switch engine

noun

, Railroads.

1. a locomotive for switching rolling stock in a yard.

Word History and Origins

Origin of switch engine¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

Example Sentences

Lawyers for the British claimants say VW installed software which was designed to detect when vehicles were being tested and switch engines to a cleaner mode in an attempt to "cheat clean air laws".

From BBC

It’s similar to the way Union Pacific Railroad controls switch engines in its rail yards, he said.

From Washington Times

Dozens of signs next to the busiest main roads into London instruct drivers to switch engines off when stationary to reduce emissions.

From Washington Times

He heard a switch engine in the Southern Pacific yards discharging steam in shrill dry spurts.

From Literature

VW admitted last September that 482,000 of its diesel vehicles in the US were fitted with defeat device software to switch engines to a cleaner mode while they were being tested.

From BBC