What is the definition of 'Railway Station'?

[Anonymous]

[?]I know that this is crazy but I'm trying to find an official definition of 'Railway Station'. I have tried several online dictionaries but they have always put a disclaimer at the bottom stating that it cannot be used for legal purposes.

Can anybody help please?

Regards,
Rich

[Anonymous]

From the General Code of Operating Rules: "A station is a place designated by name in a timetable station column."

That's all it is. It is not a building, though one may exist; it is not a signpost, though one may exist. It is merely a location designated by a railroad.

"Station" is also a surveying term used in railroading.

[Anonymous]

So let's give this for a scenario. A 'station' could encompass all the tracks, tunnels, switches and depots then?

How can I use this for a reference in tonight's city council meeting?

Regards,
Rich

[Anonymous]

Nevermind. I pulled up the "General Code of Operating Rules" for various railroads and came up with the info.

Thanks for your help. I greatly appreciate it.

Rich

[dknelson]

This is why you might read an old railroad timetable, note a time listed for a "station" and arrive at the conclusion that there was a depot building there -- there WERE depots built at some of the most unlikely spots, but the official rules make clear that station does not equal depot except in popular parlance. I spent a lot of time looking for remains of "stations" on the line I model until I learned this ......
David Nelson

[Anonymous]

My guess is that it would be a place where the public was authorised to enter railway land for the purpose of doing business with the railway. This does not imply any building or other facility and the opposite would be the rest of the railway property that the public had no authority to enter and would therefore be trespassing.

In the UK we have 'Goods stations' for freight and Railway Stations which typically imply a passenger facility.

Glad to see that you have not used the horrible phrase that even the BBC has adopted 'train station' which is an ugly modern construct. Please tell me that its not American usage as it grates so much to the English ear.

[Anonymous]

In Germany the definition of RAILWAY STATION (BAHNHOF) is:

A place where trains will start, end, can change the direction and with a switch as minimum.

All other places are only HALTEPUNKTE aka HALTSTATIONS

[kenneo]

Railroads use "Stations", as Mark stated and the General Code state, as places designated. This is for train control purposes only. For example, a large yard may have several "Stations" within its confines.

Medford, OR, for example, has three "Stations" within its yard limit.

[Anonymous]

a railway station has many names
1.Railroad Station
2.Rilroad Terminal
3.Depot.
No mater the name a Railway station is a place where one can or could board a train. Wheather it be a building or a simple concrete slap as long as it is a designated stop for a train it is a ststion.