RAILROAD LEGAL GLOSSARY

- D -

Damages: The sum of money awarded to the injured party in a personal injury lawsuit.

Date Nail: A small nail used by railroads from late 1800's to present used to mark the year a tie was placed in roadbed. Nails are distinctive in that each has the last two digits of placement year stamped in head. Usually found within six inches of tie end, but some are located mid tie to allow easier inspection. Rare nails may be worth hundreds of dollars to collectors.

Dead Head: A railroad employee traveling on a pass. 

Default Judgment: A judgment issued when the defendant offers no defense by not responding to the complaint. A judge may issue a judgment without the necessity of a trial.

Defendant: The person against whom a claim is brought.

Deponent: The person who testifies at a deposition.

Deposition: A pretrial discovery device in which one party verbally answers questions from the other party.

Dinger: A yardmaster. 

Discovery: Methods and procedures by which information is made available to each party prior to trial. Discovery may include depositions, interrogations, requests for production of documents, and demands for independent medical examinations.

Distant Signal: A fixed signal outside of a block system, used to govern the approach to a block signal, interlocking signal or switch point indicator. It will not convey information as to conditions affecting the use of the track between the distant signal and block signal, interlocking signal or switch point indicator to which approach is governed. It will be identified by a "D" marker. 

Division: A portion of the railroad designated by a timetable. 

Docket: A summary system kept by the clerk’s office which contains a record of all pleadings, court orders and other important activities in a case.

Dollyflopper: A brakeman or switchtender; someone who throws switches. 

Double Slip Switch: Used only where space is limited; combines the functions of a crossing and turnouts to allow any one of four routings. 

Double Track: Two main tracks, on one of which the current of traffic is in a specified direction, and on the other in the opposite direction. 

Drawbar Horsepower: The total horsepower of a locomotive less the amount of horsepower that it would take to move the locomotive itself, the balance being available to pull the load. 

Drill Track: A track connecting with the ladder track, over which locomotives and cars move back and forth in switching. 

Dual Control Switch: A power-operated switch, also equipped for hand operation. 

Dump the Air: Emergency application of the air brakes causing a train to stop abruptly, usually causing damage to the merchandise being carried or to the train equipment, itself 

Dwarf Signal: Two or three lens signal used to control a move over a switch in a yard. 

Dynamic Braking: A method of train braking where the kinetic energy from the train movement generates current at the locomotive traction motors, and is dissipated in a resistor grid on the locomotive. 

Dynamite: Initiation of an emergency application. 

Dynamiter: A term commonly given to an brake operating valve that goes into quick-action emergency when it should not. Also called a Kicker. 

DISCLAIMER: The information contained within this personal injury site is of a general nature and is not meant to be a restatement of any rules of law. Your use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should hire an attorney to obtain legal advice for your specific case. 
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