1. Introduction to Railroading

2. Background Information
Experts in the rail industry have created a ton of information to share with students. The link below is to a PowerPoint presentation on the ver-changing railroad-

3. Bailey Rail Yard, North Platte, NE

4. Railroad Terminology This website includes a pdf of terms:
The Indiana DOT lists 41 terms on its website at
The below website lists about 1000 terms of the railroad industry

5. Basic Terms Flat car A railroad freight car without sides or a roof.
Low-bottom flat car A railroad freight car that is depressed in the center to permit overhead clearance for bridges and tunnels.
Trailer A large transport vehicle designed to be hauled by a truck or tractor.
Piggy-back method of transportation in which truck trailers are carried on train cars specially designed for truck trailers or containers.
Double-stacked Two containers (often truck trailers) loaded one on top of the other for transport on low bottom railroad flatcars. This system may also be referred to as multi-deck operations for transporting containers of various types.

6. Basic Terms Continued…
Inter-modal A transport system that enables the direct transfers of containers between different transportation types. Freight is usually contained in a box designed to be carried by different modes of transport that permits same box or container to be transferred between road, rail, sea, inland waterways, and air transport without transferring the contents to another container.
Tank car A railcar consisting of a container capable of transporting liquids or compressed gas.
Van A railroad car used for carrying baggage or freight

7. Types of Rail Cars Car Types Automobile Racks Boxcars Covered Hoppers
Flat Cars including Centerbeams
Gondola Cars
Open-Top Hoppers
Intermodal Equipment
Tank Cars
The types listed above go to links on the Union Pacific Website.

8. How Trains Work
How Stuff Works has a great unit on this topic. Please visit this website and follow along with the 7 parts.

9. How Diesel Locomotives Work
How Stuff Works has a great unit on this topic. Please visit this website and follow along with the 7 parts.

10. Train Simulator
Union Pacific Simulator, Mid-Plaines Community College, North Platte, NE

11. Train Simulator Continued…
Union Pacific Simulator, Mid-Plaines Community College, North Platte, NE

12. Train Simulator Continued…
Union Pacific Simulator, Mid-Plaines Community College, North Platte, NE