Railroad crews nicknames

[wjstix]

One of the interesting things about the movie "Emperor of the North" is that none of the characters have real names. The hoboes all have their "monickers" they go by, like A-No.-1, and the railroaders are called by their job nicknames - Shack (conductor) Hoghead (or Hogger?) engineer, Black (fireman - black from the coal), Yardlet etc. etc.

FWIW A-No.1 was a real person, an 1890's hobo who wrote several books of stories of railroads and hoboing.

[Anonymous]

A hostler was a roundhouse worker that moved engines to and from the roundhouse from what I've heard. And back in the days of the flimseys, it was engineman, not engineer.
Arr

[Anonymous]

Pretty complete lists previously posted but I'll add a few more:
Engineer - Throttle Jerker
Head Brakeman - Head Shack
Rear Brakeman - Rear Shack
Section Hand - Gandy Dancer

[rji2]

Where I worked as an operator and train dispatcher, such nicknames for occupations just weren't used. Engineers were engineers, conductors were conductors, etc. Certain individuals had nicknames, of course, as they do in any industry, but we did call some trains or runs by nicknames. We had "The Chicken Train," the "Black Cat," and "The Cutworm," for example. The first got its name because it served a number of plants that prepared animal feeds, and the last one was called "The Cutworm" because it was said that when this run was instituted, it resulted in cutting off other runs which resulted in cutting the number of crews. "The Black Cat" was an all-night turnatound job, and its late hour may have yielded its nickname, certainly less mundane than "Nos 39-38."

[Richard A]

QUOTE: Originally posted by joseph2

There is a good railroad slang glossary at www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/glossary1.Html Joe G.

Thanks for the link. There's very interesting information there in adition to the glossary.

[jeffhergert]

I was told that switchmen got the "snake" nickname from the snake-like S in the emblem of their old union, Switchmen's Union of North America, now part of the UTU.
Jeff

[Anonymous]

Let's not forget the time honored name that was used when I was a conductor - BOSS!

[route_rock]

Some nick names go by railroad as well. On the old BN you had Snakes and Skilletheads.Snakes were switchmen cause they looked like snakes weaving in and out of the yard switches.

Engineers got the name skillet heads after a conductor cooking breakfast got a good jolt in the waycar spilling his eggs and the like. So he went up and whacked the engineer in the head with the skillet! Ahh the good ole days!

[passengerfan]

Happened to spend a day in a crew dispatchers office once and unfortunately I can't repeat in a family forum the names he was calling them.

[joseph2]

There is a good railroad slang glossary at www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/glossary1.Html Joe G.

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot for some reason when I checked my active topics this never showed a post, so I hadn't checked. I thought I was crazy. I have just doubled my railroad lingo.
James

[mersenne6]

Engineer = Big E, Ballast Scorcher, Throttle Artist, Eagle Eye, Glory Hunter, Grunt, Highball Artist, Hogger, Hoghead, Hog Jockey, Pig-Mauler, Positive Block
Fireman = Bell Ringer, Coal Heaver, Diamond Cracker, Diamond Pusher, Dust Raiser, Fireboy
Brakeman = Pin Head, Pin Puller, Pin Lifter, Stinger
Conductor = Big O, Brains, Captain, Skipper, Conducer, Dinger, King Pin
Telegrapher = Lighting Slinger, Brass Pounder
Switchman = Buggy Slinger, Cherry Picker, Cinder Cruncher, Clown, Dropper, Switch Monkey
Rear Brakeman = Car Catcher
Front Brakeman = Head Man, Head Pin
Passenger Conductor = Dude, Grabber
Passenger Brakeman = Dude Wrangler
Wrecking Crew = Bunch of Thieves
Hobo = Boxcar Tourist
Locomotive with two firedoors = Goo-Goo Eye
Hand Fired Locomotive = Hand Bomber, Muzzle Loader
Streamlined Train = Tin Lizard

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

I've heard of firemen referred to as tallowpots and conductors as brains.

[coalminer3]

There were lots of names that, if we posted them, the forum would be shut down.

I have heard a fireman called a "bakehead" for example. IIRC a hostler moved power in and around roundhouses, engine shops, etc.

Another twist on this is the nicknames that people gave individuals; often based on certain episodes, personality quirks, etc.

A few that I remember personally are "Oil Can," "Scalded Dog, and "Snakes." BTW, mine at work is "Eeyore."

If you can find a copy of Pavulik's book, Memories of the New Haven, you'll find some real good ones.

work safe

[steamaddict]

Sure was! Fireman were called 'ash cats' for example and brakeman were called pin-pullers (as well as the crew in the hump yards). I'm sure other members can recall other names used.

[Anonymous]

I know the Engineer was called a hogger and a hostler, were there other names for crewman?
James