I once used the term “big hole” for an emergency brake application and got some interesting looks…
I find that listening to the scanner helps prevent some of these faux pas, as you’ll eventually hear just about everything. Of course, what’s “proper” on one railroad or in one area might not be the appropriate term for another…
I just call it head end power. Lash-up is used some places and it does kinda sound right but I really think head end power is a really good word to use, but thats just me.
They must have been from some unenlightened railfans that don’t know how to write in English[(-D]
I don’t hear the term as much as I used to, along with “wiping the gauges”.
Of course the worst thing that you can do is use these terms, along with “shooting the train” or “I shot 'em”, around a news correspondent . Again this is strictly prohibited! You can never tell how it will come out on the 11 o’clock News[swg]
Hence my comment about a given railroad term being right one place and wrong in another. Just look at all the “official” names for cabeese! (Never mind the other names that were applied.)
Actually I would consider “the plane was flown…” to be the appropriate phrase. [:)]
Reminds me. Not too long ago, my engineer said before departure, “Well, s’pose I oughta go and check the motors” (meaning engines). The brakeman replied, “What’s wrong with the motors??”
On a different trip with a new crew, upon finding out that there were some switches to hand-line up ahead, I turned to my brakeman and said, “Guess it’s time to bend some iron!!” He just looked at me like I was from another planet…