railroad

Pluralrailroads

Formsrailroads, railroading, railroaded

1. 1
   nounUScountable

   The transportation system made up of fixed metal tracks and the trains that travel on them, usually several cars linked together.

   The national railroad moves millions of tons of freight each year.

   Investors poured money into the railroad during the nineteenth century.

   Similarrailway

2. 2
   nounPhilippinesUScountable

   A permanent track made of fixed metal rails, built for trains or similar motorized vehicles to run on.

   Crews spent years building the railroad through the mountains.

   The old railroad still runs straight through the valley.

   Similarrailway, line, track

   Note

   The word is a plain compound of rail and road, and it is chiefly American, with a second home in the Philippines. Many lines do follow the course of older land or water roads, so the road in the name was never far-fetched. Where American usage says railroad, British English generally prefers railway, a split that carries over to the network and company senses as well.

3. 3
   verbtransitive

   To push a procedure, such as approving a law, through quickly by manipulation.

   The chairman railroaded the resolution through before opponents could organize.

   Party bosses railroad unpopular measures past the assembly when attention is low.

   Similarforce, push, rush, ram, steamroller

   Oppositestall, delay, obstruct

   Note

   The verb almost always travels with through: a majority railroads a bill through parliament, or a report is simply railroaded through. What makes it more than hurrying is the manipulation behind the speed, such as customary studies skipped or answers manufactured before the questions are asked. Howard Johnston uses it this way in RAIL in 2023, writing about the Beeching Report.

4. 4
   verbtransitive

   To convict someone of a crime by getting around fair legal process.

   The prosecutor railroaded the defendant despite the weak evidence.

   Corrupt courts railroad suspects to close cases quickly.

   Similarframe

   Oppositeacquit, exonerate

   Note

   In the courtroom sense the verb is usually passive and usually an accusation: I knew that I was being railroaded; he's being railroaded and used as a scapegoat. It belongs to the accused and their defenders, and it tends to come with a list of what went wrong, such as witnesses badly questioned or evidence kept from the jury. Duncan Campbell's 2006 headline applies it to an innocent man.

5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To transport people or goods using a railroad.

   Workers railroad fresh produce across the country in refrigerated cars.

   The firm railroaded thousands of tons of ore to the smelter.

   Similarship, freight, transport, haul

6. 6
   nounUScountable

   A single privately or publicly owned property made up of one or more train tracks and usually the assets that go with them.

   The railroad reported record profits this quarter.

   Two competing railroads merged into a single firm.

   Similarrailway, line, carrier

   Note

   Here the word counts companies rather than miles of track: railroads compete, merge and report profits the way any business does, and real competition between them depends on their tracks being technically compatible and linked. Use the system as a whole for the network in general, and this sense when you can put an article or a plural on a particular owner.

7. 7
   verbtransitive

   To bully someone, through procedure, into an unfair agreement.

   Management railroaded the workers into accepting reduced benefits.

   Aggressive negotiators railroad the other side into terms they later regret.

   Similarbully, coerce, force, pressure, steamroller

   Note

   Outside court the pressure is procedural rather than legal, and the usual frame is into plus an -ing verb: someone is railroaded into signing a non-disclosure agreement at an exit interview. In politics it becomes a charge one side throws at another, often in scare quotes. Richard Azzopardi wrote in 2021 that Mr. Cuomo had been "railroaded" by Ms. James.

8. 8
   verbintransitive

   To be employed by a railroad.

   She railroaded out of the eastern division for most of her career.

   Both brothers railroad and rarely see each other on the same shift.

9. 9
   verbintransitive

   To travel from place to place by railroad.

   They railroaded from coast to coast before air travel was common.

   Commuters railroad into the city every weekday morning.

   Similarrail, train

10. 10
    verbintransitive

    To run and manage a railroad.

    Several carriers railroad across the northern corridor.

    The family business railroaded here for over a century.

    Similaroperate, run

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