shunter

Noun

shunter (plural shunters)

1. (UK) A railway locomotive used for shunting (switching).
   • Concurrent to this order, Good forged a link with Irish Railways, which resulted in the latter building five shunters with Brush equipment, marking the inception of dieselisation in the country.2021 June 30, David Clough, “Brush: a UK rail icon”, in RAIL, number 934, page 55

   Synonyms:

   shunting engine, switcher, switch engine

2. (UK) A person who carries out shunting operations.
   • The electric locomotive is accompanied by a shunter who, in addition to his normal duties, flags the trains over the unprotected level crossings and opens the gates through which the line passes.1957 December, H. R. Stones, “The Hellingly Hospital Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 872
   • The shunter has a lightweight portable radio transmitter by which, as he uncouples an incoming train into cuts for marshalling, he informs the Traffic Office of the number of wagons in each cut and its siding; [...].1960 June, “Talking of Trains: The new Margam yard”, in Trains Illustrated, page 323

   Synonyms:

   switchman, switcher, hostler, yard jockey

3. (UK, historical) One who shunts (carries on arbitrage between London and provincial stock exchanges).