Sidetrack (Noun)
Meaning
A short stretch of railroad track used to store rolling stock or enable trains on the same line to pass.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The sidetrack allowed the passenger train to pull over and let the freight train pass by on the main line.
- Railway staff often used the sidetrack to park and perform maintenance on idle locomotives.
- As the engineer waited for clearance to enter the busy terminal, the train sat on a sidetrack waiting its turn.
- After arriving at the junction, the crew guided the train onto the sidetrack to pick up a string of additional cars.
- At night, the sidetrack would be used to temporarily store empty tank cars, awaiting the next day's departure.