupied; sometimes used
to denote a clear signal indication.
COFC: Container on flat car. Referred to as
intermodal traffic.
Color Light Signal: A fixed signal in which the
indications are given by the color of a light only.
Color-Position Light Signal: A fixed signal in
which the indications are given by color and position of
two or more lights.
Controlled Point: A location designated by a
number where signals and /or switches of a CTC system
are controlled by a control operator.
Controlled Siding: A siding authorized for use
and is governed by signal indication or a control
operator.
Controlled Signal: An absolute signal which is
controlled by a control operator.
COT&S: Clean, Oil, Test & Stencil. Applies to air
brake rework.
Covered Wagon: A nickname that is generally
attached to EMD E and F units.
Crossing: A length of track that carries one
track across another.
Crossover: A track connection between two
adjacent tracks.
Crummy: A wooden, two truck or bobber trucked,
caboose. Also called a way car, hack or, long ago, a
bean shack
Current of Traffic: The movement of trains on a
main track, in one direction, specified by the rules.
Cut: Separate car(s) from a train
Casualty: A loss of property due to fire, storm
shipwreck or other casualty, which is allowable as a
deduction in computing taxable income.
Cause of Action: The plaintiff’s legal claim
against the defendant. There is often more than one
cause of action in a lawsuit.
Civil Law: That part of the law which governs
relationships between people where there is no criminal
activity involved.
Co-Defendant: A defendant joined together with
one or more other defendants in the same case.
Common Law: Body of law that has grown based on
the decisions of courts long ago. It originated in
England and has since passed to the United States. It is
always changing to reflect the current needs society.
Comparative Negligence: A defense to negligence
used when it is believed that the plaintiff’s negligence
contributed to his or her injuries. Based on the amount
of negligence by each party, the amount of damages is
adjusted accordingly.
Complaint: A pretrial document filed in a court
by one party against another that states a grievance,
called a “cause of action.”
Contingency Fee Agreement: An agreement between
an attorney and their client, which allows the attorney
to be paid only if the client prevails in a lawsuit and
collects monetary damages. The lawyer then receives a
percentage of the damages, generally 1/3 of the award.
Contributory Negligence: A defense to negligence,
which points out that the plaintiff’s negligence
contributed to his or her injuries. Contributory
negligence is an absolute bar to the plaintiff’s
recovery against the defendant.
Counterclaim: A demand by the defendant against
the plaintiff asserting an independent cause of action
in the same lawsuit.
Cross Examination: Questioning the witness who
has been presented by the opposition at trail or a
deposition. |
