A dedicated length of track in a yard that allows a locomotive to pull a cut of cars forward and push them into various classification tracks without fouling the main line. The standard North American equivalent is a switching lead, drill track, or yard lead.
Heard on the job
They built a new shunting neck on the east end so the yard jobs stop blocking the passenger main.
Related terms
Classification yard
A large rail facility where freight cars are sorted to build outgoing trains.
Siding
A track alongside the main line, connected at both ends, where trains meet or let others pass.
Main line
The principal track or tracks of a railroad between terminals, where trains need authority to run.