trackman

plural trackmen

1. USrail transportA railway employee who inspects and maintains the permanent way of a railway installation.

   When a passenger or freight train is snowbound, any train crew or passengers must first be rescued and taken to the nearest station. This task is usually done by local trackmen.

   1960 January 28, M. Harbottle, “Maintaining Services after Heavy Snowfalls”, in Railway Magazine, page 12

   1 more example

   Drones and helicopters have been in common use by Network Rail for some time, and are a far cry from the days when all inspections were carried out by trackmen reaching remote sites on foot.

   2021 November 17, “Network News: Drone success could slash NR track inspection costs”, in RAIL, number 944, page 24

   Synonyms: platelayer