marine railway

American  

noun

1. a railway having a rolling cradle for hauling ships out of water onto land and returning them.

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marine railway British  

noun

1. another term for slipway

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Etymology

Origin of marine railway

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

marine railway

With a 112,000-square-foot facility on eight acres of land, complete with a full-service shipyard and 250-ton marine railway, West Bay delivers from 16 to 18 yachts per year.

From Time Magazine Archive

With 36 conventional locks, two sets of flight locks, a marine railway and two of the world's highest hydraulic lift locks, a cruise here can be a real adventure.

From Time Magazine Archive

A marine railway floated the boats in and out at high tide, and at such times creaked complainingly.

From Glory of Youth by Hutt, Henry

Below in the yacht yard the master gave orders, and the machinery of the marine railway began its clanking chorus.

From Glory of Youth by Hutt, Henry

The island is connected with the continent by cable, and has a large floating dock and marine railway, which causes vessels in distress to visit the port for needed repairs.

From Equatorial America Descriptive of a Visit to St. Thomas, Martinique, Barbadoes, and the Principal Capitals of South America by Ballou, Maturin Murray