Crossword clues for footplate
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Footplate \Foot"plate`\, n. (Locomotives) See Footboard (a) .
Wiktionary
n. 1 The metal plate which forms the base platform of a steam locomotive, particularly in the UK, which supports the boiler and the engineer's cab. 2 The engineer's cab in any kind of train. 3 (cx anatomy English) (rfdef: English)
WordNet
n. the platform in the cab of a locomotive on which the engineer stands to operate the controls
Wikipedia
The footplate of a steam locomotive is a large metal plate that rests on top of the frames and is normally covered with wooden floorboards. It is usually the full width of the locomotive and extends from the front of the cab to the rear of cab or coal bunker just above the buffer beam. The boiler, the cab, and other superstructure elements are in turn mounted on the footplate. The footplate does extend beyond the front of the cab on some locomotives, but is then usually referred to as the "running board/plate." The footplate is where the Driver and Fireman stand in the cab to operate the locomotive, giving rise to the expression of working on the footplate for being in the cab of a steam locomotive. The part of the footplate ahead of the cab is referred to by a variety of different names.
In the modern age, although the steam locomotive has been phased out, the word footplate remains current coin. It is used to describe the act of travelling inside the cab of a (diesel or electric) locomotive, and in this context to the cab itself also. Thus : "when the General Manager travels on a train, an engineer must be present on the footplate" or "an engineer footplated the locomotive after trouble in its bogies was reported at an intermediate station". The word however is not used to refer to the driving cab outside of context of someone riding it : the usage "the footplate of a newer WAP4 is ergonomic and very convenient for the loco pilot" is incorrect. The term foot plate can also be applied to the step along the length of a classical tram on both sides.
Usage examples of "footplate".
An acclimatised Britisher, he had seen that summer eve from the footplate of an engine cab of the Loop line railway company while the rain refrained from falling glimpses, as it were, through the windows of loveful households in Dublin city and urban district of scenes truly rural of happiness of the better land with Dockrell's wallpaper at one and ninepence a dozen, innocent Britishborn bairns lisping prayers to the Sacred Infant, youthful scholars grappling with their pensums or model young ladies playing on the pianoforte or anon all with fervour reciting the family rosary round the crackling Yulelog while in the boreens and green lanes the colleens with their swains strolled what times the strains of the organtoned melodeon Britannia metalbound with four acting stops and twelvefold bellows, a sacrifice, greatest bargain ever .
He had taken Mintaka up on the footplate and turned the horses' heads unerringly in the direction of Dabba and the river.
Directly under him the footplates articulated against each other as the train clattered through the curves of the line.
The man would step over the footplates as quickly as he could, not wanting to be in that vulnerable and exposed position for a moment longer than was necessary to make the crossing, and Hendrick would have to be quicker still.
While it was still moving, Manfred leapt onto the footplates, and thrust the Luger into the astonished faces of the driver and his fireman.
Balancing easily on the footplates, the Hyksos drew his recurved bow and aimed at me, or so it seemed.
For all my dreamy journeys speeding south on the footplates of those night trains, the purposeful bustle of Bracebridge High Street was still a source of fascination to me.
Behind them a hundred chariots in succession neatly executed the same manoeuvre, and the charioteers swarmed down from the footplates to begin watering the horses.
He found purchase and clung on to the side of the boxcar, his feet still free but scrabbling for the footplates, and at that moment hands like steel claws seized his injured ankle, the full weight of a heavy body bore him down, racking him out against the side of the car.
The first target came up fast, and Nefer braced himself on the bouncing swerving footplate.