work train

American  

noun

1. a train that transports railroad workers, building materials, etc., to construction or maintenance assignments on the railroad.

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Etymology

Origin of work train

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

"Nothing works. Everything happens manually throughout the Athens-Thesaloniki network. Neither the indicators, nor the traffic lights, nor the electronic traffic control work," train drivers' association president Kostas Genidounias told ERT.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2023

“Both trains were running in the same direction — one was a work train, one was a revenue train and they sideswiped each other,” said Cuomo, a Democrat.

From Washington Post • Oct. 9, 2016

He said the work train caught fire after the crash.

From The Guardian • Oct. 8, 2016

The work involved using the backhoe to remove gravel and replace it with ballast distributed by a nearby work train.

From New York Times • Apr. 4, 2016

With Sam's help they carried Mrs. Breckenridge across the broken tracks and into the work train.

From The Merriweather Girls in Quest of Treasure by Edholm, Lizette M.