“105 siding” is not a universal railroad term with one fixed definition. In many contexts, the number likely identifies a location—often a milepost, station point, track designation, or railroad operating reference. The exact reason depends on the line and the railroad that uses the name. Understanding how railroads label tracks helps explain why “105 siding” can be meaningful locally without having the same meaning everywhere.
What “105 Siding” Usually Means
A siding is a track connected to a main track that lets trains move off the main route. Depending on its design and use, it may allow one train to wait while another passes, provide access to a business or industrial facility, or hold railcars for switching and storage.
The number in “105 siding” is generally a local identifier, not a standard category of siding. Railroads use names and numbers to distinguish tracks in operating instructions, timetables, dispatching systems, maps, and maintenance records. A number can point to a location or serve simply as a track label.
Without a railroad, route, map, or sign to establish context, it is not possible to confirm what the “105” refers to in a particular case. It could be connected to a milepost near mile 105, but that explanation should be treated as a likely possibility—not a universal rule.
Why Railroads Number or Name Sidings
Railroad names need to be practical. Dispatchers, train crews, track inspectors, and maintenance workers must be able to identify the right location quickly and clearly. A distinct label reduces confusion when people coordinate train movements or report a defect.
Names may come from the surrounding community, an adjacent business, a junction, a geographic feature, a historic station, or a milepost. A number may also be assigned internally, especially when a railroad needs a short identifier for an operating or engineering document.
- Location: A nearby milepost, station, road crossing, or geographic feature may inspire the name.
- Purpose: A track may be identified by the customer, mine, plant, or yard it serves.
- Operating convenience: A short number or name helps crews communicate precisely.
- History: A label may remain in use after ownership, industries, or local place names change.
Could “105” Refer to a Milepost?
Yes. A milepost is a marker used to identify a position along a railroad route. If a siding is near milepost 105, railroad employees or local users might refer to it as “the 105 siding.” This can be a convenient shorthand, particularly on a long route where a place name is not distinctive.
However, railroad mileposts do not always match the distance a traveler might expect. A line’s numbering may begin at a historic terminal, follow a former route, or reflect a system established before a railroad changed ownership. Some routes use mileposts measured from a designated point, while others may have complicated numbering due to branches, realignments, or merged lines.
For that reason, “105” does not necessarily mean the siding is exactly 105 miles from the nearest city, the start of the current railroad, or a state boundary. The relevant reference point is determined by the railroad’s route and milepost system.
Other Possible Meanings of the Number
A Track or Facility Number
Railroads may label tracks numerically to distinguish them from one another. In that case, “105” could be a local track number rather than a milepost. The number might appear in a yard diagram, dispatching interface, internal inventory, or a set of instructions used by railroad employees.
A Nearby Road, Route, or Station Reference
The number could come from a nearby highway, county road, state route, or former station designation. A local name may reflect what people recognize in the area rather than the railroad’s formal engineering reference.
A Customer or Industrial Track Identifier
Some sidings connect to businesses, warehouses, factories, grain elevators, ports, or other freight facilities. A number may be part of the customer’s track plan or the railroad’s identifier for the connection. The business’s name may change, while the track number remains in use.
A Legacy Name
Railroads frequently inherit names and numbering systems when they buy, lease, merge with, or reorganize another line. A siding’s label can survive long after the original reason for it has become obscure. Older maps, company records, or local histories may be needed to trace its origin.
How Sidings Differ From Main Tracks and Yards
A siding is not automatically a yard. A yard is a group of tracks used to sort, store, assemble, or switch railcars. A siding is usually a single track, or a limited track arrangement, connected to a main line. Its exact function depends on the railroad and the site.
A passing siding is designed to let trains traveling in opposite directions—or, on some lines, trains moving in the same direction—meet or pass. A industry siding serves a customer or facility. A storage siding holds cars or equipment temporarily. These are descriptions of function, not names that explain what “105” means.
Railroad operating rules determine how a particular siding may be used. Its length, switches, signals, track condition, and local instructions all matter. A label alone does not establish whether a siding is open, active, or suitable for a particular train.
Why the Name May Vary by Source
The same track can appear under different names in different records. A railroad timetable may use a station or control-point name, while a track chart uses a milepost and an engineering drawing lists a numbered track. Local residents may use an informal name that never appears in official operating documents.
Names can also change over time. A siding may be extended, shortened, abandoned, or reassigned to a different customer. A map that is years old may show a name that is no longer used operationally. Therefore, a reference to “105 siding” needs a date and location to be interpreted reliably.
How to Find the Exact Origin of a Particular 105 Siding
To determine why a specific siding is called “105,” first identify the railroad and location. A photograph of a sign, a nearby town, a route name, or the state can narrow the search. Then compare the label with current and historical railroad records.
- Identify the route. Find the railroad company or line associated with the track, including former owners if known.
- Locate the siding. Use a railroad map, public crossing information, or a reliable local map to identify nearby towns, junctions, and mileposts.
- Compare milepost references. Check whether milepost 105 or a similar route marker lies near the siding. Confirm which direction the numbering follows.
- Look for railroad documents. Timetables, track charts, station lists, valuation maps, and public railroad records may provide the formal name or location.
- Check historical sources. Local archives, newspapers, railroad historical societies, and land or industry records may explain an older name.
Federal Railroad Administration resources can help establish railroad and crossing context, but they may not explain the informal origin of a local siding name. Railroad company documents and historical collections are often more useful for that specific question. A map that shows the siding near milepost 105 supports the milepost explanation, but does not by itself prove that the number came from that marker.
What the Name Does Not Tell You
“105 siding” does not, by itself, tell a reader the siding’s length, ownership, track capacity, current operating status, or permitted train speed. Those details require current railroad information. A number in a name is not a safety instruction or an indication that the track is open to public use.
Railroad property is generally not a public walkway. Tracks and sidings can be active even when no train is visible, and trains can approach quietly or from either direction. Anyone seeking to view a siding should remain off railroad property and use lawful public vantage points.
Why There Is No Single Universal Explanation
Railroad naming practices developed across different companies, regions, and eras. There is no one nationwide rule requiring every siding to be named after a milepost or to use a standard numbering system. A number that signals a location on one railroad could be a simple track identifier on another.
That is why the most accurate general answer is conditional: “105 siding” is usually a local name or identifier, and it may refer to milepost 105 if the siding is located near that marker. The railroad and location are necessary to establish the exact origin.
Quick Reference
| Possible meaning of “105” | What it could indicate | How to verify it |
|---|---|---|
| Milepost | A siding near the railroad’s milepost 105 | Compare the siding location with the route’s milepost map or track chart |
| Track number | An internal label for a track or facility | Consult railroad diagrams, operating documents, or local railroad records |
| Road or place reference | A nearby highway, community, or former station | Check maps and local historical sources |
| Legacy designation | A name retained from an earlier railroad or customer | Review historical maps, company records, and archives |
In short, “105 siding” is not a standardized type of railroad track. The number most plausibly serves as a local location or operating identifier; a nearby milepost is one common possibility. Pinpointing the actual reason requires the siding’s railroad and geographic location.
Sources for Further Research
- Federal Railroad Administration — federal railroad safety and industry information.
- FRA railroad crossing data and resources — useful for identifying rail crossings and related location context.
- Library of Congress collections — maps, photographs, and historical materials that may help trace older railroad names.