The term rolling stock in the rail transport industry refers to railway vehicles, including both powered and unpowered vehicles: for example, locomotives, freight and passenger cars (or coaches), and non-revenue cars. Passenger vehicles can be unpowered, or self-propelled, single or multiple units.

In North America, Australia and other countries, the term consist ( ) is used to refer to the rolling stock that a train comprises, a list containing specific information for each car of a train, or a group of locomotives.

In the United States, the term rolling stock has been expanded from the older broadly defined "trains" to include wheeled vehicles used by businesses on roadways.

The word stock in the term is used in the sense of inventory. Rolling stock is considered a liquid asset, or close to it, since the value of the vehicle can be readily estimated and shipped to the buyer with minimal cost or delay. The term contrasts with fixed stock (infrastructure), which is a collective term for the track, signals, stations, other buildings, electric wires, etc., necessary to operate a railway.

Manufacturers

A large number of companies and government agencies in many countries, past and present, have built rolling stock. The list of rolling stock manufacturers covers many of the largest ones.

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Rangierbahnhof Seelze Juni.jpg |Variety of rolling stock in rail yard in Germany

Frisco and the Zephyr.jpg|American Steam and diesel locomotives

Locomotive40-0442-0sncfr.jpg|Electric locomotive in Romania

DR1A Vilnius.jpg|Diesel multiple unit (DMU)

SBB RABe 523 FLIRT der Zuger S-Bahn.jpg|SBB Electric multiple unit (EMU)

840 010 Tanvald 1.jpg|Articulated diesel railcar

Carrozzaz1.jpg|Passenger cars, also called carriages or coaches

Hopper cars.jpg|Hopper car, one of many types of revenue freight cars

DTTX 724681 20050529 IL Rochelle.jpg|Articulated well cars with intermodal containers

Hbills310und311-in-Crailsheim.jpg|European covered goods&nbsp;wagons

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See also

  • Goods wagon
  • List of rolling stock manufacturers
  • List of railway vehicles
  • Railroad car

References