Old Names for Locomotive Types

[6Gman]

The class 90s were referred to as "Skodas", as they were considered to be as reliable as a cheap Eastern Bloc car, weren't they?

Indeed.

In fact staff at the Control Office at Crewe received a stiff letter from the high-ups that use of the term MUST stop. IMMEDIATELY. On pain of disciplinary action!

 

[D1009]

Indeed.

In fact staff at the Control Office at Crewe received a stiff letter from the high-ups that use of the term MUST stop. IMMEDIATELY. On pain of disciplinary action!

I can assure you that was not limited to Crewe !

 

[rdwarr]

Indeed.

In fact staff at the Control Office at Crewe received a stiff letter from the high-ups that use of the term MUST stop. IMMEDIATELY. On pain of disciplinary action!

I wonder if that would happen now with Skoda toppling Lexus as the World's #1 car maker.

 

[Wyvern]

. . . . . but was it just my friends who referred to a 25 as a "Birmingham Bo-Bo"?

Why??

 

[Welshman]

Choppers? You mean Toton Deltic's!
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An old Drivers term for 47's on the Midland was "Four and a half", and even now after 25years on the footplate i still don't know why!
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Wasn't it because they were midway [at 2750hp] between the Class 4s [2000hp] and the Deltics [Class 5, 3,300hp]?

 

[Masbroughlad]

47s were duffs - never knew why

47/4s - super duffs

47/7 Super Mac Duffs!

 

[TukayAway]

Class 45 - Dinosaurs
Class 89 - Aardvark

My Dad used to refer to 73/2's as Danger Excitements. Something to do with a TV advert?

 

[50041]

In the early 80s

20s - choppers
25s - rats
31s - goyles
37s - syphons
47s - duffs
50s - hoovers
56s - grids
81-85s - roarers

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

http://englishelectric.zenfolio.com/class_50/e385446bc

 

[12CSVT]

Indeed.

In fact staff at the Control Office at Crewe received a stiff letter from the high-ups that use of the term MUST stop. IMMEDIATELY. On pain of disciplinary action!

Similar things happened when the 442s were having teething problems when they were new, and were referred to as Plastic Pigs.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Indeed.

In fact staff at the Control Office at Crewe received a stiff letter from the high-ups that use of the term MUST stop. IMMEDIATELY. On pain of disciplinary action!

*ring ring*

"Hello? Crewe Control here."

"Divisional Director here. Please stop referring to the 90s as Skodas at once, as per our letter the other day!"

"Yes Sir!"

"Don't let me hear the name again!"

"No Sir!"

Later..........

*ring ring*

"Hello? Crewe Control here."

"Divisional Director here. What's the reason for the delays?"

"Well Sir, we have a failed Trabant on the pointwork south of the station..."

 

[IanXC]

47s were duffs - never knew why

47/4s - super duffs

47/7 Super Mac Duffs!

47/7s were also known as "shove duffs" (on account of working push-pull trains) weren't they?

To go a bit more modern 66s and 67s seem to have settled into sheds and skips, any thoughts on 70s?

 

[sprinterguy]

47s were duffs - never knew why

The most widely circulated theory I have heard is that the term "Duff" was coined by Western Region men (I don't know whether that would be traincrew or enthusiasts), where locos either "worked", i.e. the diesel hydraulics, or they were "duff" which described the diesel-electric 47s.
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47/7s were also known as "shove duffs" (on account of working push-pull trains) weren't they?

Yup, indeed they were.

 

[Smudger105e]

Indeed.

In fact staff at the Control Office at Crewe received a stiff letter from the high-ups that use of the term MUST stop. IMMEDIATELY. On pain of disciplinary action!

A similar directive went out to try and stop:

The 455s being called Spam Cans and
the 321s being called Dusty Bins.

 

[Schnellzug]

A similar directive went out to try and stop:

The 455s being called Spam Cans and
the 321s being called Dusty Bins.

I'd never heard of Spam Cans before. Perhaps it might have been more appropriate for 442s in view of the services they operated?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Round here 455s seem to be known as "Slugs".

Not sure if that relates to their appearance of their performance, though!

 

[12CSVT]

Round here 455s seem to be known as "Slugs".

Not sure if that relates to their appearance of their performance, though!

Must be something to do with appearance.

A bona fide Slug (ie class 37/9) has a tractive effort of 279kn.

 

[IanBanks-Jones]

Would think that 455's are called slugs due to their (lack of) performance. Only 4 powered axles and a heavy load of commuters is not a strong combination, especially when compared to more modern stock

 

[Rugd1022]

Wasn't it because they were midway [at 2750hp] between the Class 4s [2000hp] and the Deltics [Class 5, 3,300hp]?

Spot on with this description of Brush Type 4s aka 'four and a halfs'... I know one or two Bescot and Saltley men who still call them by this even now

 

[Wyvern]

I'd never heard of Spam Cans before. Perhaps it might have been more appropriate for 442s in view of the services they operated?

In the sxties we used to call all DMUs "Spam Cans" BEfore that I believe it was the SR Merchant Navy Class.

 

[Oswyntail]

In the sxties we used to call all DMUs "Spam Cans" BEfore that I believe it was the SR Merchant Navy Class.

IIRC, the "Spam Cans" were the "Air smoothed" Bulleid Pacifics, WC, BB, or MN, before being rebuilt. (Were the MN Air Smoothed? - I honestly can't remember)

 

[Schnellzug]

That's right,