The right of way- I see this term used in different ways. What are they?

Question

What if someone says there is no right of way?

Answer 1

A railroad right of way is the term for the area the railroad tracks occupy.

I don't know from whence the term came, but on it's surface it seems simple.  Some streets are called 'ways', and used in terms like 'by the wayside' or 'losing ones way.'

So, it seems logical that it is the 'right' to use the path, or 'way'.  Hence, right of way.

Answer 2

In most situations, the right-of-way is far wider than the track itself. This assures that nothing will be built too close to the rails, that various facilities and detectors can be constructed, that railroad material can be stored trackside, and that railroad vehicles will have sufficient access to railroad property via service roads.

The term is also used in grade crossing discourse. Trains always have the right of way, meaning that motorists must yield. Even when there are no crossing signals (or if the signals malfunction), drivers should beware. Occasionally a "stop-and-flag" bulletin is issued, but this is usually liability protection.

Answer 3

1. The railroad's tracks

2. The right to pass a signal

3. One train having the right to the track over another (The train that soen't have the right-of-way has to go into a siding & let the other train pass)

Answer 4

Where do you hear people use that, in reguards of the railroad? I am listening to the train radio , and hear alot of everything people say. never heard it..

Answer 5

Way - a path or means of navigation

Right - a legal privilege

The right of way means to have the legal privilege to a path.  That can mean you have the right to cross land owned by someone else.  It can also mean you have the right to navigate ahead of someone else.  That can apply to planes, trains, automobiles (no pun intended), boats, bicycles...etc.  Maybe you have heard the saying "lets get under way"?   If someone says there is no right of way then they mean that there is no legal right to move along that particular path.

Answer 6

Highball's got this one. Its the land that the railroad owns adjacent to the tracks, which is why walking on or around train tracks is trespassing. Railroads are one of the biggest land owners in the country. Oh and you'll never hear it called that over the radio unless your listening to the signal department on a large project and even then we don't use it that often

Answer 7

meaning 1:  permission to pass

Cars do not have the right of way on lumber roads or park trails.  (Way means passage.)  

meaning 2:  overriding permission to proceed first at an intersection

meaning 2 applies at traffic intersections and is INTERPRETED to mean that upon simultaneous arrival at by vehicles at two points on the intersection, the driver (vehicle) to the RIGHT of the other one has the overriding permission to proceed first.  

This may NOT apply in countries where people drive on the left.