Nicknames for Loco's - bit of fun?

[dubscottie]

153 - Dogbox or Scud
German 218s are known as Rabbits by Brits

Class 81-85 were also known as "Rabbits" as they were as common as them in the Euston area. Probably where the 218's got their name also as they are as common all over Germany..

Likewise the Class 24/25/26/27 were referred to as "Rats" (or McRats in the case of the 26/27) as they arrived like a plague and there where so many of them, everywhere you went, when first introduced.

In both cases it could also be that everyday a Railwayman turned up for work they had multiplied in number overnight!

Class 47's got the "Duff" title as they were Duffs.. In other words, they didn't work too well until engines de-rated. (and also made BR create and lease the Class 50)

Heard of sprinters being referred to as "Bendy Buses" round Edinburgh for a while after National Express won the 1st ScotRail franchise.

A Class 66 is also known as a shed because the engine cover looks like one when removed.. (did see a pic of a Opel Vectra parked under a Freightliner one in the Railway Mag several years back)

 

[Whistler40145]

To me Classes 81/85 will always be Roarers.

 

[KA4C]

73 - Little Edwards (Based around them being Electro Diesels - ED's)
33/2 - Slim Jims (narrower bodyshell)

Thats a new one on me, I've been working on 73's for 40 years and never heard them called that, we called them ED's or EDLs, JA's or JB's

33/2's were not called by the general nickname of Slim Jim's by the local men who worked them, they were known as Slimlines

 

[craig87034]

A few that havn't been posted

26 Tea-Cup
27 Tip-Top
28 Cobo
35 Hymek
37 Nose Ped
40 Whistler
42 Warship
52 Wizzo,Thousand
302 Flat Fronts
304 Dinosaurs

 

[elarchibaldo]

70 Fugly
90 Sparksy
92 Dyson
50 Hoover
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Also GBRf class 66, 66720 I nickname the "Kindergarten Shed" (self explanatory, but for those who dont know, a child created the livery)

 

[Whistler40145]

Anyone know what nickname 87s have?

 

[Rugd1022]

08s - also known as Jockos or Pilots to train crew, Gronks and Rods to enthusiasts.

22s - 'Six-three'ers'.

43s (North British built Warships) - 'iron lungs' due to the exhaust fumes entering the cabs. Old hand Drivers would tell you that leaving Padd you'd have the power handle wide open as soon as possible with the cab windows wide open, even if it was p*ss*ing down.... if you hadn't caught fire by Southall or passed out from the fumes you'd most likely make your destination in one piece

47s - Spoons... I heard an explanation for this one at Gloucester Central back in 1976 whilst waiting for D1054... if a 47 turned up when you were hoping for something ratable (ie: a Thousand) it was like being given the 'wooden spoon' boobie prize. (Also heard it said that it relates to the sound of the horn sometimes but that sounds a bit dubious to me). One or two northern lads I used to knock around with called them 'Strums'.

50s - Vacs, Logs, Dubs, Hoovers.

52s - always Thousands to train crew (never 52s), Wizzos or occasionally Wezzies.

55s - Boats / U-Boats or Drones.

As much as we used to 'hate' them back in the 70s and 80s, I'd give anything to have a 47 on my Washwood Heath job this coming Thursday!

 

[MK Tom]

I've heard 86s, 87s and 90s get called TIE fighters owing to the sound they make at speed.

Might have been mentioned but the 90s also get called Skodas quite a lot.

21s and 29s often called Baby Warships, and the original 43s were Warships too.

 

[The Barlow Boy]

Unrebuilt Bulleid Pacific = "Spamcan"
Standard 9 = "Spaceship"
Standard 2 tender = "Micky Mouse"
LMS 2-6-0 class 4 = "Crab"
Thompson rebuild of G.N. 4-6-2- "Great Northern" = a wicked act carried out by a man with no idea of G.N. tradditions and no respect for his predesessor H.N. Gresley.

Class 25 diesels were always referred to as "Chaffcutters" in the ex G.E. area due to the noise that they made.

 

[knocker1962]

40,s Big D
58,s Bones

 

[Whistler40145]

Also heard of 26s being called spinning tea cups.

 

[theblackwatch]

47901 - Superspoon

 

[47403]

I'm SprinterMan, sprinterguy is someone else :P

57601 was in purple Porterbrook livery originally, and Purple Ronnie is a thing apparently, so they are called ronnies

Adam

my apologies SprinterMAN
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HST's - trams and zings

 

[Boothby97]

20s- Whistler (the noise they make, infact 20168 dosen't have the whistle sound because it was removed when HNRC overhauled it becaues it is used at the Hope Cement Works, which sits next to a housing estate)
142s, 143s and 144s- Nodding Donkey's
150s- Greenhouse
153s- Skateboards, Bubble Cars (also 121s), Smarties Tube
321s- Dusty Bin (the TV program 3.2.1)
442s- Plastic Pig's

I believe the 455s or 508s (can't remember which), were known as Wombles because they were based at Wimbledon.
Wasn't 56312, when in the Artemis purple colour scheme also know as the Purple Ronnie?

Thanks, Sam

 

[Yew]

Although Ive neaver heared it said, I think Sweatbox would be appropriate for some 158's

 

[The Barlow Boy]

Just remembered...when first on the Western class 50s were known as fifty-fifties.
They were in such poor condition ex LMR that it was a fifty-fifty chance that they'd die on you.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Thats a new one on me, I've been working on 73's for 40 years and never heard them called that, we called them ED's or EDLs, JA's or JB's

33/2's were not called by the general nickname of Slim Jim's by the local men who worked them, they were known as Slimlines

Yep, agreed that 73/0 and 73/1s were either JA or JB.
33s were collectively Cromptons.

 

[SimonC]

A check on the web reveals its not just me going mad re 73s and Little Edwards...

 

[Whistler40145]

I call 66s Ying Yings from their engine sound.

 

[KA4C]

A check on the web reveals its not just me going mad re 73 and Little Edwards...

I don't doubt it, but it must be a spotter term, I've never heard them called that by those who work on them

 

[phil8715]

50's were also bleeps, so called by drivers on the former London Midland Region when they were 1st introduced, because I think they were the 1st locos to have the drivers vigilant system installed.

Class 142 kerbing buses due to their single axle chassis and a ticket in West Yorkshire called Kerbing tickets which gave you unlimited travel on buses and trains in the West Yorkshire area.


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[47403]

The 142's up here are generally known as Bouncey Castles, when I visit Carlisle I cringe if one of them is on the 1st one out of Newcastle, 156's generally the more comfy ride.

 

[Whistler40145]

I'd call 142s Bucking Broncos by the way the bounce up & down & side to side!

 

[elarchibaldo]

Class 50 Hoover
Class 142 Pacer & Skipper
Class 37 Tractor
Class 185 ThrashBox
Class 170/171/172 Turbostar
Class 390 "Electric Dream?"
Class 158 Sprinter
Class 55 Deltic
One more Class 56 The Grid

 

[Whistler40145]

I have heard enthusiasts calling 73s Shoeboxes.

 

[33056]

Class 81-85 were also known as "Rabbits" as they were as common as them in the Euston area. Probably where the 218's got their name also as they are as common all over Germany..

I think you'll find the 218s got their nickname due to their "ears"

not all diesel areas had 218s a few years back there were plenty of 215s and 216s around which had the same bodyshell as the 218s but did not have the raised exhaust ports though a handful of 215s gained them later in life.

 

[KA4C]

I have heard enthusiasts calling 73s Shoeboxes.

Yeah, heard that spotter term

 

[phil8715]

221 voyager, Vomitter.


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[Whistler40145]

Is that because a 221 Voyager tilts?

 

[NLC1072]

390 - Penis train.

 

[JamesHorrell]

From the Class 59 Wikipedia Page

'Class 59 locomotives are known by some enthusiasts as 'Daddy Yings' due to the noise of the engine and that they are the design on which the later Class 66 locomotives (sometimes called 'Yings') were based. They are also occasionally referred to as 'GM', due to the General Motors powerplant. Another nickname is 'Super Shed', again based on a Class 66 nickname ('Shed' because when viewed head-on, it resembles the profile of a garden shed roof) and the fact the Class 59 is more powerful'