I asked this question first on the general discussion forum then it dawned on me I should be here instead. Duh! Anyway, I overheard a couple of old railroaders talking about the 50s and 60s and they mentioned “growlers” several times. I got the impression they were talking about some type of locomotive. Does anybody know what they were referring to?
Thanks
A diesel. Compared to a steam loco, a diesel growled…
Ancient word for diesel; it showed up a lot in the rail literature of the 50s and 60s.
BTW, I never heard them called that by railroad folk I knew. I did hear diesels called; units, engines, motors, or locos. Also they were referred to by the model number such as RS3, DL109, etc.; by the manufacturers name such as "GM’s, or EMD’s - term was used interchangably. There was also the ever-popular “Big Alco” or “Little Alco.” Other folks I remember called everything that was a diesel “a geep;” no matter the manufacturer.
Electric engines were called motors; for example “G motors, or P motors.”
What about mu’ed diesels? This was usually four units; or three units - generally by the number of engines involved; the rail press referred to them as “lashups” I never heard that term used either.
Then there were a lot of other terms used, too; but that would get me bounced off the forum (LOL). Nicest I recall was “pig.”
What was the terminology in your part of the world?
work safe
Thanks for your help,all. You never know what kind of great info you’re gonna get from these forums.
An old Athern Bachmann engine with metal gears. Some of them also can stand in for coffee grinders. You will hear lem long before you see them coming down the track.
Modern locomotives are so much better than in the past!
In my part of the world carbody locomotives similar to EMD E and F units are often referred to in the press as “bulldogs” however i dont know if those in the industry call them that
In the UK a Growler is an English Electric Type 3 or class 37.
I have also heard that the throne in the crummy was also referred to as a “growler”!! Bob
Makes a certain sense–“growler” was also a slang term for “toilet.”
I don’t know…a lot of people in my area say if it isn’t a steamer…it isn’t a locomotive!!![:p]
underworld
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I though Athearn and Bachman were competitors. So what is an “old Athern(sic)Bachmann(sic)engine”? Maybe that was a kitbashing experiment that got out of control
[:D]!!
A retired Union Pacific engineer wrote a very nicely done black and white, soft bound picture book about the Union Pacific in North Platte, NE several years ago. His reference to UP’s early diesels as “growlers” was the first time I had seen them referred to with this term. And before you ask, I can’t remember the name of the author or the book. I’m at my office. When I get home I’ll see if I can find my copy and let you know.
“I though Athearn and Bachman were competitors. So what is an “old Athern(sic)Bachmann(sic)engine”? Maybe that was a kitbashing experiment that got out of control”
Uhh, the last time I checked their website Bachmann was spelled with two ‘n’ on the end.
At my house, a growler is defined as "my wife after I told her I’ll be working on the layout instead of cleaning house on my days off… "
