Definition: A switcher is a small but powerful, short range locomotive. A switcher is "setting out" cars at local industries to be loaded, collecting the loaded cars, and assembling them into trains in a yard to be picked up by long-distance road locomotives for delivery in the yards of other cities.
"Shunter" is the UK term for a switcher.
"Shunter" is the UK term for a switcher.
Also Known As: switching locomotive, switch engine, shunter