Trivia - Obsolete Railway Terms still used

[Mojo]

You often still hear the term 'Stationmaster' (or 'Station Master') referred to although I'm not sure if this specific job title still exists in the modern railway. I know Donald Wilson at Marylebone used to be called this, but he retired over a decade ago; would be good to know if his successor still retains this title.

 

[Highlandspring]

The Glasgow Subway still has the grade of Stationmaster.

 

[vlad]

By the same reckoning, you could argue it's not a "train" either...

It isn't. Grrr.

 

[Spartacus]

"Bus Seats". Usually in connection with the type of seats originally installed on Pacers and not seen on a bus in regular service for at least 25 years.

You’re lucky if that’s the case where you are, it’s not 10 years ago when they ceased to be the norm here, and still not unknown now.

 

[83G/84D]

Driver “on the cushions” ie travelling as a passenger to pick up his working. “Footplate swap”still gets mentioned during times of disruption. Swapping of drivers between trains at a place other than a usual one usually when services are affected by an incident.

 

[DelW]

Driver “on the cushions” ie travelling as a passenger to pick up his working.

"Cushions" is itself an obsolete term in areas with trains less than about 15 years old

 

[PeterY]

"Cushions" is itself an obsolete term in areas with trains less than about 15 years old

Should be driver doing ironing. I'll get my coat

 

[krus_aragon]

Should be driver doing ironing. I'll get my coat

Is it creased?

 

[stut]

Are "London End" and "County End" still in common use? Was certainly the terminology used to describe platform ends on NSE stations, as well as sides of stations like Waterloo, when I started commuting.

 

[GB]

Are "London End" and "County End" still in common use? Was certainly the terminology used to describe platform ends on NSE stations, as well as sides of stations like Waterloo, when I started commuting.

Both are still used and are very much official terminology.

 

[py_megapixel]

The brand of the northern england franchines is still frequently referred to as "Northern Rail" although it has never been called Northern Rail. Until Arriva acquired the franchise a few years ago, their trains were branded as "Northern: a serco-abellio joint venture" - the new branding is "Northern (by Arriva)" - and before that it was split into Arriva Rail Northern and First North Western.

 

[cool110]

... "Northern: a serco-abellio joint venture" ...

The logo may have said that, but the company name was Northern Rail Ltd. In addition their website was northernrail.org, and they did refer to themselves as Northern Rail in print, online, and in other locations.

 

[tsr]

Both are still used and are very much official terminology.

“Country end” is. Not so sure about “County end”, as originally posted...

 

[83G/84D]

as a coulsdon and redhill driver all be it 25 years ago boards or sticks meant nothing at all not in the vocabulary
dummy/ground signal /shunt for subsiduarys otherwise just signals

Dummy = shunting disc.

Feather = Junction indicator on a colour light signal.

Signal “off or clear” = semaphore Signal in a proceed position.

Signal “on” = semaphore signal at danger.

 

[theageofthetra]

Dummy = shunting disc.

Feather = Junction indicator on a colour light signal.

Signal “off or clear” = semaphore Signal in a proceed position.

Signal “on” = semaphore signal at danger.

Lunars for junction indicators.
Theatre Boxes.

 

[83G/84D]

Dalek - warning board for emergency speed restriction.

 

[ComUtoR]

Dalek - warning board for emergency speed restriction.

The Dalek is the Emergency Indicator.

 

[K.o.R]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who, out of habit, would ask a clerk for a ticket "with a Young Persons" rather than the 16-25 Railcard as it's now known.

The tickets did still have "Y-P" on them. The most recent design spells out the full railcard name.

 

[K.o.R]

The standard British road sign for a level crossing is surely an obsolete image

View attachment 57511

That is only for one with no barriers, and I guess any other shape of train or locomotive would just be a ambiguous boxy shape.

 

[185]

DEMIC!

Sort of like being on a battlefield and shoutic MEDIC! but instead for a severely injured dying 3-car set.

 

[Taunton]

The F bit of ASLEF.

 

[t_star2001uk]

You often still hear the term 'Stationmaster' (or 'Station Master') referred to although I'm not sure if this specific job title still exists in the modern railway. I know Donald Wilson at Marylebone used to be called this, but he retired over a decade ago; would be good to know if his successor still retains this title.

Sadly we dont have a Station Master anymore, just duty managers...

 

[quarella]

You’re lucky if that’s the case where you are, it’s not 10 years ago when they ceased to be the norm here, and still not unknown now.

Lucky you. It was an obselete term anyway as the earliest example of that style of seat I have found was on a train dating from the 1950s either in Germany or the Netherlands.

 

[GB]

“Country end” is. Not so sure about “County end”, as originally posted...

I automatically read it as Country End.

 

[stut]

I automatically read it as Country End.

Android Keyboard, sadly, didn't

 

[83G/84D]

The Dalek is the Emergency Indicator.

That was what I meant to say but tiredness was creeping in.
See posting time, been awake all night!

 

[InOban]

What I wish were obsolete is Up and Down. To everyone North of Watford - OK Milton Keynes - we go up North and down South. And how you allocate Up and Down to routes which don't serve London (they do exist!) .....

 

[L&Y Robert]

Engine shed
"Right away!" or is it "Right of way"?

 

[Highlandspring]

It’s Right Away. Hence why RA indicators are so named.

 

[6Gman]

What I wish were obsolete is Up and Down. To everyone North of Watford - OK Milton Keynes - we go up North and down South. And how you allocate Up and Down to routes which don't serve London (they do exist!) .....

Have to disagree with you here. The Up and Down system is long-established, and readily understood by the vast majority of operational railway staff. If it ain't broke ...

The fact that it seems strange to the general public or some enthusiasts is neither here nor there. It's technical terminology to facilitate safe railway operation which is the main thing.

And Up and Down routes which don't serve London are allocated on the basis of HQ being Up (so on MR routes Derby is Up - hence Birmingham to Derby is Up; on L&Y routes Manchester Victoria is Up - hence Wigan to Kirkby is Down).

What alternative would you suggest?