light engine

English

Noun

light engine (plural light engines)

1. (rail transport) A locomotive running on its own, or with other powered locomotives, with no wagons or carriages attached.
   • 1960 December, “Motive Power Miscellany: London Midland Region”, in Trains Illustrated, page 767:

     After a week's manœuvrability tests at Winwick, the locomotive was to undergo three weeks' trials, light engine and loaded, between Whitchurch and Tattenhall Junction.

References

• “light engine”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.