Trains.com

Where did the term "Foamer" come from?

5873 views
27 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Upper Left Coast
  • 1,796 posts
Posted by kenneo on Thursday, July 17, 2003 1:09 PM
Ed ...

Can we speak yet?

These guys are doing pretty good. It is going to be fun explaining such things as the differances between - drop - dutch drop - kick - roller - boost - cut - standing cut - and why would being called a snake/yard dog/driller be a compliment. And then the differences in roads terminology.

I think we got something going here!
Eric
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Upper Left Coast
  • 1,796 posts
Posted by kenneo on Thursday, July 17, 2003 1:09 PM
Ed ...

Can we speak yet?

These guys are doing pretty good. It is going to be fun explaining such things as the differances between - drop - dutch drop - kick - roller - boost - cut - standing cut - and why would being called a snake/yard dog/driller be a compliment. And then the differences in roads terminology.

I think we got something going here!
Eric
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 1:44 PM
JohnHHill got it. Water with high mineral content would cause a locomotive boiler to actually foam. It wasn't practical to bring water in from elsewhere, so the RR would install water treatment facilties to romove the minerals. Some roads used a high tower constructed by the water treatment people; other roads required the fireman to dump a sack of treatment in the tender tank. Now that's the original "foamer". The modern railfan foamer might be a bit of all written above...
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 1:44 PM
JohnHHill got it. Water with high mineral content would cause a locomotive boiler to actually foam. It wasn't practical to bring water in from elsewhere, so the RR would install water treatment facilties to romove the minerals. Some roads used a high tower constructed by the water treatment people; other roads required the fireman to dump a sack of treatment in the tender tank. Now that's the original "foamer". The modern railfan foamer might be a bit of all written above...
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, July 17, 2003 1:56 PM
Ed & Kenneo:

The operating guys have one set of slang, the maintenance guys another and the mechanical guys yet a third. We just had to explain shoving in a related post. Still amused that you two didn't pick up on "the evils of" shoving blind.

-mudchicken (btw....an operating guy's slang term)
Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, July 17, 2003 1:56 PM
Ed & Kenneo:

The operating guys have one set of slang, the maintenance guys another and the mechanical guys yet a third. We just had to explain shoving in a related post. Still amused that you two didn't pick up on "the evils of" shoving blind.

-mudchicken (btw....an operating guy's slang term)
Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 3:07 PM
Originally posted by edblysard

What if he had called me a yard dog?
Or a driller?
The terminology can be confusing at times.
Lets see what the fans thinks these mean.
I really want to know, not picking fun at all.
Shall we let the fans answer, then the railroaders can fill in the blanks.?
And remember, the same term may have a different meaning from road to road.

Hoe handle
Ground air. -Airline provided in yard to keep cars charged and this avoid new brake test
Joint. -Coupling
Tie down. -set a brake on
Tie up. -put ones self off duty
A Swing - the job that works anothers jobs rest day
Couple and spot.(see ground air)
Light rip
Heavy rip.
Cut- uncouple
Drop put a piece of equipemtn into another track
Dutch Drop- running drop....dangerous
Pin. (as in give me the...) the gadget that keep a coupler locked
Knockers--Car insepctor
Piglet- A trainee Engineer (promoted one being a Hogger)
Lace- make up air hoses
Bleed rod-- device to for evacuating air from a car thus freeing the brakes
Frog- the part of a switch that has guideway grooves
Grab air
Plug it
Pump it up- charge the train with air
MU- Multi-Unit---as a verb means to hook up the MU hoses
BO- Bad order
Slider--car or engine with locked brake/frozen axle
Dead head--ride to a terminal some way other than a train


  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 3:07 PM
Originally posted by edblysard

What if he had called me a yard dog?
Or a driller?
The terminology can be confusing at times.
Lets see what the fans thinks these mean.
I really want to know, not picking fun at all.
Shall we let the fans answer, then the railroaders can fill in the blanks.?
And remember, the same term may have a different meaning from road to road.

Hoe handle
Ground air. -Airline provided in yard to keep cars charged and this avoid new brake test
Joint. -Coupling
Tie down. -set a brake on
Tie up. -put ones self off duty
A Swing - the job that works anothers jobs rest day
Couple and spot.(see ground air)
Light rip
Heavy rip.
Cut- uncouple
Drop put a piece of equipemtn into another track
Dutch Drop- running drop....dangerous
Pin. (as in give me the...) the gadget that keep a coupler locked
Knockers--Car insepctor
Piglet- A trainee Engineer (promoted one being a Hogger)
Lace- make up air hoses
Bleed rod-- device to for evacuating air from a car thus freeing the brakes
Frog- the part of a switch that has guideway grooves
Grab air
Plug it
Pump it up- charge the train with air
MU- Multi-Unit---as a verb means to hook up the MU hoses
BO- Bad order
Slider--car or engine with locked brake/frozen axle
Dead head--ride to a terminal some way other than a train


  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 8:44 PM
Ed, I got two, MU= Multiple Units
BO=Bad Order
The rest, I have no Idea.
Foamer Tim
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 8:44 PM
Ed, I got two, MU= Multiple Units
BO=Bad Order
The rest, I have no Idea.
Foamer Tim
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 8:54 PM
I got another. In Mt. Clare Yard, the term for a handbrake was "harvey". As in, "Put a harvey on it." That's the ONLY place in Balto. where the term was used. No one could remember the origin of it. I seem to recall Harvey, Illinois cast into some brake wheels along with their manufacturer's name.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 8:54 PM
I got another. In Mt. Clare Yard, the term for a handbrake was "harvey". As in, "Put a harvey on it." That's the ONLY place in Balto. where the term was used. No one could remember the origin of it. I seem to recall Harvey, Illinois cast into some brake wheels along with their manufacturer's name.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, July 17, 2003 10:31 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

No Joe - BO is a bad order car.

I think lace up is to hook up the air hoses and I know when you "spot" cars, you set them on a separate track, like at an elevator - you spot cars for the elevator on it's siding. And people can deadheaded - they used to ride in coach cars in comfort when passenger trains ran!

Jen

sorry jen I was trying to win the mookie challenge.[:D]Most people are good railfans (foamers) and know alot about trains.The diffrence with me is I do not and will never put myself or anyone with me at risk to take train pictures or go where it is not allowed.This morning I had 2 pictures left on the roll.waiting for an eastbound here comes mow equipment decisions decisions...
stay safe
joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, July 17, 2003 10:31 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

No Joe - BO is a bad order car.

I think lace up is to hook up the air hoses and I know when you "spot" cars, you set them on a separate track, like at an elevator - you spot cars for the elevator on it's siding. And people can deadheaded - they used to ride in coach cars in comfort when passenger trains ran!

Jen

sorry jen I was trying to win the mookie challenge.[:D]Most people are good railfans (foamers) and know alot about trains.The diffrence with me is I do not and will never put myself or anyone with me at risk to take train pictures or go where it is not allowed.This morning I had 2 pictures left on the roll.waiting for an eastbound here comes mow equipment decisions decisions...
stay safe
joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Friday, July 18, 2003 5:57 AM
Joe - That is a nice decision to make! We don't have too much opportunity to see MOW, so when we do I try to study it as much as possible.

Maybe if they put you and me together, we can win the Mookie Challenge as one! Then will give the award to Matt!!!! He can put it in on his wall!

I should get extra points for being the Mookie!

Jen

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Friday, July 18, 2003 5:57 AM
Joe - That is a nice decision to make! We don't have too much opportunity to see MOW, so when we do I try to study it as much as possible.

Maybe if they put you and me together, we can win the Mookie Challenge as one! Then will give the award to Matt!!!! He can put it in on his wall!

I should get extra points for being the Mookie!

Jen

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, July 18, 2003 10:20 AM
I always called one of those short single-trailer piggyback cars (now rare again) a "piglet", but the student-engineer definition is probably right.
(Around here student switchemen used to be "pigeons")

A drop involves getting a car or cut of cars out from behind an engine at a facing point switch. Get up to speed, bunch the slack to pull the pin, then take off in one direction while the car(s) hopefully go down the other track.

I'm not sure if the move I once witnessed was a Dutch Drop or not, but it was the neatest way of getting a car into a train under seemingly impossible circumstances.
The car was in a spur at a facing-point switch. The engine went in, pulled the car out, and kicked it up the main line ahead of it, then went into the spur. The car was allowed to roll to a stop, at which time its rider got off and began to pu***he car in the opposite direction! I guess inertia helped get it started (track was reasonably level), but momentum kept it rolling until it was against the train, at which point the engine just tied on, made the air, and took off.

Would you believe all of this stuff is illegal now?

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, July 18, 2003 10:20 AM
I always called one of those short single-trailer piggyback cars (now rare again) a "piglet", but the student-engineer definition is probably right.
(Around here student switchemen used to be "pigeons")

A drop involves getting a car or cut of cars out from behind an engine at a facing point switch. Get up to speed, bunch the slack to pull the pin, then take off in one direction while the car(s) hopefully go down the other track.

I'm not sure if the move I once witnessed was a Dutch Drop or not, but it was the neatest way of getting a car into a train under seemingly impossible circumstances.
The car was in a spur at a facing-point switch. The engine went in, pulled the car out, and kicked it up the main line ahead of it, then went into the spur. The car was allowed to roll to a stop, at which time its rider got off and began to pu***he car in the opposite direction! I guess inertia helped get it started (track was reasonably level), but momentum kept it rolling until it was against the train, at which point the engine just tied on, made the air, and took off.

Would you believe all of this stuff is illegal now?

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Friday, July 18, 2003 1:54 PM
Here goes,
Hoe handle, the handle on a 45 degree back saver switch, looks like a hoe handle, also used as a unit of measurment/distance to travel, about 3 feet.
Ground air, a air hose, connected to a big compressor, used to air up brakes on a cut of cars so the carmen can check the air brake function. and perform a brake test.
Joint, a coupling
Tie down, apply hand brakes, both to cars and locomotives
Tie up, go home, put your time claim in the computer.
Swing, move a track of cars from one track to another done after you have finished switching into the track to be swung.
couple and spot, couple up the track, and spot it on the ground air spot, (see ground air)
Light rip, empty car to repair in place.
Heavy rip, loaded car to repair in place
cut, where you seperated cars from one another, where you "cut" the train.
Drop
Dutch drop
Will explain both later.
Pin as in give me the pin, slack action to allow you to lift the cut lever, the pin is the locking pin in the coupler, when tension is on the couplers, you can not lift the cut lever,
Knockers, car knockers, they check inbound and out bound trains for defects, cracked wheels, missing brake shoes, defective safety appliances, so forth and so one, got the name partially because they would knock the wheels with a billy club, thoses that rang like a bell were good, thoses that had a dull or dead tone had a defect, other explaination for the name will come later.
Piglet, student engineer.
Lace, as in lace up the air hoses for the brake pipe between cars.
Bleed rod, connected to the release valve, used to bleed the air out of a cars brake system.
Frog, where two rails meet, the solid connection with flangways to guide the wheels through, looks like squashed frog.
Grab air, apply the air brakes.
Plug it, emergency application of the air brakes, also means to close the rear angle **** on a car.
Pump it up, use the engine compressor to re charge the air brake system.
MU multiple unit, two or more locomotives, connected with electrical connections and air brake connections, functions as a single locomotive opperated from one or the other end.
BO, bad order, broken/damaged car or locomotive, or missouri, take your pick..
Slider, car or locomotive with hand brake applied so tight, the wheel is locked, and slides along the rail instead of rolling, creates flat spots on wheels quick.
Dead head, time the company has to pay you after you have reached the end of the hours of service law, often paid when a crew "dies on the hog law" and the company has to provide transportation back to the terminal, or to a hotel ect, you render no service to the carrier, they are paying you because they worked you past a point you could have stopped, and tied up.
Voilation of the hours of service can result in the carrier being fined heavily, and the crew being fired by the FRA.
Hope Kev, and the other Canadians jump in with some northern jargon.
Stay Frosty,
Ed
QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

What if he had called me a yard dog?
Or a driller?
The terminology can be confusing at times.
Lets see what the fans thinks these mean.
I really want to know, not picking fun at all.
Shall we let the fans answer, then the railroaders can fill in the blanks.?
And remember, the same term may have a different meaning from road to road.

Hoe handle
Ground air.
Joint.
Tie down.
Tie up. (no Kev)
A Swing.
Couple and spot.(see ground air)
Light rip
Heavy rip.
Cut
Drop
Dutch Drop.
Pin. (as in give me the...)
Knockers
Piglet
Lace
Bleed rod
Frog
Grab air
Plug it
Pump it up
MU
BO
Slider
Dead head
We will start with these, and if you guys get them quick, then kennoe and others will surly come up with more.
Stay Frosty,
Ed[8D]


23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Friday, July 18, 2003 1:54 PM
Here goes,
Hoe handle, the handle on a 45 degree back saver switch, looks like a hoe handle, also used as a unit of measurment/distance to travel, about 3 feet.
Ground air, a air hose, connected to a big compressor, used to air up brakes on a cut of cars so the carmen can check the air brake function. and perform a brake test.
Joint, a coupling
Tie down, apply hand brakes, both to cars and locomotives
Tie up, go home, put your time claim in the computer.
Swing, move a track of cars from one track to another done after you have finished switching into the track to be swung.
couple and spot, couple up the track, and spot it on the ground air spot, (see ground air)
Light rip, empty car to repair in place.
Heavy rip, loaded car to repair in place
cut, where you seperated cars from one another, where you "cut" the train.
Drop
Dutch drop
Will explain both later.
Pin as in give me the pin, slack action to allow you to lift the cut lever, the pin is the locking pin in the coupler, when tension is on the couplers, you can not lift the cut lever,
Knockers, car knockers, they check inbound and out bound trains for defects, cracked wheels, missing brake shoes, defective safety appliances, so forth and so one, got the name partially because they would knock the wheels with a billy club, thoses that rang like a bell were good, thoses that had a dull or dead tone had a defect, other explaination for the name will come later.
Piglet, student engineer.
Lace, as in lace up the air hoses for the brake pipe between cars.
Bleed rod, connected to the release valve, used to bleed the air out of a cars brake system.
Frog, where two rails meet, the solid connection with flangways to guide the wheels through, looks like squashed frog.
Grab air, apply the air brakes.
Plug it, emergency application of the air brakes, also means to close the rear angle **** on a car.
Pump it up, use the engine compressor to re charge the air brake system.
MU multiple unit, two or more locomotives, connected with electrical connections and air brake connections, functions as a single locomotive opperated from one or the other end.
BO, bad order, broken/damaged car or locomotive, or missouri, take your pick..
Slider, car or locomotive with hand brake applied so tight, the wheel is locked, and slides along the rail instead of rolling, creates flat spots on wheels quick.
Dead head, time the company has to pay you after you have reached the end of the hours of service law, often paid when a crew "dies on the hog law" and the company has to provide transportation back to the terminal, or to a hotel ect, you render no service to the carrier, they are paying you because they worked you past a point you could have stopped, and tied up.
Voilation of the hours of service can result in the carrier being fined heavily, and the crew being fired by the FRA.
Hope Kev, and the other Canadians jump in with some northern jargon.
Stay Frosty,
Ed
QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

What if he had called me a yard dog?
Or a driller?
The terminology can be confusing at times.
Lets see what the fans thinks these mean.
I really want to know, not picking fun at all.
Shall we let the fans answer, then the railroaders can fill in the blanks.?
And remember, the same term may have a different meaning from road to road.

Hoe handle
Ground air.
Joint.
Tie down.
Tie up. (no Kev)
A Swing.
Couple and spot.(see ground air)
Light rip
Heavy rip.
Cut
Drop
Dutch Drop.
Pin. (as in give me the...)
Knockers
Piglet
Lace
Bleed rod
Frog
Grab air
Plug it
Pump it up
MU
BO
Slider
Dead head
We will start with these, and if you guys get them quick, then kennoe and others will surly come up with more.
Stay Frosty,
Ed[8D]


23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Los Altos, California
  • 130 posts
Posted by bfsfabs on Friday, July 18, 2003 2:25 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

Would you believe all of this stuff is illegal now?


OH Yeah, and a lot of other OLD stuff that really worked. Like red lead, sharp knives and enamel car paint sprayed in the back yard.
Lowell Ryder
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Los Altos, California
  • 130 posts
Posted by bfsfabs on Friday, July 18, 2003 2:25 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

Would you believe all of this stuff is illegal now?


OH Yeah, and a lot of other OLD stuff that really worked. Like red lead, sharp knives and enamel car paint sprayed in the back yard.
Lowell Ryder
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 18, 2003 6:05 PM
Ed, Thanks for the info. Now if I can just remember it. I should be able to find someplace to store it. And I am curious as to what are Canadian Friends call some of that stuff myself.
TIM A
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 18, 2003 6:05 PM
Ed, Thanks for the info. Now if I can just remember it. I should be able to find someplace to store it. And I am curious as to what are Canadian Friends call some of that stuff myself.
TIM A
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Saturday, July 19, 2003 1:30 AM
More stuff.

Slosher
Flopper/flop over (two versions)
Racker
Stacker
Bumpers (two versions, can you use one?)
Heater
Floater
By pass
Tra***rack
Stranger
Pole pocket
Safety appliance(no, not the refridgerator)
Dutch drop, (someone got drop)
Switch
Turnout
Tangent
Minutes
Candy Striper
Kick
Heres a hint for some of the above.
If you find a flopper on a rack, you dont want to kick the next one, you might get a bypass, and a BO or two.
Have fun, and where are the Canadians?
Ed

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Saturday, July 19, 2003 1:30 AM
More stuff.

Slosher
Flopper/flop over (two versions)
Racker
Stacker
Bumpers (two versions, can you use one?)
Heater
Floater
By pass
Tra***rack
Stranger
Pole pocket
Safety appliance(no, not the refridgerator)
Dutch drop, (someone got drop)
Switch
Turnout
Tangent
Minutes
Candy Striper
Kick
Heres a hint for some of the above.
If you find a flopper on a rack, you dont want to kick the next one, you might get a bypass, and a BO or two.
Have fun, and where are the Canadians?
Ed

23 17 46 11

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy