A contractual arrangement granting a foreign railroad the right to run its locomotives and crews over a host railroad's infrastructure. The guest railroad pays a fee, usually based on car-miles or tonnage, and must strictly obey the host's operating rules and dispatcher commands. This avoids the massive capital cost of building duplicate parallel lines.
Heard on the job
We have running powers over the UP main for the next fifty miles, so keep an eye out for their signals.
Also heard as
- trackage rights
Related terms
Interchange
The handoff of cars from one railroad to another at an agreed junction track or yard.
Joint line
A section of track owned, maintained, and operated cooperatively by two or more railroad companies.
Car mileage
The total distance traveled by railcars or the fee paid for their use based on distance.