On June 5, 1996, the following message appeared on the
misc.transport.rail.americas NewsList:
From: Dennis
Newsgroups: misc.transport.rail.americas
Subject: Lost Slang
Date: Wed, 05 Jun 1996 11:28:51 +0000
Organization: The Internet Ramp
What ever happened to the Terms
Going to Beans (going for a cup of java)
Big holeing it (putting the train into Emergency) Replaced by: Soaking it
If you have any to add to the list....Please do
Join us for some great online chat at..Undernet.org #Trains
which can be accessed using MIRC software avail. at http://www.env.com/tucows
Have a great day
Dennis
P.S. Watch Modern Marvels Sun. night at 8PM
As you could imagine, that request prodded a lot of memories, and sparked a lot
of responses. As is my wont, I began to collect the messages and offer here
the lot for your enjoyment. I probably missed a few, since I was away from my
NewsReader for a while. I think I have most, though, and hope you enjoy them again.
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: Wed, 5 Jun 1996 22:04:44 PST
Organization: OSD, Inc.
"OS'ing a train" (doing a roll-by, something we railfans regularly do!)
"Company Notch" (diesel throttle in run 8)
"hoghead" (loco engineer)
"EQ" (an "early quit")
==========================================================================
Dan Morisseau, N7ZXL| I root for 2 teams - The St. Louis Cardinals ...
47.28N/122.50W/300'| and whoever is playing against the New York Mets!
dpm3@dpm3.seanet.com|
==========================================================================
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: 8 Jun 1996 03:49:58 GMT
Organization: Netcom
In <31B56F73.5D5D@tir.com> Dennis writes:
>
>What ever happened to the Terms
>
>Going to Beans (going for a cup of java)
This one probably disappeared because the crews don't make lunch stops
out on the main much any more....shorter run times, etc.
>Big holeing it (putting the train into Emergency) Replaced by:
>Soaking it
I've heard this one also called "plugging it" (around SP) or "dumping
it" (LIRR).
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: Wed, 05 Jun 1996 23:44:32 -0800
Organization: NPRHA
A few notes:
"OS'ing a train" (doing a roll-by, something we railfans
regularly do!)
I'm not sure OS has anything to do with a roll by, its On Sheet, for
the time the station op logs the train by the depot, often relayed to
the dispatcher as well as noted on a log sheet
"Company Notch" (diesel throttle in run 8)
Diesel?? As I recall this started out as a setting for a steamer,
where the loco is running in its most efficient throttle setting
JP
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: 6 Jun 1996 11:04:52 GMT
Organization: AT&T WorldNet Services
dpm3@dpm3.seanet.com (Dan Morisseau) wrote:
> "Company Notch" (diesel throttle in run 8)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Put the "Johnson Bar" (Steam Reverse Lever) in the
in the notch just ahead of top dead center. Best
performace out of a steamer, least amount of fuel
used, thus costing the least to run.
Ron Bach
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: Thu, 06 Jun 1996 19:22:10 GMT
Organization: Warwick Online
I've never heard of 'company notch' used in conjunction with diesels;
its use goes back at least a century, probably more. It refers to the
setting of the johnson bar (another term - the reversing lever on a
steam locomotive). The johnson bar set the valve gear to forward or
reverse, and could be adjusted to set the degree of cutoff at the
cylinders. Once the train was rolling, setting to a position about 1/3
from dead center supposedly gave the best fuel economy - hence the term
company notch - you were saving the company money.
Marty Feldner
feldner@warwick.net
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: 7 Jun 1996 08:00:10 -0400
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
I hear some of the old timers at the San Jose Newhall Yard refer to "going
to beans" meaning having lunch or dinner, not just coffee.
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: Sun, 09 Jun 1996 07:33:43 GMT
Organization: CompuServe Incorporated
Working on what was the old Pennsy I'v come accross several "Lost
Slang" terms that may have been unique to the PRR....
"Mark Off" - to call out sick.
"Pot Signal" - Ground level interlocking signal.
"Cabin Car" - Caboose
"Commission Hour" - Rush hour.
"Boabab" - A high or wide car requiring special handeling.
"Tripper" - A local yard shiffter
"Drill" - What a "Tripper" does in a yard.
>>==
Erich S. Houchens
Amtrak Train Dispatcher
Philadelphia CETC Center
73053.2234@compuserve.com
What, me speak for Amtrak?? That's Clif Black's job..
>>==
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: 12 Jun 1996 16:11:49 GMT
Organization: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway
In article <31bd40af.1840976@news.wwa.com>, jgk@wwa.com (JGKirchner)
says:
>
> I still use "Mark Off" and "Pot Signal". Of course "marking off" is
> more of dream than a reality on the "Great Big Rolling Railroad",
> (that's UP if you didn't know).
Gads- I'd have thought you were talking about the BNSF there for a
minute... You could have 23 rested men on the Extraboard and 5
vacancies for the day and you ask to mark off and they tell you they
don't have enough men to cover the day.... It's amazing how sick I
and Some of my family members are all of the time..... :-)
Jason Crupper
GP60M
BNSF APE
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: 7 Jun 1996 10:51:04 -0400
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
I'm not sure that Soaking it is a replacement for "big hole"; never heard
it used in that context. More in the context of holding a brake release
as long as possible between applications to mimnimize any false gradients
in the pipe.
OS'ing a train comes from "on sheet", which is what the operators did in
the days of local train order offices. An operator would call the
dispatcher to report an OS time of a train which the dispatcher would
record on his train sheet. This has died with the closure of train order
offices. And the death of train orders for that matter.
Company notch referred to the most efficient setting on a steam loco's
reverser. There were positions which produced more power but were much
less efficient. Hence the COMPANY notch for the lowest fuel consumption
etc.
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: Sun, 09 Jun 1996 07:33:38 GMT
Organization: CompuServe Incorporated
drtrack@aol.com (Dr Track) wrote:
>OS'ing a train comes from "on sheet" which is what the operators did in
>the days of local train order offices. An operator would call the
>dispatcher to report an OS time of a train which the dispatcher would
>record on his train sheet. This has died with the closure of train order
>offices. And the death of train orders for that matter.
The term "OS" still lives on in a way. When ever I pull up my
electronic train sheet the words "On Station data" are displayed at
the top. The times on this sheet are automaticly "OS'ed" when a train
passes through an interlocking. I would tend to think that the person
who wrote the trainsheet program for CETC knew what the term "OS" ment
and therefor worked it into the "On Station data" line....
>>==
Erich S. Houchens
Amtrak Train Dispatcher
Philadelphia CETC Center
73053.2234@compuserve.com
What, me speak for Amtrak?? That's Clif Black's job..
>>==
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: 13 Jun 1996 05:31:14 GMT
Organization: New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
Erich S. Houchens (73053.2234@compuserve.com) wrote:
: The term "OS" still lives on in a way. When ever I pull up my
: electronic train sheet, the words "On Station data" are displayed at
: the top. The times on this sheet are automatically "OS'ed" when a train
: passes through an interlocking. I would tend to think that the person
: who wrote the trainsheet program for CETC knew what the term "OS" meant
: and therefore worked it into the "On Station data" line....
I constantly hear the SF delayer tell crews on the El Paso sub to "os"
this or that milepost so he can write up warrants for them and other
trains. Something like "Santa Fe 3720, give me an os when you get to mp
1123" or "os me when you get to Rincon".
Fred D.
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: Fri, 07 Jun 1996 14:29:44 -0500
Organization: SkyPoint Communications, Inc.
Once was chatting with a couple of old time switchmen and they got talking
(with their hands) all of the various "signs" they had for switching cars.
Now I have taken code classes (and even passed) but wow! I knew foward,
reverse, stop, kick, etc.
but they had.
How many cars you want cut?
which track?
which place for beans?
check out the pretty girl.
pick up X cars from X track
Check with the Yardmaster
and the tracks had names, not the current receiver 1, receiver 2,
names like
House track, Icehouse lead, 2 in the Sand, The Belt, The Rips
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: Fri, 07 Jun 1996 15:59:30 +0100
Organization: Ahead of the Torch
Phillips, III J. A. wrote:
>
> A few notes:
> "OS'ing a train" (doing a roll-by, something we railrfans
> regularly do!)
> Im not sure OS has anything to do with a roll by, its On Sheet, for
> the time the station op logs the train by the depot, often relayed to
> the dispatcher as well as noted on a log sheet
A good op would eyeball the train, thus OS meaning roll by is slang of slang.
> "Company Notch" (diesel throttle in run 8)
> Diesel?? As I recall this started out as a setting for a steamer,
> where the loco is running in its most efficient throttle setting
That's almost right. The efficiency of a steam locomotive is adjusted by the
Johnson Bar (reverse lever), not the throttle. An engine running at it's
optimal setting is not in "full" forward gear.
Good hoggers use both levers (throttle and Johnson) to adjust speed, fuel
consumption and steaming quality.
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: Fri, 07 Jun 1996 14:36:24 GMT
Organization: Odyssee Internet
And OS-ing had as much/more to do with marking the progression of a
train from station to station rather than inspecting it (roll-by).
=============================================================
Gerry Burridge burridge@odyssee.net
PO Box 152
Pte.Claire-Dorval, Que., CANADA Always looking for RUTLAND
H9R 4N9 photos, film, ephemera, ....
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: Sat, 08 Jun 1996 07:23:19 GMT
Organization: WorldWide Access (tm) - Chicagoland Internet Services
(http://www.wwa.com)
Yes, I have used those hand signs but not as much as the old timers due to the
wonderful technologically advancement as the radio. The problem now is that
"FNG's", (new hires) are so dependent of those things that went the battery goes
dead they don't know what to do. They even use the radio when their standing
right out front of my window on the porch of the engine adding to the already
overcrowded yard frequencies.
Almost forgot this one...
FOAMER: In reference to the railfan, as in foaming at the mouth over a train.
FRN: F------ Rail Nut
FNG: F------ New Guy
TRAINED VESTITE or VESTITE: New hire employee (FNG) required to wear an orange
safety vest to identify him as a new hire. (and not to be taken seriously )
TECHNO TOASTER: Any GE product of Dash 8 or later descent. (esp. Genesis units)
CADILLAC: First generation high hood engine. usually GP9, GP7 or SD9 (depending
on RR)
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Message-ID:
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Perhaps an obscure one "We Hit An Elephant". Heard that one on a Conrail
freight the other day. Asked a retired NYC engineer and He said that was
a term used when a train hit something on the tracks (i.e. auto, person,
etc.). Supposedly comes from the PT Barnum era when a steam locomotive
hit and killed an elephant, late 1800's ?
/joef
--
Joe Farrell
Farrell Railroad Consulting
Post Office Box 2901
Worcester, MA 01613-2901
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: 9 Jun 1996 02:57:54 GMT
Organization: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway
In article <31b92781.2178742@news.wwa.com>, jgk@wwa.com (JGKirchner)
says:
>Yes, I have used those hand signs but not as much as the old timers due
>to the wonderful technologically advancement as the radio. The problem
>now is that "FNG's", (new hires) are so dependent of those things that
>when the battery goes dead they don't know what to do. They even use the
>radio when they're standing right out front of my window one the porch
>of the engine adding to the already overcrowded yard frequencies..
This only applies to dipshit newhires. I hired out on the Santa Fe two
years ago, and am already an engineer. I hate that damn radio. Nothing
worse than when you get a kick over the radio and then it goes dead
(battery) and you crash into a cut of loaded grain cars that have air on
them at around 12 mph - throws the windows, doors, cooler etc. open, and
or me off of the seat! Besides, I know of a couple of old heads that
stand on the step and use that radio also! I NEVER use the radio if I
don't have to when I am on the ground.
Hand signals are like snowflakes - no two are the same, depending on the
railroad. Even different cities have different signals. Even different
areas in the same city have different ones. In Newton, we have a job that
works the flour mill only. It has its own set of signals. An "easy" at
the mill means "park the engine on the scale track" out in the yard.
Another couple verbal slangs at the mill are:
Shake and Bake - Spotting the dock and/or the scale (depends on foreman)
Oh and Oh - Stop the movement for an on and/or off (no getting on or off
moving equipment, you remember...)
Beastie - good looking woman
Blleeeecccchhhhh - ugly woman
I can't think of anymore right now, but I know I will - I spent 2 months
on that job, with the crew that has been on it for 5 years...
GP60M
Jason Crupper
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: Sat, 08 Jun 1996 23:53:11 -0500
Organization: Delaware Valley Association of Railroad Passengers
"Two to go"
from two buzzes on the communicating signal that the conductor sends to the
engineer when station work is completed.
/_\ Matthew Mitchell, Newsletter Editor
/[ ]\ Delaware Valley Association of Railroad Passengers
/ | \ PO Box 7505, Philadelphia PA 19101-7505
/ _|_ \ voice: 215-673-6445-message box 3, fax 215-885-7448
--------- http://www.libertynet.org/~dvarp
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: 9 Jun 1996 14:16:03 -0400
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
Here we have some of our own unique slang too, such as on Amtrak, we have
such things as:
"Six Roads" - Either Union or Elmora interlocking where the line goes from
four to six tracks
"Sardine Can" - When a truck strikes one of several low bridges ( this is
almost a daily occurance)
"Delayer" - If you didn't guess, The Dispatcher
And then theres Conrail!!!!
"Pluged" - Held at an interlocking
"Darlings" - Vandals
"The ducks are on the pond" - term to indicate vandals are at work in New
Market
"The Poo-Poo Choo-Choo" - Train that takes garbage from transfer station to
yard
"The Shit train" - Any train that handles cars of shit from NYC sewage dept.
"Playing instant door" - When GM shoves cars out of the asembely plant in
Linden (it got this name when the forgot to roll up the door before
shoving)
"Make a mess" - Derailing cars
"Mega Mess" - Deraling cars which proceed to fall on their sides
"Protecting the crossing at Inman Ave." - Going to nearby bagel shop for
breakfast while locomotive sits on crossing.
"The Dignetty Factor" - Increased risk of stupid acccidents while working
with conductor Dignetty
"Do Not Hump" - notice that car must not be humped, However, In Oak
Island--Something to read while car goes over hump.
"Moo-Moo" - train MO2
"Arf-Arf" - train SEAL
"Hell" - Hoboken Projects
"Track Out of Service" - use caution while using track.
"Working in Clark" - do 20 mins of switching at USG and spend 2 and a half
hours for lunch
"QFL" - Qualified for life, what engineer Boncher is on New Jersey Transit
This is only a partial list of North Jersey Slang, more will follow.
Expect a train on ANY track, at ANY time
in ANY direction.
Sirsonic@aol.com M.P. 20.05 Conrail Lehigh Line
Co-Founder of RAVE
"You're by the door with a good one!"
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: Sun, 09 Jun 1996 19:32:47 -0700
Organization: Exchange Network Services
Sirsonic wrote:
>
> Here we have some of our own unique slang too, such as on Amtrak, we have
> such things as:
> "Six Roads" - Either Union or Elmora interlocking where the line goes from
> four to six tracks
> "Sardine Can" - When a truck strikes one of several low bridges ( this is
> almost a daily occurance)
> "Delayer" - If you didn't guess, The Dispatcher
Reminds me of older days on Erie Lackamoney On the Mahoning Division.
One remark I haven't seen was going in the hole for another train which
meant taking a siding.
Strapping or plugging was holding up a train for various reasons.
A popular instance was many years ago, when an eastbound was sent from
Sharon Pa to Brier Hill at Youngstown. This went through a single track
and a severe grade eastbound. For four evenings in a row, the
dispatcher let the train go, forgetting that No. 1 was on time, and
usually, along with helpers out of Youngstown to cut the train and get
it out of the way, and clearing the track, the dispatcher was demoted,
and on the fifth evening, a new dispatcher did the same thing.
From the looks of things in some of these comments, things have not
changed.
--
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Eddie Van Huffel
farqu29@en.com
NEVER TRUST A MACHINE
THAT CAN'T COUNT HIGHER THAN 1
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "David J. Dewey"
Subject: Re: Lost Slang
Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 07:53:48 -0700
Organization: California State University, Chico
What about the obviously missing one,
Crummy - Caboose
Side note to John Walker; no matter how carefully you do a caboose
restoration, it's still a crummy job