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Following are guidelines and suggestions on the style of train articles for [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Trains|WikiProject Trains]].

== Notability ==
{{See also|Wikipedia:Notability (Railway lines and stations)}}
A topic is ''presumed'' to be notable if it has received significant coverage in [[Wikipedia:Reliable sources|reliable sources]] that are [[Wikipedia:Verifiability#Sources|independent]] of the subject. 
For general advice on notability of articles see [[WP:N]].

The primary Wikipedia notability criteria for organisations ([[WP:ORG]]) would also need to be consulted. In particular, a company, corporation, organization, group, product, or service is '''notable''' if it has been the subject of coverage in [[secondary source]]s.  Such sources must be [[Wikipedia:Reliable sources|reliable]], and independent of the subject.  The depth of coverage of the subject by the source must be considered.  If the depth of coverage is not substantial, then multiple independent sources should be cited to establish notability.  Trivial or incidental coverage of a subject by secondary sources is not sufficient to establish notability.  Once notability is established, [[primary source|primary sources]] may be used to add content.  Ultimately, and most importantly, [[Wikipedia:Attribution|all content must be attributable]].

When that has been done, train specific criteria may be considered. That an article meets one or more of these criteria, or doesn't meet any of them, is not by itself proof of notability. 

===Train specific criteria===

#Railroad and rail transport operating companies
#* Any current or defunct railroad or operating company with an assigned [[reporting mark]].
#* Railroads that have been honored at the national level with an award, i.e. [[Short Line Railroad of the Year]] or [[E.H. Harriman Award]].
#* Railroads that have appeared on postage stamps.
#* Currently operating railroads.
#* Railroads that were first to enter or be built in major political divisions (states, provinces or nations).
#* see also [[Wikipedia:Notability (companies and corporations)]]
#Rolling stock
#* Generic classes by manufacturer for diesel and electric locomotives, i.e. [[EMD GP30]] or [[GE U30C]].
#* Generic classes by railroad for steam locomotives, i.e. [[PRR K5]] or [[Southern Pacific class AC-12]].
#* Individual equipment that has been labeled as a superlative type (only, first, last, largest, longest, smallest, oldest, etc.), i.e. ''[[El Gobernador]]'' or ''[[C. P. Huntington]]''.
#* Individual equipment labeled as historically significant by reputable and verifiable external sources, such as the [[National Register of Historic Places]], i.e. [[Pere Marquette 1225]]. ''See also [[Wikipedia:WikiProject National Register of Historic Places]].''
#Equipment manufacturers
#* Currently operating manufacturers.
#* Companies that have been labeled as a superlative type (first, largest, etc.).
#* Companies that have been depicted on postage stamps in any country.
#Railroad infrastructure and buildings (Note that [[Wikipedia:Notability (Railway lines and stations)|discussion is ongoing]] for notability guidelines on railway and rapid transit/subway stations.)
#* Any structure labeled as historically significant by reputable and verifiable external sources, such as the [[National Register of Historic Places]].
#* Structures that have appeared on postage stamps in any country.
#* Any piece of equipment or equipment part where a history of the development can be described (more than just a dictionary definition).
#Rail transport museums
#* Any museum whose collection includes culturally or historically significant rolling stock or infrastructure, such as equipment or structures listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].
#People (For articles on living people, the Wikipedia [[Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines|policy]] [[Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons]] applies, and ''must'' be consulted. In all cases [[Wikipedia:Notability (people)]] should also be consulted.)
#* Founders, Presidents, CEOs and [[Chief Mechanical Engineer]]s of railroad companies.
#* Railroaders who have been honored at the national level in any country with an award, such as [[Railroader of the Year]].
#* Railroaders who have appeared on postage stamps in any country, i.e. [[Jimmie Rodgers (country singer)|Jimmie Rodgers]] (the "singing brakeman") or [[Casey Jones]].
#* Railroaders who have been identified as noteworthy by reputable and verifiable external sources, such as those who appear in: {{White - America's most noteworthy railroaders}}
#Events
#* Events that served as important turning points in rail transport history.
#* Accidents where a significant number of casualties or a significant amount of property damage occur (this is purposely ''not'' nailed down to a specific number for either criterion).
#* Accidents that form the basis for rail transport legislation.
#* Events that have been labeled as historically significant by reputable and verifiable external sources.
#Historical, technical and preservation organizations
#* Organizations that have been recognized as superlative (i.e. first, oldest, largest, etc.) by multiple reputable external sources.
#* Organizations that have appeared as the primary subject of postage stamps.
#* Organizations that are stewards of equipment or facilities of historical or cultural significance (i.e. [[listed building]]s or equipment or structures on the [[National Register of Historic Places]], etc.).
#* see also [[Wikipedia:Notability (organizations)]] (proposed) and [[Wikipedia:Notability (companies and corporations)]]

This list is not intended to be used as minimum requirements.

== General style guidelines ==
* Don't use apostrophes for plurals. For example, the plural of [[EMD GP40]] is [[EMD GP40]]s and not [[EMD GP40]]'s.
* A large number of templates for use on rail transport articles are listed on [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Trains/Article templates]] and in [[:Category:Rail transport templates]]
* When equipment or train service names are mentioned in an article text, they should be showin in italics (such as ''[[Super Chief]]'' or ''[[Stourbridge Lion]]'')

=== Lead paragraph ===
* Write a concise [[Wikipedia:Lead section|lead section]] that summarizes the content of the entire article.
* The first sentence should provide a definition of the article subject, including (where applicable) the company's [[reporting mark]]s; use the {{tl|reporting mark}} template to present the mark in a standardized format.
* If there is another common abbreviation or alternative name for the subject, state it in the lead section.

=== Talk page ===
* Add {{tl|TrainsWikiProject}} and {{tl|Todo, trains}} to the article's talk page to indicate that the article is part of the [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Trains|Trains WikiProject]] and to list the tasks that need to be completed.  If there are many talk page templates for a specific article, consider using <code>small=yes</code> to reduce the display size of the template's output.
* Using {{tl|TrainsWikiProject}} without any parameters will automatically add the article's talk page to [[:Category:Unassessed rail transport articles]] and [[:Category:Unknown-importance rail transport articles]], where other editors will see it and assess it based on the guidelines at [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Trains/Assessment]]. This is often backlogged, so try and fill out these parameters yourself if you are comfortable doing so.
* The appropriate WikiProject(s) for the geographical area(s) served by a rail line, rail company or facility, or the location of a preserved locomotive should also be added. For example, the [[Branford Steam Railroad]] falls under both WikiProject Trains and WikiProject Connecticut.

=== Stubs ===
* The most general stub type for rail transport is {{tl|rail-transport-stub}}.
* Use the most specific stub type applicable (as listed on {{cl|Rail transport stubs}}), deferring to {{tl|rail-transport-stub}} only when the existing subtypes are not appropriate.
* Multiple stub templates can be used on a stub (such as using both {{tl|diesel-loco-stub}} and {{tl|US-rail-transport-stub}} on an article about a diesel locomotive that was only used in the US), but avoid adding more than two stub templates to any specific article.
* In order to create a new stub type, identify at least around 50 articles that would fall into the proposed stub category and then make a proposal on the [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Stub sorting/Proposals|WikiProject Stub sorting/Proposals]] page.

=== Categories ===
* The most general category for rail transport is {{cl|Rail transport}}
* Use the most specific categories applicable, deferring to {{cl|Rail transport}} only when the existing categories are not appropriate.
* Do not place articles into both a category and that category's parent category, but use the more specific of the two.
* There are categories for beginnings and endings based on start and end years as appropriate.  For companies, add <code><nowiki>[[Category:Railway companies established in YEAR]]</nowiki></code> and <code><nowiki>[[Category:Railway companies disestablished in YEAR]]</nowiki></code>; for biographies, add <code><nowiki>[[Category:YEAR births]]</nowiki></code> and <code><nowiki>[[Category:YEAR deaths]]</nowiki></code> (if both birth and death years are known).  Train service or rolling stock equipment introductions can be categorized in <code><nowiki>[[Category:YEAR introductions]]</nowiki></code>.  In each of these, substitute <code>YEAR</code> with the appropriate year number (the complete four-digit year).

== Articles about rail transport companies (railroads) style guide ==

=== Article name ===
* Articles should be named using the railroad company's [[Wikipedia:Article titles#Use commonly recognizable names|most common name in independent reliable sources]]. Create [[Wikipedia:Redirect|redirects]] from alternate names and abbreviations. Example: [[BNSF Railway]] is the most common name; its longer official name [[BNSF Railway Company]], even longer former official name [[Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway]], and abbreviation [[BNSF]] all redirect to the article.
* Article names should use the word "and" instead of an ampersand ("&"), e.g. [[Chicago and North Western Railway]], unless the ampersand can be shown to be [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style#Ampersand|part of the proper name]], as in [[Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad]].

=== Summary information and lead section ===
* Use {{tl|Infobox rail}} to present standardized summary information about the railroad; {{tl|Infobox SG rail}} is a special case that has the <code>gauge</code> parameter already filled in for [[standard gauge]] railroads.

=== Standard subsections ===
* History of the railroad and significant predecessors and/or successors (history may be broken up into further subsections as appropriate)
* Territory and/or station list
* Company officers (presidents and CEOs only) through history
* Major service areas

===DEFAULTSORT===
A [[WP:DEFAULTSORT|default sort key]] should be created by removing commas and [[Grammatical conjunction|conjunction]]s, adding an extra space before the "Railroad" or "Railway", spelling out abbreviations like St., and "updating" old spellings like [[Name of Pittsburgh|Pittsburg]]. For instance, [[Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway]], [[Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad]], [[Chicago and North Western Railway]], and [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad]] would be "Chicago Milwaukee Saint Paul&nbsp;&nbsp;Railway", "Chicago Milwaukee Saint Paul Pacific&nbsp;&nbsp;Railroad", "Chicago North Western&nbsp;&nbsp;Railway", and "Chicago Rock Island Pacific&nbsp;&nbsp;Railroad", and would appear in that order in categories such as [[:Category:Former Class I railroads in the United States]].

== Articles about rail transport equipment (rolling stock) style guide ==

=== General ===
* Do not use "she" to describe equipment.
* Use {{tl|Infobox Locomotive}} for motive power.

=== Article name ===
* Articles about a generic type of equipment should use the equipment type's most general name with subsections for specific subtypes (such as [[Refrigerator car]])
* Articles about a specific model of equipment that may have been used by more than one company should be named as MANUFACTURER MODEL (such as [[EMD SD40-2]])
* Articles about a specific class of equipment used by a specific railroad company should be named with the most common company and class names (such as [[PRR K4s]])
* Articles about specific single pieces of equipment should be named with the most common name used to identify the equipment, using disambiguation as appropriate (such as [[John Bull (locomotive)]]); if the equipment is known by its operating number, the number should be prefaced with the most common railroad identifier (such as [[Santa Fe 3751]])

=== Standard subsections ===
* Design and historical development
* Export Variations
* Rebuilds
* Preservation

== Articles about named passenger train services style guide ==

=== Summary information and lead section ===
* The first sentence of the article text should list the service name, operating railroad(s), service endpoints (i.e. Chicago to Los Angeles) and the beginning and ending service years; for example, the following would be an acceptable lead sentence:
*:The '''''Fooian Express''''' was a passenger train service operated by the [[Bar None Railroad]] between [[Frozz, Michigan]], and [[Bazz, Ohio]], from 1882 to 1926.

=== General ===
* Within the article text, train names are italicized (as in ''Super Chief'')
* For Amtrak services, use {{tl|Infobox rail service}} and the appropriate footer navbox(es)

=== Article name ===
* The article name should be the service's official name
* Where disambiguation is necessary, first disambiguate to "(train)", as in [[Chief (train)]], then to individual railroad companies as needed, as in [[Overland Limited (ATSF train)]] and [[Overland Limited (UP train)]].
* Do not use the word "the" in the article title unless it is part of the service's official name

=== Standard subsections ===
* History
* Route and equipment used
* Legacy

=== Categories ===
* Add articles to the appropriate <code><nowiki>[[Category:Railway services introduced in YEAR]]</nowiki></code> and <code><nowiki>[[Category:Railway services discontinued in YEAR]]</nowiki></code>, where <code>YEAR</code> is the year that the named service began or ended.
* Where there is a category for the operating railroad, add the article to that category (and to the specific passenger service subcategory if it exists)
* For named passenger services, add it to the appropriate category under {{cl|Named passenger trains}}

== Articles about railway stations style guide ==
{{seealso|Wikipedia:WikiProject Stations#Article structure}}
=== Opening date ===
For the opening date, if there are multiple dates (such as a "grand opening" prior to the start of revenue service), use the start of revenue service for the infobox and categorization, but discuss both dates in the article text.

[[Category:WikiProject notability advice|Trains]]
[[Category:WikiProject style advice (science and technology)|Trains]]

==Short descriptions==
In general, short descriptions should be short [[WP:SDSHORT]] and should be used to clarify the page. Below is a set of recommendations for articles related to trains, compiled from previous discussions at: [[Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Trains#More short descriptions]]

See more general information about short descriptions at [[WP:SHORTDESC]] and [[WP:WPSHORTDESC]].

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Examples of short descriptions for train articles. 
|-
! Article Type !! Format!! Example Article!! Suggested Short Description!! Notes !! Link to Discussion
|-
| Station|| Railway station in [town/area/region], [country]|| [[Flamatt_Dorf_railway_station]] || Railway station in Wünnewil-Flamatt, Switzerland|| "Train station" may be used if more appropriate for the location || 
|-
| Metro/Rapid Transition Station|| Rapid transit station in [city location]|| [[11th_Street_station_(SEPTA)]] || Rapid transit station in Philadelphia|| || [[Talk:Marshfield_station]]
|-
| Railway|| Railway in [town/area/region], [country]|| [[Lake_Shore_and_Michigan_Southern_Railway]]|| Railway in the United States|| If railway operates in one or two states, list states; if three or more; list larger region; do not list as former or defunct per [[SD:AVOID]]; "Railroad" may be used if more appropriate term for location; Narrow-gauge may be noted|| 
|-
| Railroad company|| Railway company in [town/area/region], [country]|| [[Allentown_Railroad]]|| Railway company in Pennsylvania|| Do not list as former/dufunct If railroad is no longer in business, list as former|| 
|-
| Biography|| [country adjective] [what the person is known for]|| [[James_J._Hill]]|| American railroad promoter and financier (1838–1916)|| Same as "person" on [[WP:Short Description]]|| 
|-
| Locomotive|| [Nationality] [traction type OR role] locomotive (year built)|| [[Salamanca_(locomotive)]]|| British steam locomotive (built 1812) 
|| If shunting locomotive, replace traction type with shunting role || [[Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Trains#Short_descriptions]]
|-
| Locomotive class|| [Nationality] [Power source] [traction type OR role]  locomotive class (year built)|| [[LNER_Class_A4]]; [[British Rail Class 08]]||| British steam locomotive class (built 1935); Diesel–electric shunting locomotives||If class of shunting locomotive, replace traction type with shunting role || [[Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Trains#Short_descriptions]]
|-
|}