Rail enthusiast lingo

[Trackman]

Not without a source

I've heard a few 40 drivers call them 'buckets' and why.
I told my mates this and laughed it off saying I was making it up!

 

[Richard Scott]

I've heard a few 40 drivers call them 'buckets' and why.
I told my mates this and laughed it off saying I was making it up!

That's definitely a nickname I've heard. Seems 40s had a few nicknames!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

We always referred to this as a "minus". A normal connection would be a "plus".

"I did the Brighton to New Street for the plus 5 onto the Scotch, but missed the minus 3 at Crewe for the Holyhead".

Exactly how I remember it too.

 

[Merle Haggard]

Not without a source

'Bucket' was the name for an EE type 4 in the 1960s where I spotted.
Originally 'steam-bucket'.
I took it to be because of the resemblance in outline to the bucket of a massive dragline excavator, common in ironstone quarries at the time - some of which were still steam powered. Think of the shape of the bucket, with a section of reduced height towards the front (to cut into the rock) similar to the reduced height of the nose of the loco. And provided a very rude rhyming couplet when an EE4 turned up to disappoint those expecting a steam loco...
But, much later, when I worked in the industry, one customer described his wagons that were in less than pristine condition and only used in the peak as his 'rust-bucket pool', so perhaps 'bucket' has some other derivation.

 

[davetheguard]

I've just finished reading "Gone With Regret" by George Behrend, a book first published in 1966, but reprinted since. As you'd expect, it's about the -first time round- GWR.

In it he refers several times to a "jigger" meaning the single line token. I have never heard of this name before; perhaps it's obsolete, or perhaps the author just got it wrong. Has anyone else used or heard of this term?

 

[DJ_K666]

One thing that gets up my nose more than a lot of other things is the inappropriate use of the word 'Rail' ie Rail Station, Rail lines, Go by rail. Its a small thing but I'm sure it's grammatically suspect. It's Railway lines, Railway station, you Go By Train (otherwise you're sliding along the rails on your backside)
Small things really but they do annoy me.

 

[hst43102]

One thing that gets up my nose more than a lot of other things is the inappropriate use of the word 'Rail' ie Rail Station, Rail lines, Go by rail. Its a small thing but I'm sure it's grammatically suspect. It's Railway lines, Railway station, you Go By Train (otherwise you're sliding along the rails on your backside)
Small things really but they do annoy me.

Ironic that the thread is called Rail Enthusiast Lingo then...

 

[DJ_K666]

Ironic that the thread is called Rail Enthusiast Lingo then...

Indeed yes. That word does have its place although its use can be wrong.

 

[Springs Branch]

The result can, however, be quite confusing for those for whom English is a second language!

I don't think it's just non-native speakers. Pretty much any group with a niche interest will develop its own jargon which differentiates outsiders from those "skilled in the art" (as they say in patents), and one of the subtle objectives is that outsiders can't easily understand.

If this were a forum covering Aircraft / Aviation, or bird-watching, or any number of other topics, the OP's same question could easily appear.

Susie Dent (of Countdown and 8 out of 10 Cats does Countdown fame) has published a book Dent's Modern Tribes: The Secret Languages of Britain covering the subject in a light-hearted fashion. Dent's book even includes a short-ish chapter on railway enthusiasts (or was it train-spotters?). This was accurate enough as far as it went - IIRC including Gricers, Kettles and "Bert & Ada", the archetypal normals, but didn't get down to the "expert" level of Siphons, Adexes or Grippers.

 

[hexagon789]

One thing that gets up my nose more than a lot of other things is the inappropriate use of the word 'Rail' ie Rail Station, Rail lines, Go by rail. Its a small thing but I'm sure it's grammatically suspect. It's Railway lines, Railway station, you Go By Train (otherwise you're sliding along the rails on your backside)
Small things really but they do annoy me.

Surely in those instances "rail" is simply a contraction of "railway"? As for 'going by rail' it's the same as 'going by road', you are travelling along it but not necessarily using yourself as the sole means of conveyance!

 

[AM9]

Surely in those instances "rail" is simply a contraction of "railway"? As for 'going by rail' it's the same as 'going by road', you are travelling along it but not necessarily using yourself as the sole means of conveyance!

That's right. British Railways became British Rail ISTR in 1964 at the launch of the XP64 rake and a new corporate identity. That included the now culturally embedded double arrow logo, a new signage font the 'rail blue' & grey livery and the new name 'British Rail' which was deemed to be more appropriate for modern times.
I suppose most of us have got used to the use of 'rail' over the last 57 years when used to describe the service and various features of it. At least it is better than yet another Americanism like 'train station' which rather grates with me.

 

[AY1975]

I suppose most of us have got used to the use of 'rail' over the last 57 years when used to describe the service and various features of it. At least it is better than yet another Americanism like 'train station' which rather grates with me.

Yes, and I would say that it's not so much enthusiasts but rather ordinary lay passengers, especially children and young people, who tend to talk about the "train station". When I was a kid most of my school friends tended to say "train station".

I believe that in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Railways/Translink actually officially uses the term "train station".

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Plug duff = ETH fitted Class 47

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Plug duff = ETH fitted Class 47

Not heard that before and is it "Plug duff" (???) or "Plum duff" (like the pudding) or just plain "Duff" (better known but slightly disparaging nickname for Class 47 locos)?

 

[py_megapixel]

Not sure if these are enthuisiast-specific or applicable to the general public but:

Worst Crapital Disconnect = First Capital Connect, derogatory
Worst Late Western / Late Western Failway = First Great Western / Great Western Railway, derogatory

Then there's another one which I haven't seen on this thread yet:

window hanging = sticking one's head out of a drop-light window (not sure if this can be applied to doing likewise with a camera?)

Are there any derogatory names for Voyagers?

 

[Cowley]

Are there any derogatory names for Voyagers?

‘Vomiters’ is one I’ve heard a few times.

 

[py_megapixel]

Just goes to show how disruption can be really fun for enthusiasts, with all sorts of things possible: exciting locomotives (sadly no longer), unusual routes etc.

Indeed. And if the disruption is bad enough (and unplanned) then you can get the journey free

 

[superjohn]

Worst Crapital Disconnect = First Capital Connect, derogatory
Worst Late Western / Late Western Failway = First Great Western / Great Western Railway, derogatory

That kind of thing goes right back to “Notwork Southeast” and possibly before. All rather sixth form humour and a bit sad when coming from adults who think they are sooooo witty.

I also find the basher lingo truly cringeworthy when I hear it. I think people do it to fit in with the crowd and perhaps need to take a step back. The TV documentary about bashers a few years back was my idea of hell, I had to watch with a finger poised over the mute button!

 

[DelW]

That kind of thing goes right back to “Notwork Southeast” and possibly before. All rather sixth form humour and a bit sad when coming from adults who think they are sooooo witty.

Well back into Victorian times, e.g.
Great Way Round
Old Worse and Worse
London Smash-em and Over

and no doubt many others...

 

[Pinza-C55]

Well back into Victorian times, e.g.
Great Way Round
Old Worse and Worse
London Smash-em and Over

and no doubt many others...

Gods Waiting Room.
Great Way Round.
Late & Never Early Railway
Long Muddled & Slow.
Seldom Reliable.

 

[AM9]

That kind of thing goes right back to “Notwork Southeast” and possibly before. All rather sixth form humour and a bit sad when coming from adults who think they are sooooo witty.

I also find the basher lingo truly cringeworthy when I hear it. I think people do it to fit in with the crowd and perhaps need to take a step back. The TV documentary about bashers a few years back was my idea of hell, I had to watch with a finger poised over the mute button!

There was plenty of it on here (and still is occasionally) e.g. DafT, Thamestink, - how peurile.

 

[ABB125]

Indeed. And if the disruption is bad enough (and unplanned) then you can get the journey free

Unfortunately I'm generally not very lucky when it comes to delay repay. For example, today there was disruption between Shrewsbury and Birmingham. The train I was due to catch (arrives from Birmingham, then goes back after a short turnaround) was going to be around 25 minutes late departing. Then, TfW did something unusual: they split the pair of class 175s sat in platform 7 (upon which I'd just arrived at Shrewsbury; having terminated, the pair were then booked to go to Carmarthen) and sent one to Birmingham. On time all the way. So I lost out on delay repay (though it's not as if I can complain, as my journey wasn't delayed at all; I appreciate the fact that this was the best option for all the passengers travelling). And, the unit which went to Birmingham was the one which I'd arrived on, so I couldn't "red-pen*" the other one!

*Oooh look, I managed to get back on topic!
For anyone not aware, "red pen" is the process of filling in your "ned book" with haulages (but I don't think it includes sightings). Though I personally use a black pen, nor do I follow the convention of underlining and highlighting!

 

[DJ_K666]

Not sure if these are enthuisiast-specific or applicable to the general public but:

Worst Crapital Disconnect = First Capital Connect, derogatory
Worst Late Western / Late Western Failway = First Great Western / Great Western Railway, derogatory

Then there's another one which I haven't seen on this thread yet:

window hanging = sticking one's head out of a drop-light window (not sure if this can be applied to doing likewise with a camera?)

Are there any derogatory names for Voyagers?

I always called them Worst Capital Corrupt. There's also Notwork Rail or Network Fail

Of course we've all heard of the DaFT

The less said about Southern Fail the better.

 

[Ashley Hill]

‘Vomiters’ is one I’ve heard a few times.

Also Vomit Comets which also applied to the orange Heart of Wales 153s. Talking of 153s locally they were often referred to as Scuds. This was after the unreliable missile popular at the time,in as you didn't know if you'd get to your destination or not.

 

[Calthrop]

Also Vomit Comets which also applied to the orange Heart of Wales 153s.

Going considerably off-topic, and indeed off-rail: but I seem to have encountered the expression "Vomit Comet" all over the place, as a nickname for sub-optimal forms of (land) public transport. I first came across it, many years ago, in a book by a lady recounting her experiences as a volunteer in an overseas-aid project in, of all places, Bhutan. The few Westerners there-and-then, applied the "tag" to the local buses: running over rough roads, in the charge of locals whose driving skills were -- well -- varied. The rhyming, and childlike-mild-naughtiness, aspects of the epithet; would seem irresistible.

 

[RT4038]

Going considerably off-topic, and indeed off-rail: but I seem to have encountered the expression "Vomit Comet" all over the place, as a nickname for sub-optimal forms of (land) public transport. I first came across it, many years ago, in a book by a lady recounting her experiences as a volunteer in an overseas-aid project in, of all places, Bhutan. The few Westerners there-and-then, applied the "tag" to the local buses: running over rough roads, in the charge of locals whose driving skills were -- well -- varied. The rhyming, and childlike-mild-naughtiness, aspects of the epithet; would seem irresistible.

I don't think it is at all restricted to land public transport - I have heard it used in connection with air services particularly susceptible to turbulence, and certain catamaran high speed boat services plying islands in the Indian Ocean.

 

[Calthrop]

I don't think it is at all restricted to land public transport - I have heard it used in connection with air services particularly susceptible to turbulence, and certain catamaran high speed boat services plying islands in the Indian Ocean.

Ah ! -- right; I just reckoned the "coinage" a bit obvious, re air and sea travel and their attributes and connotations -- to use it re conveyances on land, perhaps implies a bit of poetic imagination !

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

I learned some useful vocab reading this, I think it is quite ok to jest about ones hobby/oneself, better than trying to tease others.

Juvenile harmless language, very good.

 

[75A]

I don't think it is at all restricted to land public transport - I have heard it used in connection with air services particularly susceptible to turbulence, and certain catamaran high speed boat services plying islands in the Indian Ocean.

Also used in motor racing, Cadwell Park has a couple and the footballer Kevin Keegan famously found one @ the Nurburgring in Germany on I think Top Gear.

 

[43096]

Not heard that before and is it "Plug duff" (???) or "Plum duff" (like the pudding) or just plain "Duff" (better known but slightly disparaging nickname for Class 47 locos)?

It’s “plug”. As it relates to electric heat fitted duffs, plug is a reference to the need to plug them in to the stock before they provide train supply.