If you really want to get to the nitty gritty, I think that "solid rail" can technically be defined as a bulwark. It's an evolved design on vessels that have a raised pilothouse and it's purpose is to mitigate the amount of sea spray hitting the pilothouse windows. Dodgers further the cause and extend up further. Originally, for additional visibility, some ore carriers had open pilothouses on the roof of the original one. These were pretty exposed and efforts we often made to make them more comfortable through the use of canopies and shrouds but not being enclosed, it wasn't really a practical, all day location to pilot a vessel from. Realizing the visibility benefits of the raised house, many ships were converted having a "real pilothouse" constructed above the original. Many of these early raised houses had a single cat walk around the front with a wire fence. Of course, this didn't help with the spray at all and the wire fence was eventually filled in to be a solid one to serve the same function as a bulwark would if the pilothouse were still on the foc'sle deck. A very good example of this evolution can be found in the Historical Galleries if you look at the J.H. Sheadle - F.A. Bailey - La Salle - Meaford album.
This feature stuck to future designs. It actually eventually posed a visibility issue on vessels built with a texas deck like the William A. and the John G. Munson. These vessels had cutout panels added so pilots could peer through this bulwark when they needed to.
I've always known any solid "rail" as a bulwark, Pipe rail is "rail" and wire rail is "fence" A spray dodger or dodger is usually a piece of canvas put up on poles above the bulwark or along the fence rail up forward to keep spray off the pilothouse windows and the hatch crane rails and hatches.
I believe that is referred to as "house coaming" it is used to strengthen the deck and also to provide protection from wind and weather. Also makes for a more pleasing overall appearance.
What is the curved plating called that runs along the deck just below the pilothouse of traditional styled Great Lakes freighters? On some ships this plating displays the vessel's name. I have attached an image pointing out what I'm referring to. Thanks for any replies.
