These terms are used interchangeably by most speakers and writers. In exact usage, railroad is used to refer to the entire system involved: the tracks themselves, the stations, rolling stock, land, ticket offices, and other property used in transportation by rail. Railway refers specifically to a track providing a runway for wheeled equipment."Amtrak is a system of railroads throughout the United States." "Every foot of the elevated railway in that city has been dismantled." As a verb, used informally, railroad means (1) "to rush or push through quickly" and (2) "to imprison on a false charge": "The legislature will railroad this bill today." "The attorney said, 'My client is innocent; don't try to railroad him into jail. '"
Dictionary of problem words and expressions. Harry Shaw. 1975.