A method of classifying cars in a yard where a locomotive pushes or pulls cars onto the correct track without the aid of a hump. Flat switching is slower than hump operations but is used at smaller yards or for fragile lading. It requires more locomotive movements and crew time per car sorted.
A classification yard where cars are pushed over an elevated hump and allowed to roll by gravity into designated classification tracks. Retarders control car speed during descent to prevent damage from collisions. Hump yards dramatically increase sorting throughput compared to flat switching.
A large rail facility where cars from inbound trains are sorted and grouped by destination to build outbound trains. Cars may be sorted using hump switching, flat switching, or a combination of both. Classification yards are the central nodes of the carload network.
A fee assessed by a railroad for the local movement of cars within a terminal, between an interchange point and a customer facility, or for reciprocal switching. Switching charges cover the cost of locomotive power, crew, and track used in the switch move. They are published in tariffs and may be assessed in addition to the linehaul rate.