efftenxrfe Jennies....somewhere in a moss-covered corner of memory, it seems that "jenny" was associated with burro's, donkeys, mules.....
Jennies....somewhere in a moss-covered corner of memory, it seems that "jenny" was associated with burro's, donkeys, mules.....
I've seen "jenny" used as a name for a female burro, as in "jacks" (I assume short for "jackass", for males) and "jennies".
The terms, Jimmy and Jenny have established meanings, both proper and slang, but both appear to be completely undocumented regarding the reference to railroad ore cars. So I conclude that the origin of both terms in reference to ore cars is 100% lost history.
That status is quite rare among railroad terminology and slang. Off hand, I can’t think of any other uniquely railroad related terms having that status.
Bucyrus, it's eERIEe, that responses in this thread that suggest to you that ore jennies are not documented haven't said something that could have been accepted as reference... not fact, granted.
The word on page 176 of the OLD FARMER'S ALMANAC, Western edition, siderodromophobia, means fear of "train travel."
One more ride, Way out there, Pioneer's Children
efftenxrfeBucyrus, it's eERIEe, that responses in this thread that suggest to you that ore jennies are not documented haven't said something that could have been accepted as reference... not fact, granted.
My point was that the terms, as applied to ore cars, are undocumented by dictionary definition. Certainly they are documented in terms of common usage. But without dictionary documentation, the origin of the terms is unknown unless somebody happens to know the history of the origin. Nobody here has been able to explain why ore cars are called jimmies and jennies. So until I discover the origin, I consider the origin to be lost history.
efftenxrfe The word on page 176 of the OLD FARMER'S ALMANAC, Western edition, siderodromophobia, means fear of "train travel."
Not the first time an almanac is flat-ass wrong.
Sidero = iron
Dromo = track or way (as in 'hippodrome', 'velodrome', etc.
Phobia = suffix conventionally used for sense of fear or abhorrence
No room for 'taxi(d)' in that word for journey, travel, or movement. Is there?
Overmod efftenxrfe The word on page 176 of the OLD FARMER'S ALMANAC, Western edition, siderodromophobia, means fear of "train travel." Not the first time an almanac is flat-ass wrong. Sidero = iron Dromo = track or way (as in 'hippodrome', 'velodrome', etc. Phobia = suffix conventionally used for sense of fear or abhorrence No room for 'taxi(d)' in that word for journey, travel, or movement. Is there?
So where does that leave us ferroequinologists?
Actually, fear of the iron way or track makes sense.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
tree68 So where does that leave us ferroequinologists?
Surprisingly close to the siderohippologists previously mentioned... ;-}
The former is Latin, the latter is Greek -- both are 'excessively literal'.
[As an aside: back before Vatican II there was apparently a department in the Catholic bureaucracy somewhere which was tasked with developing Latin expressions for things like 'atomic bomb' and 'railroad locomotive'. I only heard about this at some remove, from one of my Latin masters (who didn't go into it much), but apparently the term used for express train was 'celer currus vaporis' No mention of the 'horse' , or the 'metal', at all.]..
And for fun with pedantic semantics:
"Fear the iron way" -- never!
But "shun the iron way" 9i.e. stay off the track and don;t step on a rail) -- better sense.
BucyrusWhy were four-wheel ore cars called Jimmies?
Bucyrus,
I can't answer the "why" question. But in my mind's eye I see a picture of a short car with two vertical round containers sitting on top. The containers appear to be fixed to the car and part of the car. And the car is described as a "coal jimmie" or "jimmy."
My best recollection is that I saw this picture in a book about the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
John
John WR BucyrusWhy were four-wheel ore cars called Jimmies? Bucyrus, I can't answer the "why" question. But in my mind's eye I see a picture of a short car with two vertical round containers sitting on top. The containers appear to be fixed to the car and part of the car. And the car is described as a "coal jimmie" or "jimmy." My best recollection is that I saw this picture in a book about the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. John
Yes I know what type of cars you are referring to. I think they were called pot hoppers. Do they look like this?--http://www.borail.org/BO-No23001.aspx
These seem to be linked to the B&O, but I wonder if other roads ran them too.
The basic jimmy was a four-wheel car. It was a box on two axles, and four wheels. I think most, or all, of them had spring suspension over each of the four wheels.
Jimmies and Jenniew were a part of the hopper class. So the very early pot hoppers could probably be rightly called jimmies.
BucyrusYes I know what type of cars you are referring to. I think they were called pot hoppers. Do they look like this?--
Your pictures are of the last pot hoppers used in the late 1920's. They ones I saw were similar but were much smaller and used in the 1840's or 50's.
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