Last week visiting the coffeeshop dharmon and YNCS and others enriched my vocabulary with some navy slang, brownshoes bubblehead and others.
I know just a few railroad related:
snake = switchman
foamer = a railroad modeller
but there must be dozens more, that I do not know, because the only english I know is the engli***hey teached me at school ( at least 25 years ago ) and what I picked up afterwards watching TV and movies.
so who enriches my ( and maybe your ) vocabulary?
Thanks,
LUPO
Actually foamer is an employee’s name for railfan.
lupo, careful what you ask for. Some of the words could be dangerous to your health.
Or to your body.
Phil
Here’s a link to a page that should have everything you need, Lupo:
http://www.rrb.gov/funfacts3.html
[:)]
GARF
Greasy As@ Rail Fan
Got that one from an NS employee that rode with their passenger cars far fan trips.
Here are some model slang terms that I know.
Eggshell. The description of texture left when paint is sprayed under wrong conditions, allowing it to partially dry before coming in contact with the model.
Fish-eye. A description of the mark made by residual oils, mold release agents, and other contaminants on a models surface as it chemicly reacts with drying paint.
Run, a build of paint on a models surface to the extent it forms a puddle and flows down hill while it is still wet.
Sink Spot, a defect on a model by which part of the models surface is lower than its surondings.
Pin Mark, A defect on a model left by the ejection mechinsim inside an ijection molding machine. Can also be defined as a pefectly circular sink spot.
Flash. Excess material at the edge of a molded part. (Can be corrected by removing with file or hobby knife)
Angel Hair. A hair like strand of model or thick CA glue created by the glue’s elasticity as it streatches out while puling the glue applicator away from the model.
crazed glass. A condition by which clear material becomes frosted in appearence.
Hack Job. 1: Denotes a model made by extensive kit bashing and elaborate modification. 2: a Hastily constructed or crudely built model.
Tail Heavy,. A model airplane designed to sit on Tri-cycle landing gear (e.g. an F-86 Saber Jet) but due to further back center of gravity than prototype, sits on its tail.
These are all of the mode building slang terms I can think of at this time. Feel free to add to this if you know more.
Thease are what I usually hear from others who work on the railroads. “Pike” seem to mean line, subdivision; “running light” means motive power without cars on the move; “rattle cab” I have heard engineers refer to GEs this. Can’t think of any more right now. I try again later.
boomer: railroad employee who goes from employer to employer on a regular basis, rather than sticking with a single road
crummy, hack: the lovable caboose
juice jack: fan of electric freight motors
trolley jolly: trolley enthusiast
thanks so far! but keep 'm coming there must be more!
Eagle Eye, Hogger - Locomotive Engineer
Gandy Dancers - Railroad Track maintenance workers
Here’s one from the mid 1970s when Amtrak trains kept derailing and the SDP40fs were blamed for it: Red Ribbed Rail Rippers!
“Blue Goose: A high-rail car used by management to get out of the office and look important.”
I liked that one! Especially since it was coming from the RRRB
Some obvious ones:
LHS = Local Hobby Store.
MRR = Model Rail Road.
MRR Budget = Something I dream about more than actually have. [sigh]
RTR = Ready To Run.
DC = Direct Current (sometimes called “Block DC”). The traditional way to run trains on your MRR
DCC = Digital Command Control.
DCC Budget = Something I hope to have someday.
Prototype Modeling = Used to describe a strict adherence to modeling a real life place/time/era.
Freelance = Modeling fictitious places and/or railroads.
Cheapo-lance = Taking freelance a step further by integrating equipment from various eras & railroads because it was on clearance. [:-^]
WABASHED: What one feels like doing to a kit if it isn’t going together the way it should…[:0][;)]
0-5-0 switcher = moving it by hand (aka Hand of God)
12"-to-the-foot scale = the real thing
shake the box = very simple kit
Croaker layout: a layout so big that the modeler won’t finish it in his lifetime (before he croaks).
Rivet counter: A stickler for accuracy, can be used in a derogatory manner
arm chair modeler: one who doesn’t have a layout - often full of advice about yours…
Guy
“Groundhog”: runs the engine from the ground using a belt-pack.
Idiot glue…Super glue…That what most guys/gals fell like when they “super glue” their fingers together.[}:)]
Wreck-A first attempt at kit bashing.[:0]
Old prototype Charlie…One that finds fault with everybody’s locomotives but,yet runs who knows what because nobody,but nobody has ever seen his models.[:0]
Meat slicer…Any modeling knife.[:0]
Treasure box…Your parts box.[:D]
Layout.The money you spend for locomotives,cars etc but don’t have a place to run them.
Reality check…Balancing your check book and looking over the charge account. billing.[}:)]
Stare of death…What your better half gives you when she finds out what you paid for the newest locomotive.[:0]
Reverse move.What you do when you receive that death stare.
Ballast burner…A modeler that runs his trains way to fast.
Old Dusty. A modeler whose models have 2 inches of dust on them from not being ran.
Hop a long. A engine or car that continually jumps the track.[}:)]
Me too! [:D]