power car

power car (plural power cars)

1. A vehicle that propels, and commonly also controls, a passenger train or tram, often as the lead vehicle.
   • 1960 September, “Inter-city diesel units for the Hull-Liverpool service of the N.E.R.”, in Trains Illustrated, page 560:

     The inner power cars are brake second class compartment coaches; the guard has means of both bell and two-way telephone communication with the driving compartment.

   Antonym: trailer car

2. A vehicle equipped with machinery for supplying heat or electrical power to other parts of a train.