center pin

American  

noun

Railroads.

1. a cylindrical device passing through the center plates of both the body bolster and the truck bolster, permitting the truck to swivel beneath the car body while the stress is taken by the center plate.

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Etymology

Origin of center pin

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

“Sportsmanlike behavior is the center pin to maintaining hunting as a socially acceptable activity,” Fred Trevey wrote in an email forwarded to the governor’s office.

From The Guardian • Oct. 16, 2018

“We played a center pin from the back tee, and it was 265,” Woods said.

From New York Times • Aug. 6, 2011

By the set screw T, the jaws can be regulated so that they neither clamp the center pin so tightly as to make the action sluggish nor so loosely as to let the hammer wabble.

From Piano Tuning A Simple and Accurate Method for Amateurs by Fischer, J. Cree (Jerry Cree)

However, the friction of these bearing surfaces and their location at a considerable distance from the center pin combined to restrict the free movement of the truck.

From Introduction of the Locomotive Safety Truck Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology: Paper 24 by White, John H.

The center pin is 3/4-in. in diameter and about 9 in. long.

From The Boy Mechanic: Volume 1 700 Things for Boys to Do by Popular Mechanics Co.