permanent way

plural permanent ways

1. AustraliaUKrail transportThe track and ballast (bed) of a railway.

   Holonym: right of way

   5 more examples

   Meronyms: railbed, railroad track

   The term "permanent way" arose to differentiate between the rough track laid by railway contractors for the constructional purposes of new lines, and the final ballasted track upon which the regular service of trains was to run. The former being purely temporary, qualification of "permanent" was applied to the latter.

   1941 September, “The Why and the Wherefore: Temporary and Permanent Way”, in Railway Magazine, page 432

   Watt climbed the stone steps and stood before the wicket, looking through its bars. He admired the permanent way, stretching away on either hand, in the moonlight, and the starlight, as far as the eye could reach, as far as Watt's eye could have reached, if it had been inside the station.

   1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, [Paris]: Olympia Press, →OCLC

   No. 320 finally drew into Paris one minute early, having run the 78.3 miles from Longueau in 65½min, inclusive of a permanent way slack and the usual tortoise-like progress from St. Denis.

   1961 December, H. G. Ellison, P. G. Barlow, “Journey through France: Part Two”, in Trains Illustrated, page 749

   The paid permanent way staff prepare and refettle the track during the week and at weekends volunteer gangs of some 30/40 people are engaged on relaying — [...].

   1979 August, Michael Harris, “A line for all reasons: the North Yorkshire Moors Railway”, in Railway World, page 412

   Synonyms: Pway, p way, p-way, railroad, right of way, track