What does derail mean?

Answer 1

* A track safety device designed to guide a car off the rails at a specific spot as a means of protection against collisions or other accidents.

www.vnerr.com/training/Terminology,_Definitions,_Abbreviations.htm * A device mounted on a rail designed to protect the mainline by causing any runaway rail car on a siding or spur to derail before it can foul the ...

www.letstalktrains.us/glossaryaf.asp * A device placed over the rail to prevent a car from rolling out of a siding (for example) and onto the main line.

www.lionel.com/GettingStarted/Guides/a-f.html * A safety device placed on the track, usually on a siding, that guides a rolling car off the rails to prevent it from continuing onto the main line ...

www.angelfire.com/ri2/canadianpacific/glossary.html * cause to run off the tracks; "they had planned to derail the trains that carried atomic waste" * run off or leave the rails; "the train derailed because a cow was standing on the tracks"

wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn * A Derail or Derailer is a device used to prevent fouling of a track by unauthorized movements of trains or unattended rolling stock. It works (as the name suggests) by derailing the equipment as it rolls over or through the derail.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derail * To come off the tracks; To deviate from the previous course or direction; To cause to deviate from a set course or direction

en.wiktionary.org/wiki/derail
There are two common ways to use the word derail on the railroad:

* The cut of cars derailed. * ** means the wheels of the rail cars came off the rails. * Put the derail back on. * ** means a mechanic device place on top of the rail to make the wheels of the rail cars come off the rail.
Something that was once on a rail is no longer on the rail, meaning the train drove over a penny.

Answer 2

it could be left or ran off