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Railway Slang

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Jeremy B

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I was travelling yesterday & overheard the 2 train staff seated at the next table talking about working 'spiv days' in the run up to xmas. From the conversation I gathered this was overtime they were talking about but it sounded so strange to hear all this slang in 2011 - is any other railway slang still in common usage these days.
 
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Jock

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I recall such sayings as 'mint and clove' for sickness and resumption, if I correctly remember

Also recall 'Pined' but cannot think of its reason
 

Old Timer

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I was travelling yesterday & overheard the 2 train staff seated at the next table talking about working 'spiv days' in the run up to xmas. From the conversation I gathered this was overtime they were talking about but it sounded so strange to hear all this slang in 2011 - is any other railway slang still in common usage these days.
If by slang you mean the various Railway terms and abbreviations used then yes.

Much of it can be traced to the second world war, and a lot can be traced into the RAF.

Terms for example such as "There's a flap on" or "The balloon's gone up" "Scrubbed" " Gone for a Burton" "U/S", "Baled out", etc. etc.
 

AlterEgo

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Most of it appears to have been developed by junior secondary school kids, as it is that childish.

Yes. People who use "mylordzzz" and "tonez" are infuriating.

As OT says, a lot of railway slang has military origins, partly because the railway used to have a tradition for employing ex-servicemen.
 

Wyvern

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"Pined" and "Caped" comes from the old early twentieth century telegraph codewords.

But does anyone know the origin of "demic"?
 

4SRKT

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Most of it appears to have been developed by junior secondary school kids, as it is that childish.

Indeed. Anything that is a bit of a laugh or that people enjoy must necessarily be 'childish'.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Yes. People who use "mylordzzz" and "tonez" are infuriating.

You mean they infuriate you. This may be because you are somewhat intolerant of other people's harmless behaviour. Just a thought.
 

Old Timer

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Indeed. Anything that is a bit of a laugh or that people enjoy must necessarily be 'childish'.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


You mean they infuriate you. This may be because you are somewhat intolerant of other people's harmless behaviour. Just a thought.
And then people wonder why trainspotters are a national joke ? :lol:
 

4SRKT

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And then people wonder why trainspotters are a national joke ? :lol:


I don't think it has anthing to do with saying things like 'my lords' TBH (how many non-enthusiasts would even be aware of this?). All subcultures use slang. Society's inexplicable prejudice against rail enthusiasts (no more irrational a pastime than fishing, following a football club or anything else) seemed to develop sometime in the 1990s, when it became an absolute sin not to be 'cool' (Tony Blair and his ilk have much to answer for in this regard). In my youth 'trainspotters' weren't a national joke, and then there were many more of them (much more visible to the public), they were much more rowdy and used much more slang than they do now.
 

AlterEgo

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Part of the reason railway enthusiasts like you and I aren't socially revered (!) is because of the frankly embarrassing behaviour of a minority.
 

4SRKT

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Part of the reason railway enthusiasts like you and I aren't socially revered (!) is because of the frankly embarrassing behaviour of a minority.


But a minority of all groups misbehave. It's hardly exclusive to enthusiasts.
 

DarloRich

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Yes. People who use "mylordzzz" and "tonez" are infuriating.

As OT says, a lot of railway slang has military origins, partly because the railway used to have a tradition for employing ex-servicemen.

I tend to use a word which rhymes with bankers to describe people who use such terms :lol:
 

table38

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I'm guessing the word is "rancors" then (Bitter, long-lasting resentment; deep-seated ill will) :)
 

CosherB

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Society's inexplicable prejudice against rail enthusiasts (no more irrational a pastime than fishing, following a football club or anything else) seemed to develop sometime in the 1990s,

'Fraid not. Trainspotters have always been derided as nerds for as long as I can remember (and I'm in my 60s), and I suspect they always will be.
 

deltic1989

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DarloRich:866687 said:
Yes. People who use "mylordzzz" and "tonez" are infuriating.

As OT says, a lot of railway slang has military origins, partly because the railway used to have a tradition for employing ex-servicemen.

I tend to use a word which rhymes with bankers to describe people who use such terms :lol:
oh you mean an anagram of Newark......:)
 

4SRKT

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'Fraid not. Trainspotters have always been derided as nerds for as long as I can remember (and I'm in my 60s), and I suspect they always will be.

Nonsense. Trainspotting was once a perfectly normal activity, mainstream even. This right up to and including the 1980s. Maybe it's YOU who's always been derided? ;)
 

CosherB

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Nonsense. Trainspotting was once a perfectly normal activity, mainstream even.

In yer dreams. Anorak, Ian Allen, Flask and sarnies, sitting for hours at the end of a draughty platform before going home to mum (no girlfriend, of course). About as main stream as, errr... trainspotting!
 

ralphchadkirk

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In yer dreams. Anorak, Ian Allen, Flask and sarnies, sitting for hours at the end of a draughty platform before going home to mum (no girlfriend, of course). About as main stream as, errr... trainspotting!

I don't think being a trainspotter was the reason you were derided... ;) :D
 

CosherB

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I don't think being a trainspotter was the reason you were derided... ;) :D

Good job I'm not one, then, and never was. I can honestly say I have never written down a loco number in me life, or owned an Ian Allan book.

We get these nerds in aviation as well. I once made the mistake of showing one round a hangar full of very interesting vintage aeroplanes; all he wanted were the registrations to tick-off in his book. Plane spotters - no interest at all in aeroplanes. Very odd... must be a bit of the obsessive/compulsive there, I think.:D
 

Hydro

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Most railway talk/slang I'm familiar with is, frankly, unprintable here!
 

4SRKT

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In yer dreams. Anorak, Ian Allen, Flask and sarnies, sitting for hours at the end of a draughty platform before going home to mum (no girlfriend, of course). About as main stream as, errr... trainspotting!

Nice bit of stereotyping there. Well done!
 

ralphchadkirk

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Good job I'm not one, then, and never was. I can honestly say I have never written down a loco number in me life, or owned an Ian Allan book.

We get these nerds in aviation as well. I once made the mistake of showing one round a hangar full of very interesting vintage aeroplanes; all he wanted were the registrations to tick-off in his book. Plane spotters - no interest at all in aeroplanes. Very odd... must be a bit of the obsessive/compulsive there, I think.:D

Neither am I. Personally I don't see the attraction in knowing you've seen every single class 66. But some do, and if that's what they want to do then fine by me and I'm not going to laugh at them for doing it. However, sadly, some do. Having said that, I have met a few very odd enthusiasts.
 

Hydro

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Good job I'm not one, then, and never was. I can honestly say I have never written down a loco number in me life, or owned an Ian Allan book.

We get these nerds in aviation as well. I once made the mistake of showing one round a hangar full of very interesting vintage aeroplanes; all he wanted were the registrations to tick-off in his book. Plane spotters - no interest at all in aeroplanes. Very odd... must be a bit of the obsessive/compulsive there, I think.:D

Neither am I. Personally I don't see the attraction in knowing you've seen every single class 66. But some do, and if that's what they want to do then fine by me and I'm not going to laugh at them for doing it. However, sadly, some do. Having said that, I have met a few very odd enthusiasts.


I have bumped into one who liked to touch departmental Mk. 2's. Had to shout at him to stand clear as we departed.
 
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