Most Bizarre Railway Neologism

[XAM2175]

That sounds potentially confusing. Some people might think that ETS meant the "electricity" that was used to work the loco or power cars.

We could pinch a term from the Yanks instead: Head-End Power?

 

[Gloster]

ETS is more accurate nowadays as it does rather more than heat.

That said, the original application of the ETS acronym was to HST 415V three phase supply; ETH being the normal DC or single phase AC 850V nominal supply.

To me ETS is Electric Train Staff.

 

[calopez]

In pre-APTIS booking office times, the summary of daily debits and credits was entered in the CSB - Clerks' Settlement Book. At period end, the totals were transferred to what we knew as the VIB - Very Important Book.

 

[xotGD]

WSP has a dual meaning in the context of train adhesion: wheel slip protection (when accelerating) and wheel slide prevention (under braking).

WSP is also the name of an engineering firm who do some rail projects.

One of those names where the letters used to stand for something but don't any more.

 

[OldNick]

A good example of "redundant acronym syndrome".

PAT Testing is another.

 

[pompeyfan]

What about GSMR REC call?

global system (for) mobile (communication) - railway railway emergency call call?

 

[43094]

There was a rumour doing the rounds a while ago that Network Rail were looking to implement a Fast Action Response Team, but that it was renamed once someone spotted the acronym.

Another, which happened in 2005, involved a Train Planner asking ‘has anyone seen my STDs’. This new starter was very confused, until it was pointed out it stood for ‘Short Term Deleted’ (schedules in Trainplan)

 

[Dr Hoo]

There was a rumour doing the rounds a while ago that Network Rail were looking to implement a Fast Action Response Team, but that it was renamed once someone spotted the acronym.

Another, which happened in 2005, involved a Train Planner asking ‘has anyone seen my STDs’. This new starter was very confused, until it was pointed out it stood for ‘Short Term Deleted’ (schedules in Trainplan)

Ah, yes, of course. They thought that it was referring to Subscriber Trunk Dialling.

 

[DerekC]

Every topic produces its own jargon and abbreviations so that those who deal with it on a regular basis can converse in shorthand - as long as all the participants understand the language being used. It's not a means of deliberately excluding the uninitiated, just practical.

The danger comes from when two different things get the same abbreviation/jargon and people on either side of the conversation don't realise that the other is using it in a different context.

The other problem is that people "in the know" use acronyms in meetings and others, who don't know what they mean, don't like to ask for fear of looking stupid. I make a point of asking - and it is surprising how often the person using the term can't actually put the right words to it!

WSP has a dual meaning in the context of train adhesion: wheel slip protection (when accelerating) and wheel slide prevention (under braking).

I always thought that this was extremely easy to misunderstand. The US term "spin" instead of "slip" is better, but the acronym unfortunately stays the same. The difference can be important!

 

[TheEdge]

I always thought that this was extremely easy to misunderstand. The US term "spin" instead of "slip" is better, but the acronym unfortunately stays the same. The difference can be important!

Not particularly because meaning is based on context. Talking about WSP on its own, you are obviously discussing the system as a whole, WSP under braking or trying to stop, clearly slip, under power, clearly spin.

 

[Jim Jehosofat]

There was a BR reorganisation called "Organising for Quality". The acronym "OFQ" was pronounced in a certain way by some.

And this was followed by "Organising for Quality 2" known and pronouced as OFQ2!

 

[Tio Terry]

There are, of course, the Self Help Information Terminals installed on most platforms in the form of a round pill shaped thing on a post where you can ask for information and help.

 

[CHAPS2034]

There is frequent debate on these forums about seat and ESAP alignment in carriages.

An ESAP is of course an External Situation Assessment Panel - or window in sensible parlance.

You can blame Mr Boeing for that one..

 

[XAM2175]

An ESAP is of course an External Situation Assessment Panel - or window in sensible parlance.

You can blame Mr Boeing for that one..

Can we really though, given the whole zero results on Google for the phrase?

 

[CHAPS2034]

Can we really though, given the whole zero results on Google for the phrase?

Ah - it's not on the internet, so it can't be true...I guess you believe Mr Google is always entirely comprehensive and totally correct...

There are many things on a myriad of subjects that are not on Google

I have seen this term used in a Boeing manual although it was at least 20 years ago.

If you don't believe me then that's fine.

 

[fairysdad]

(I apologise that this is going off track (pun intended) from the OP - my railway anecdotes of this nature are minimal!)

WRT RAS Syndrome, my favourite trick is to comment on it and include various examples, some of which are incorrect: PIN number, HIV virus, MOT test, LFT test...

Of course, the interesting thing with the MOT test is that the MOT as an organisation does not exist, so could be considered a completely Redundant Acronym! My favourite was when I heard somebody referring (I hope tongue-in-cheek) to their Personally Identifying PIN Number. I also remember years ago when switching mobile phone provider that I lightly 'trolled' the poor Indian call-centre worker by asking for my 'P A C' and refusing to call it a 'Pac Code'.

 

[XAM2175]

Ah - it's not on the internet, so it can't be true...I guess you believe Mr Google is always entirely comprehensive and totally correct...

There are many things on a myriad of subjects that are not on Google

I have seen this term used in a Boeing manual although it was at least 20 years ago.

If you don't believe me then that's fine.

I would expect such a term to have been mentioned at least a handful of times outside of Boeing's internal processes - even by somebody dropping it into a discussion exactly like you have here - so the fact nothing comes up is quite curious.

Should it turn out to be a top-secret term of art that's been kept from the public for years, can I presume it relates specifically to the windows fitted to the aircraft's doors that are intended primarily for checking that it's safe to open the relevant door?

 

[Gloster]

Should it turn out to be a top-secret term of art that's been kept from the public for years, can I presume it relates specifically to the windows fitted to the aircraft's doors that are intended primarily for checking that it's safe to open the relevant door?

As a pure suggestion. Could it refer to the small windows fitted so that it is possible to see from the outside whether the lock or latch on a cargo door or hatch has engaged?

 

[Ken H]

While posters have been looking at acronyms, there is other jargon

Vice. no not seedy stuff but 8 vice 12 means a train that is short formed. Used to appear on blackboards.

Salford station had part of its platforms de-commissioned way back in the days of slam door stock. They stuck up red 'Do not alight here' signs. A train too long for the shortened platforms stopped and people started to get off where they shouldn't. The guard shouted 'Oi, Can't you read?' reply was 'Yes, but we didnt know what it meant'

Its too easy to write jargon on customer facing stuff. You need someone to sense check it.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Its too easy to write jargon on customer facing stuff. You need someone to sense check it.

Once got asked on a multi leg flight what my "Place/port of Embarkation" was.

"Embarkation" isn't a word that I ever use all that often. Had to have a think about that one!

 

[Horizon22]

Its too easy to write jargon on customer facing stuff. You need someone to sense check it.

Reminds me of when I was passing through Waterloo one time and heard an announcement starting "Due to a track circuit failure on the Down Main..."

 

[Mat17]

I always chuckle at 'swingers', for unbraked stock bring hauled in a formation.

 

[Tio Terry]

Reminds me of when I was passing through Waterloo one time and heard an announcement starting "Due to a track circuit failure on the Down Main..."

Reminds me of one Sunday afternoon when I was standing on a platform at Peterborough on route from Norwich to York. The Station Supervisor made a rather abrupt announcement, "The ??:?? train to York will travel via the joint line, this may delay your journey, this is due to engineering works". I, of course, knew he meant the GN/GE line via Spalding and Doncaster, many of those waiting had no idea at all what this meant. One elderly lady saying "does this mean it will be going clickety clack all the way there?"

 

[EveningStar]

Reminds me of one Sunday afternoon when I was standing on a platform at Peterborough on route from Norwich to York. The Station Supervisor made a rather abrupt announcement, "The ??:?? train to York will travel via the joint line, this may delay your journey, this is due to engineering works". I, of course, knew he meant the GN/GE line via Spalding and Doncaster, many of those waiting had no idea at all what this meant. One elderly lady saying "does this mean it will be going clickety clack all the way there?"

From my memories of the Joint Line during the ECML electrification diversions, the elderly lady is right, clickety-clack all the way at a very pedestrian pace.

 

[Merle Haggard]

To be fair, by that stage the company was simply 'BREL' with the letters not standing for anything (officially; I mean we all know/knew where they came from in the first place).

There's another example of the loss of the original meaning, (nothing to do with railways!), that irritates me.
I like 'Rhythm and Blues' music - there was an excellent Radio 2 programme introduced by Paul Jones, discontinued in the BBC's wish to only please one audience... .
And now there's 'R&B' - which seems to be something completely different, even though it's reasonable to guess the origin of the initials.

 

[noddingdonkey]

A family member who worked at the BBC has told me of a story where some very expensive management consultants were brought in to make the Beeb more efficient. They suggested (this is back in the '80s or so) using acronyms to increase productivity, at which point somebody produced the (fairly sizeable) volume of acronyms the BBC were already using, and asked where they would like to start. It's highly likely to be apocryphal.

The BBC certainly loved an acronym, particularly for job titles.

There's a possibly apocryphal story of somebody contriving to get his job title changed to something like Electrical Installations Engineering Information Officer so he could answer the phone "EIEIO"

And the Managing Editor, News and Current Affairs Production (aka MENCAP) attracted comments from those disposed to a certain brand of humour that wouldn't be acceptable now.

 

[AndrewP]

Not rail related but i love the alternative definitions for the aviation term ETOPS:

• Official: Extended-range Twin-engine Operations Performance Standards
• Unofficial: Engines Turn Or Passengers Swim

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Without (hopefully) dragging this particular thread too far off-topic, are there any other examples out there of old railway company "bacronyms", such as...

GWR (Great Western Railway) = "Goes when ready";

Stratford-upon-Avon & Midland Junction railway = "Slow, mouldy and jolting" (!)

 

[Gloster]

Without (hopefully) dragging this particular thread too far off-topic, are there any other examples out there of old railway company "bacronyms", such as...

Late and Never Early
Slow & Dirty (or Swift & Delightful)

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Late and Never Early
Slow & Dirty (or Swift & Delightful)

Which were the relevant old railway companies?