Model Railway Forum

An article in The Railway Magazine, August 1905 discussed the use of 'Railway' and 'Railroad' in different jurisdictions around the world at the turn of the 20th century.

As the linked article suggests, there was considerable uncertainty over the use of the two terms.

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2024/08/14/ra ... -railroad/

When coming across YT articles regards layouts if the term “railroad” is used I generally assume it is a US layout.

Richard

I have always considered that if anything refers to railroad it isn’t in the UK.

Other than Hornby and their UK 'railroad' range.... lol

Yes but I always thought that was the wrong name.

Another question - why are some railways in the UK referred to as a Tramway?

Because they run trams on it??

A railway is a track exclusively for trains, a tramway shares the surface with other vehicles, e.g. the track is in a road.

I found this info on T'interweb

The word ‘tram’ is derived from a Scandinavian word for a beam or baulk of wood, the term being used mainly in the North of England and Scotland.

When these beams were used as guides for wagons used in mining or other industrial activities, the tracks laid were referred to as ‘tram ways’.

I think that later on the wooden tramways were replaced by cast iron rails and subsequently steel ones.

Thank you Walkingthedog.

The Sligo Rover wrote: ↑Tue Sep 10, 2024 9:07 pm Thank you Walkingthedog.

I looked it up but it seems to be a good explanation.