runaway train

noun

An uncontrolled railroad incident where a train or rolling stock moves without operator control, often due to brake failure, loss of power, or an accidental release on the main line.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounrunaway train (plural runaway trains)

plural runaway trains

  1. rail transportAn uncontrolled railroad incident where a train or rolling stock moves without operator control, often due to brake failure, loss of power, or an accidental release on the main line.

    Lefty comes to the rescue by descending from an aeroplane on to the runaway train, which he saves from destruction, and administers a thrashing to the doctor.

    1926, “Reviews Of New Productions”, in The Film Renter and Moving Picture News, numbers 635-643, page 44

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
ghost train
Cite this entry
APA

runaway train. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/runaway%20train

MLA

“runaway train.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/runaway%20train. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “runaway train,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/runaway%20train.

Source: runaway train on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.