banking engine

English

banking engine (plural banking engines)

(rail transport, British) Synonym of banker (“type of railway locomotive”)
- 1953 November, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 760:
  Speaking of locomotive surefootedness, I was immensely impressed, on a recent journey with the down "Ulsterman" from Euston, when "Royal Scot" 4-6-0 No. 46168, The Girl Guide, cleanly lifted a well-filled 15-coach train of 471 tons tare and 500 tons gross out of the terminus without the service of any banking engine.
- 1959 November, “Talking of Trains: Widening north of York”, in Trains Illustrated, page 518:
  When the widening is complete, the majority of the trains from Tees-side and the North which have hitherto had to be routed via the Leeds Northern line (Ripon, Harrogate and Wetherby) will be diverted over the main line via York. This avoids the necessity to provide banking engines on the Leeds Northern route and will result in speedier transit times and the more efficient and economical use of engines and train crews.