shoegear

From shoe +‎ gear.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈʃuːˌɡɪə(ɹ)/

shoegear (uncountable)

1. (rail transport) train equipment, usually mounted on bogies, used to transfer electric current from the third rail.
   • 1960 February, “The first of London's new Piccadilly Line trains is delivered”, in Trains Illustrated, page 94:

     Features such as trackless doors, mercury-type door interlocks, roof-mounted door fault indicator lights, rubber window glazing, improved retractable shoegear and a modified electro-pneumatic brake system designed to facilitate maintenance and improve reliability, which have proved their worth on the prototype trains, are continued in the new stock.

   • 1995, Colin J. Kirkland, “Locomotives”, in Engineering the Channel Tunnel‎, →ISBN, page 190:

     In the third case, the need to provide retractable shoegear on the power bogies to pick up current from the third rail, and the equipment to use low-voltage supply, has complicated the design of the Eurostar trains.

   • 2003, P. Hinde, J. Thompson, “Commissioning”, in International Conference on New Trains: 4-5 June 2003 at Le Meridien, York, UK‎, volume 2003 IMechE conference transactions, published 2004, →ISBN, The train operator's view of new train introduction, page 51:

     Here shoegear and stepboards are refitted prior to a commissioning run conducted by the manufacturer which includes high speed and emergency brake tests.

   • 2006, Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Environmental Audit Committee, quoting DJ Hartland, Reducing carbon emissions from transport: Oral and written evidence‎, →ISBN, London Underground Power Supplies. Electric Current Flow in Conductor Rails. Savings in Energy with Low Loss Rail, page 286:

     The trains run on two additional rails and pick up current by means of shoegear making sliding contact with the conductor rails.

• shoe / pickup shoe
• shoebeam

• gheraoes