Railroad Legal Glossary: P

Paired Track: When two railroads own single track lines, they may reach an agreement whereby one railroads track services both roads in one direction, while the other railroads track services both roads in the other direction.

Partial Service Application: Reducing the brake pipe pressure at a service rate but not enough to cause the reservoir and cylinder pressure to equalize. 

Peremptory Challenge: A challenge to a particular juror that requires no reason. Normally an attorney has a limited number of these challenges.

Personal Property: Defined by the law as "things movable." This is distinguished from the term "real property," which includes things such as trees, buildings and land.

Petition: A formal request that the court take some action; a complaint. 

Piggyback: Originally used when truck trailers were loaded onto flat cars for shipment by rail. 

Piglet: A locomotive engineer trainee. 

Pilot: An employee assigned to a train when the engineer or conductor is not acquainted with the rules or portion of a railroad over which the train is to be moved. 

Plaintiff: The party bringing the case against another. 

Pleading: The process of making formal, written statements by the litigants. All papers filed with the court are collectively referred to as "pleadings."

Pocket: Portion of track within a terminal on which a train may stand for a period of time 

Position Light Signal: A fixed signal in which the indications are given by the position of two or more lights. 

Precedent: The value that a completed case has on deciding future cases.

Prime Mover: A V-type diesel with 8 to 20 cylinders rated at about 125 hp per cylinder if normally aspirated or 250 hp per cylinder if it is turbo-charged. 

Private Car / Business Car: Coaches owned by private individuals or the railroad (often used for corporate officials and supervisors). Cars are positioned at the end of trains and the train crews are to remain off these cars except when they are performing their duties. 

Pro Se: On one's own behalf; not using an attorney. 

Process Serving: The method by which a defendant in a lawsuit is notified that a plaintiff has filed a suit against him.

Product Liability: A type of strict liability in which the manufacturer or seller is strictly liable for injuries caused by defective products.

Punitive Damages: Damages given for the purpose of punishing the defendant.