locomotive nicknames

The AEOLUS ran on the CB&Q, not the MILW.

New Haven motors had the following nicknames:

EP-1: Pony Motors
EP-2: Westinghouses or Tigers
EP-3: Flatbottoms
EP-4: Streamliners
EP-5: Jets

EF-1: Jeeps
EF-2: Motor-Generators
EF-3: Bull Mooses or Yellow Jackets
EF-4: Virginians (Ex-VGN EL-Cs)
MUs: Mutts

NYC crews called the lightweight train EXPLORER the “EXPLODER”

John,The word that was banned was GEEP pronounce like JEEP.Of course the term GEEP caught on and was widely used ie a GEEP 7,a GEEP 9,a GEEP 18 up to the GEEP 60…[:D] I have no idea who started the term GEEP but,I fully BELIEVE it had to be the sales department…The GP7 was *** Dilworth,s creation.[:D][:D]

The GP38-2 is also known as the GP9 of the 80s.There was 2208
GEEP 38-2s produce between 1/72-1987…

The only SD’s I ever heard of with “nicknames” were the SP’s SD9’s, referred to as Cadillacs, because they rode better than the Geeps.

Definitely–after all, deca + pod just means “ten feet” (as in what’s on legs, not 12 inches) for ten driving wheels that it “stands on”. Just because an arbitrary particular trailing-truck configuration was officially called “decapod” doesn’t mean the others, to which the name would apply just as well, weren’t called it unofficially.

I’ve heard the AEM 7 electric called a “toaster”, possibly due to it’s shape? Also, “Swedish Meatball” due to it’s Swedish heritage.

Dave

When I worked for the S.P.in 63&64 we called the F7A&Bs covered wagons.

Jim

A lot of railfans will sometimes call a GP38 a “Geep 38” or whatever. Otherwise the SD’s have always been shortened, instead of SD40-2, people commonly say 40-2, or SD70MAC=70MAC, AC4400CWs are “ACs”. The new SD70ACe’s have quickly earned the name ACe or 70ACe. Other ones I can think of off the top of my head are…

SD80MAC: Conrail Cadillac

SP SD7: EMD Cadillacs

GE Dash 8: Smokers or Chuggers

F40PHM: Winnebago

F40PH: Screaming Thunder Box

FP45/F45/SDP40F: Cowl

F Unit: Covered Wagon

BN SD70MAC: Grinstein

Switchers: Yard Goats

RC Units: Drones

UP SD70Ms (later versions): Flags and Flares

SD70ACe/SD70M-2: Frankenstien

On GO Transit, the F40PH was called a “Thunder Wagon”. This was from the requirement that the engine run at full throttle to maintain the hotel power (to the coaches).