Crews describe their moves in cuts: a cut of ten, cut 'em behind the fourth, kick that cut into 12. As a verb, to cut means to separate cars by pulling the pin at a chosen coupling, and the cut lever is the handle that lifts the coupler pin. The size and weight of each cut decides how hard a crew can kick it and how many hand brakes it needs.
Cut behind the eighth car, I'll kick those eight into 3 and then we'll come back for the rest of the cut.
Also heard as
- cut of cars
Related terms
Kick
To shove a cut of cars, uncouple it on the move and let it roll free onto a track.
Pull the pin
To uncouple cars by lifting the coupler's pin with the cut lever; also, to retire from the railroad.
Shove
To push cars with the locomotive behind them, as opposed to pulling them.
Tie down
To secure standing cars or a locomotive by applying enough hand brakes to keep them from rolling.