A heavy repair facility designed with overhead cranes or synchronized floor jacks capable of raising an entire locomotive or car body. This allows mechanical forces to roll out the trucks for traction motor replacement, wheel truing, or suspension work.
Heard on the job
We need to drag the SD40 into the lifting shop to swap out the number three traction motor.
Related terms
Carshop
A heavy maintenance facility dedicated to repairing and rebuilding unpowered railcars.
Wheel shop
A dedicated maintenance facility equipped to inspect, machine, and assemble railway wheelsets.
Bogie
A wheeled chassis or framework attached under a rail vehicle to provide support, suspension, and guidance along the track.