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| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 10:23 #45512 | |
58050
2650 posts 
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During my time on the railways & also chatting to active & retired railway staff I know alot of the time we use the railway nicknames given to traction units & rolling stock. Even chatting to fellow Sim-Siggers we use the nicknames as alot of the people on here have been cranks at some stage of their life. So I thought I'd list the ones I know & possibly anyone else can add any I've missed. Most nicknames come from the sound the traction unit makes whilst under power. Cl.03 = Sugar Puffs Cl.08 = Gronks Cl.09 = Super Gronks Cl.14 = Teddy Bears' Cl.17 = Claytons Cl.20 = Choppers, Big Johns, Whistling Wardrobes, March men called them Ducks & Leicester men called them Crop Sprayers. Cl.25 = Rats Cl.26/27 = McRats Cl.31 = Gurglers, Goyles, Cl.31/0s were known as Toffee Apples, Skinheads those without roof headcode panels, Peds or Pedal Carts. Cl.33 = Cromptomns, Cl.33/2 known as Slim Jims for the Hasting line & Cl.33/1 known as Bagpipes due to being fitted with jumper cables for push pull working. Cl.37 = Tractors, Growlers or Syphons Cl.40 = Whistlers, Buckets or Big Ds Cl.44/45/46 = Peaks, Wagons or Lorries to do with the saying 16 wheels on my wagon Cl.47 = Duffs or Spoons Cl.50 = Hoovers Cl.52 = Westerns or Whizzos Cl.55 = Deltics or U Boats Cl.56 = Grids or Christmas Trees Cl.58 = Egg Timers or Bones Cl.60 = Tugs or Donuts Cl.66 = Sheds Cl.67 = Skips Cl.73 = Shoeboxes Cl.81-Cl.85 - Roarers Cl.86 = Cans Cl.90 = Skodas Cl.92 = Caravans or Refrigerators HST = Trams or Flying Bananas DVTs = Lada Estates Cl.153 = Tin Rockets Cl.302 = Oxo Cubes Single Power Car DPU = Scooby Doo Cl.321 = Dusty Bins 1st Generation DMUs = Carts If anyone else knows any nicknames for tractions units & or rolling stock, some nicknames are given from staff or cranks in certain areas please list them. Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Backup |
| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 11:57 #45513 | |
outofsection
149 posts |
Class 142 DMU: Bouncy Castle, Nodding Donkey or Squealer. (I've heard the damn things emit deafening flange squeal on straight track!) Class 21 (North British) Mobile Bonfire ('cos they used to set fire to themselves so often), Baby Warship Class 20: Moose, Bong, Wheelchair Class 26/27 Teacup (after the idling sound they made) Class 55 Flying Smokescreen (obvious as today they'd never pass any particulate emission tests!) Prototype Gas Turbine loco GT3: Flame Thrower, Bridge Burner (due to the very hot exhaust gases that used to set wooden bridges/signal posts etc. on fire if the loco's exhaust flue spent more than a few seconds under a flammable object) Bulleid's prototype steam loco The Leader: The Bleeder ('cos it bled so much of the SR's resources in its development!) I have nicknamed the Class 350/450 EMUs "THEMs" as they make a sound very similar to the giant ants from the famous 1950s sci-fi film called "Them" If someone can think of anything better, feel free! Can't think of any more. Last edited: 07/06/2013 at 12:08 by outofsection Log in to reply |
| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 11:58 #45514 | |
Peter Bennet
5360 posts |
Locally 27s were known as Tip-Tops and 26s as Tea-Cups on account of the sound of the engines when idling. Just say Tip-Top or Tea-Cup over and over again... I am aware of references to Cl 50 as Logs, don't know why. CL 303/311 were "Blue Trains", though that was official. The Wessex units were "Plastic Pigs" for reasons I don't know. A friend of mine used to refer to Air-Con carriages as "Coffins" and Mk3 HST seats as "Dentist Chairs". Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |
| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 12:01 #45515 | |
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58050
2650 posts
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The other names for the Cl.26s & Cl.27s are new to me, except for 'Tip Tops', I was told they were a name for Cl.20s thought. Nonetheless very interesting.
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| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 12:15 #45516 | |
jc92
3629 posts
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class 08s are also known as Jockos, or 350s 1st gen DMUs are Bogs or Boggos? (clarification needed on this one, I just call them "proper" DMUs) class 121/122 are bubble cars Class 153s are super bubbles or Dogboxes class 158s are Scuds class 66s are also known as Yings, freightliner ones are Freds class 59s are daddy Yings "We don't stop camborne wednesdays" Log in to reply |
| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 12:17 #45517 | |
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jc92
3629 posts
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[quote="outofsection" post=45513]I have nicknamed the Class 350/450 EMUs "THEMs" as they make a sound very similar to the giant ants from the famous 1950s sci-fi film called "Them" If someone can think of anything better, feel free! quote] I tend to think of that traction motor noise as being like a sort of captain scarlett/mysterons sort of noise. "We don't stop camborne wednesdays" Log in to reply |
| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 12:22 #45518 | |
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58050
2650 posts
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I've also heard the Cl.350/450 EMUs called UFOs due to the traction motor noise as they increase in power.
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| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 12:24 #45519 | |
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58050
2650 posts
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Oh another one I missed, Cl.76 known as Tommies.
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| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 13:36 #45520 | |
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Peter Bennet
5360 posts |
Glasgow Subway trains were "Clockwork Oranges" on account of the SPT livery when first introduced. Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |
| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 14:23 #45522 | |
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jc92
3629 posts
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http://ukrailwayfaq.wikispaces.com/Rolling+Stock+Nicknames this site is fairly informative, along with a list of reasons for each nickname "We don't stop camborne wednesdays" Log in to reply |
| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 14:49 #45523 | |
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Peter Bennet
5360 posts |
Ah yes have seen that site before. Seeing Cl 90 called Skoda reminds me, I've heard the Cl 91 referred to as Lada. Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |
| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 14:52 #45524 | |
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58050
2650 posts
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During my time on the Loco Control for EWS, Cl.91s were called 'Dung Beetles' because they were always in the s**t.
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| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 14:57 #45525 | |
kbarber
1712 posts |
Cl. 315 - Mickey Mouse (as in "it's one of those (dratted) mickey mouse trains again" following a failure).
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| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 15:26 #45526 | |
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birchy74
151 posts |
I have heard the Class 153 known as "Skateboards or cattle wagons"
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| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 15:30 #45527 | |
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58050
2650 posts
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Cl.31s also known as 'Brians' after the snail on the Magic Roundabout, because of there slow acceleration.
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| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 16:17 #45528 | |
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Sam Tugwell
493 posts |
Down here in Devon (I'm sure this true for a lot of other places), a Pacer is just simply a bus.
"Signalman Exeter" Log in to reply |
| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 16:56 #45529 | |
moonraker
353 posts |
Class 158's - When we had them for the Oxford - Bristol jobs were known as "Scuds". Could end up failing anywhere :whistle: and very often did being as Tyseley always gave us the rubbish ones
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| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 18:16 #45530 | |
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58050
2650 posts
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When the Cl.60 first appeared on the scene they were also called 'Scuds' on the fact that they never went where they were supposed to go. Cl.92s have always & posssibly still are referred to as 'Caravans' due to the fact that they spent alot of time being dragged around the network by a diesel.
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| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 18:56 #45531 | |
Gwasanaethau
509 posts |
" said:The Wessex units were "Plastic Pigs" for reasons I don't know… They still are at GatEx, along with 460s being called ‘Vaders’. Log in to reply |
| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 07/06/2013 at 23:01 #45540 | |
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Sam Tugwell
493 posts |
Peter Bennet said:The Wessex units were "Plastic Pigs" for reasons I don't know…"The Class 442 "Wessex Electric" was one of the first types to make extensive use of plastics in construction, earning them the nickname among staff and rail enthusiasts of "Pigs" or "Piggies"." Source: That lovely thing called Wikipedia "Signalman Exeter" Log in to reply |
| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 08/06/2013 at 07:46 #45545 | |
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Foulounoux
26 posts |
The Wessex electrics were also called the airfix express, this was due to them turning up at Bournemouth depot as a shell with seats etc not fitted but as a set of parts. And then having fitted them they had to take on row out as the spacing was too tight Colin Log in to reply |
| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 08/06/2013 at 09:08 #45547 | |
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tgb
19 posts |
" said:Peter Bennet said:I always thought the PIG was a corruption of the Southern naming codes i.e. CIG, VEP, SUB etc. and the plastic as Peter said because of their construction, hence Plastic Pig.The Wessex units were "Plastic Pigs" for reasons I don't know…"The Class 442 "Wessex Electric" was one of the first types to make extensive use of plastics in construction, earning them the nickname among staff and rail enthusiasts of "Pigs" or "Piggies"." As a Southern driver the things are a nightmare - always in the way due to their incredibly slow acceleration compared to an Electrostar. I'm amazed that the GatEx boys haven't gone with the name most suited now as per their use on the Gatwick route. Surely they should now be ' Flying Pigs' ! Tony Log in to reply |
| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 08/06/2013 at 09:51 #45550 | |
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jwsetford
164 posts |
Cheap joke but I think 450's and 444's are desirable.
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| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 08/06/2013 at 09:53 #45551 | |
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jwsetford
164 posts |
" said:" said:Peter Bennet said:I always thought the PIG was a corruption of the Southern naming codes i.e. CIG, VEP, SUB etc. and the plastic as Peter said because of their construction, hence Plastic Pig.The Wessex units were "Plastic Pigs" for reasons I don't know…"The Class 442 "Wessex Electric" was one of the first types to make extensive use of plastics in construction, earning them the nickname among staff and rail enthusiasts of "Pigs" or "Piggies"." I think its amazing how 377's are older than tornado! Log in to reply |
| Locomotive & Rolling Stock Nicknames 08/06/2013 at 09:58 #45552 | |
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jwsetford
164 posts |
" said:I've also heard the Cl.350/450 EMUs called UFOs due to the traction motor noise as they increase in power. That would mean I'm an alien as I drive 450's! 
Last edited: 08/06/2013 at 09:59 by jwsetford Log in to reply |