A Repair In Place track where bad-ordered cars are sent for inspection and mechanical repair. RIP tracks are typically located within or adjacent to classification yards and staffed by carmen. The term originally stood for Repair In Place, reflecting that repairs are done with the car on the track.
A railcar that has been removed from service because it has a mechanical defect, damage, or other condition that makes it unsafe or unsuitable to move loaded. Bad-ordered cars are set out at a repair facility until they are inspected and restored to serviceable condition. The term is used as both a noun and a verb in railroad operations.
A large rail facility where cars from inbound trains are sorted and grouped by destination to build outbound trains. Cars may be sorted using hump switching, flat switching, or a combination of both. Classification yards are the central nodes of the carload network.