siding
SY-ding
/ˈsaɪdɪŋ/
A short section of railway track running parallel to a main line, connected by switches, used for passing, loading, or storing cars.
Implies a secondary auxiliary track off the primary main running line.
The story behind the word. Formed in early 19th-century rail terminology to designate track pushed off to the 'side' of the main route to allow traffic management.
Word relationships
- bypass track: Bypass track emphasizes routing traffic around a bottleneck, whereas siding includes holding or storage functions.
- mainline: Mainline is the primary route for through traffic, while a siding is an auxiliary side branch.
Commonly confused with
- turnout: A turnout is the mechanical switch track mechanism, whereas a siding is the actual branch track itself.
Word family
- side (noun): A position away from the center or main line.
Collocations
- passing siding
- railway siding
- siding track
- industrial siding
Idioms & expressions
- sidetracked
Example sentences
- "The lower-priority freight train pulled into a passing siding to allow the high-speed express train to overtake it." Mainline Operations
Memory hook
A track sitting on the SIDE of the main route. Side-track for stopping or passing.
When not to use
Do not confuse with a full classification yard; a siding is usually just a single auxiliary track segment.
Fun facts
- Many remote rural sidings built in the 1800s later grew into major towns and industrial hubs.
Explore more words
parallel, locomotive, roadside, ancillary, embankment, viaduct
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