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switch engine

American  

noun

Railroads.
  1. a locomotive for switching rolling stock in a yard.


Etymology

Origin of switch engine

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He has also answered calls by rowboat and switch engine.

From Time Magazine Archive

In Ogden, Utah, police investigated a theft from the Union Pacific yards, tracked down and arrested Marlin Lamar Tullis, 27, and a friend, accused them of making off with 116-ton Diesel heavy-duty switch engine.

From Time Magazine Archive

The story opens with his death�run over by a switch engine one foggy night.

From Time Magazine Archive

At Philadelphia their cars were attached to a switch engine, shuttled off to Bustleton.

From Time Magazine Archive

He heard a switch engine in the Southern Pacific yards discharging steam in shrill dry spurts.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

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