Nicknames for Loco's - bit of fun?

[Andyjs247]

If I remember

03s - flower pots
08s - gronks
20s - Choppers.
25s - Rats
26s/27s - McRats
31s - Peds (short for pedestrian or pedal cart), or Goyles (the non-headcode variety were also known as Skinheads).
33/0s - Cromptons
33/1s - Bagpipes
33/2s - Slim Jims
35s - Hymeks
37s - Tractors / syphons / growlers
40s - Whistlers / buckets
44s/45s/46s - Peaks / wagons
47s - Duffs / spoons. Class 47/7s were Shove Duffs
50s - Hoovers
56s - grids / Christmas trees (from the arrangement of lights on the front end)
58s - egg timers / bones
66s - sheds
67s - skips
76s - Tommies
81-85s - roarers
87s - lasers (one of the first locos to have a high-visibility headlight)
90s - Skodas
165s/166s - Turbos
220s/221s - vomiters
304s - dinosaurs
HSTs - flying bananas / trams / zings

 

[D841 Roebuck]

A few more not as yet mentioned:
Class 33 - Woodlouse
Class 37 - Rotcart
Class 81 - Fish

And some more steam ones:
T14 - Paddlebox
I1X - Wanker (direct quote from the 1948 Ian Allan ABC, which presumably lacked a swear filter)
Stanier 8F - Consol
B1 - Bongo

 

[yummy125]

Smoky Joe:

 

[aspierail]

Class 20 Choppers
Class 37 Tractors
Class 47 Spoons
Class 50 Hoovers
Class 56 Grids
Class 57 Body Snatchers
Class 66 Shed
Class 67 Skips

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Of course there were variations on the theme
ETH 47s were "Plug Duffs"
non boilered variety "NB duffs"
47401-420 Generators
Steam Heat 'Boilered Duffs" or Kettle Duffs or just Steam Heat Duffs
Mentioned above 47/7s were shove duffs or simply Shoves

 

[Photohunter71]

66's "Harleys" Cabs built in Milwaukee near the Harley Davidson plant.
70's "Big Bones" "Bulldogs" "Keith Flints"/"Firestarters" (Firestarter reference!)
What are we thinking of calling the 68? How about "Lakers" after the lake district company DRS?

 

[BestWestern]

A couple from FGW land;

150 - Rattler (fairly self explanatory!)
150/1 - Stroker (as in 'stroke one')
143 - Bendybus (a popular one all over I believe)

 

[silverfoxcc]

Class 23...Baby Deltics

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Class 23...Baby Deltics

OMG yes - I have photos of two of those D5905 and D5909 never got the 23xxx numbers - were stored at Stratford works for years IIRC

 

[CC 72100]

A couple from FGW land;

150 - Rattler (fairly self explanatory!)
150/1 - Stroker (as in 'stroke one')
143 - Bendybus (a popular one all over I believe)

158 - Ovens?

 

[43074]

Some Units Here:
142 - Skipper (in the 80s when in the Western Region
153 - Chicken Coop
158 - Scud (due to the tendancy not to reach their destinations)

 

[BestWestern]

158 - Ovens?

During the warmer months this one does crop up, yes. Often prefixed with something rather impolite!

 

[12CSVT]

158 - Ovens?

Similarly, class 319s may as well be called fridges during winter. Especially when some muppet opens a window when it is minus 5 outside.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

There are also individual locos which acquired nicknames.

Many of the 1000s and fifties had nicknames amongst the bashing fraternity. Western Gauntlet became "The Glove", 50033/034 became "Glory Bus" and "Fury Bus", whilst the repainted 50007 was (is) "Snotvac".

ISTR a couple of forties being known as Lucy and Sylvia, whilst 55022 is Muriel.

This habit seems to stretch back to steam days, with the N15 "Harry Fishcake".

 

[Tomonthetrain]

158 - Ovens?

Similarly, class 319s may as well be called fridges during winter. Especially when some muppet opens a window when it is minus 5 outside.

Guilty!!

 

[Temple Meads]

I've started calling Voyager's "Barf Trains" cue confusion when people think I'm talking about a train that's come to or from Bath

 

[Photohunter71]

Just thought of another nickname for the 68 "Cats" or "Moggys" after the Caterpillar engine it will be fitted out with.I also suspect some will call them "Bulldozers" / "Dozers" after Caterpillars better known equipment.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Pardon my ignorance "What is a class 68?". I know the class 60s as I have ridden behind one and the 66s and 67s which I have also had haulage by - but a 68?

EDIT - Ignore me just googled

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_68#UKLight

I thought the last thing we needed was more diesel locos to be built. Silly me

 

[Blannimal]

will these Dutch 66's heading this way become van der sheds?

 

[d5509]

I've heard 360.s called spaceships and saucers after the noise they make on takeoff.
The old 306.s were well known for the synchronized bouncing the passengers experienced, can anyone recall any nicknames for them?

 

[50041]

We used to call 50021 'Dave' - an Only Fools and Horses reference.

 

[bishdunster]

08 sugar boxes, take a bag of sugar, turn it on its side you will see why !