Definition of "wrecking-car" [wrecking-car]

• A car provided with means and appliances for clearing wreckage or other obstructions from a railroad-track. Sometimes it is a long platform-car fitted with a small derrick and a house at one end. (noun)

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• ""Somebody run over -- can't get them out," he said, as they swung on board the wrecking-car and started."
• "The crew had been used to receiving orders from Rondeau, and moreover they were not aware of his recent action; hence at his command they ran the switch-engine out of the roundhouse, coupled up the two flat-cars and the wrecking-car, and backed down to the crossing."
• "By utilizing the steel derrick on the company's wrecking-car, this task was completed by noon, and after luncheon the mogul backed up the main line past the switch into the Laguna Grande yards; whereupon the switch-engine kicked the two flat-cars and the wrecking-car out of the yard and down to the crossing, where the obstructions were promptly unloaded."