flood water

plural flood waters

1. alternativeAlternative form of floodwater.

   The main East Coast line from Edinburgh to Berwick was blocked at Cockburnspath and Grantshouse by flood water, which washed away part of an embankment, and by the collapse of about 300 tons of rubble on to the track.

   1956 October, “Summer Floods in Scotland”, in Railway Magazine, page 658

   2 more examples

   During the day conditions worsened quickly—for example, a 2-6-0 on the Uckfield line suddenly encountered flood water high enough to enter its ashpan and extinguish its fire—until lock gates up-river at Barcombe gave way and a tidal wave rolled down the valley meeting head-on a spring tide rolling up from the coast.

   1961 January, “Talking of Trains: Flooding at Lewes”, in Trains Illustrated, page 5

   He added: "We're also working with freight companies about keeping freight running through flood water. But equally, the freight companies are saying we don't want to run though much water because of damage to our fleet. "Likewise with operators, we have to test what it is that is stopping trains running. Is it our failure to reasonably manage flood water? Is it the rule book that stops us running through flood water? Or is it risk appetite?"

   2024 May 29, Philip Haigh, “Network News: NR's Haines: 'be smarter about the way we run trains'”, in RAIL, number 1010, page 12