8/7/2019 Train Cars 1 Intro Vocab Studen

1/2

All Aboard Trains: CarsAll Aboard Trains: Cars NameName____________________

Every day trains crisscross most countries of the world with cargoes of freight or

people. Many different kinds of cars are needed for the different types of cargo. Listed

below are the different types of cars and the cargo they carry as they make their way

across the land.

Freight TrainsFreight Trains

Gondola Carcarries heavy cargo such as steel pipes in a closed car

Refrigerator Carkeeps fresh produce cool so it wont spoil; usually

clearly marked as a Refrigerated car

Livestock Carcarries livestock such as cows or pigs to meat factories or

farms; has openings in the sides to allow fresh air in so the animals can

breathe

Boxcarcarries boxed or packed cargo such as computers in a closed car

Hopper Carcarries loose cargo such as grain, sand or coal; has a chute at

the bottom to unload the cargo

Tank Carcarries liquids such as oil in a cylindrical car

Flatcarcarries truck trailers or heavy shipping containers strapped on with

chains as there are no sides or tops (also known as a piggyback flatcar);

truck trailers or the shipping containers are placed on and removed by heavy

cranes

Auto-Rack Carcarries new automobiles protected by steel mesh siding

Caboosewas the last car on some freight trains; was the train crews home

and conductors office; rarely used in modern times

8/7/2019 Train Cars 1 Intro Vocab Studen

2/2

Passenger TrainsPassenger Trains

Coach Carcarries passengers to their destination

Double-Deck Coachhas 2 floors to carry passengers; usually used on

commuting train lines to carry as many workers as possible

Observation Carhas 2 floors with a glass-topped observation deck on the

second floor so passengers can view the scenery

Sleeping Carcontains small sleeping rooms or bunk beds where

passengers can sleep on longer journeys; sometimes the seats in the CoachCar would slide together to make the lower bunk bed for the night, while a

bed would flip down from the ceiling to form the upper bed

Dining Carwhere passengers can eat the meals prepared for them by the

kitchen staff in a small cramped kitchen at the end of the dining car

Snack Cara less formal eating car where passengers can enjoy a snack or

light meal

Specialized TrainsSpecialized Trains

TGVhigh-speed passenger train in France, traveling more than 200 MPH

Shinkansenhigh-speed passenger train in Japan nicknamed the bullet

train; almost totally automatic with its operations performed by remote

control

Eurostarhigh-speed trains in several European cities

Subway Trainstrains which run on tracks in underground tunnels

Elevated Trainstrains that run on tracks above the street

Monorailselevated trains that travel on only one track or rail