I've just updated my Lakeside and Haverthwaite thread on the overseas section with the return to traffic of LMS 2MT 2-6-0 46441 These tiny engines had the nickname amongst railfans in the 1960s through to the present day of 'Mickey Mouses' And I thought a thread on the vast subject of loco class nicknames might be fun EMDs finest JT42 CWR Co-Co, supplied in large numbers to UK rail operators as Class 66, known to U.K railfans as "Sheds" due to9 the the corrugated sides reminding them of Tin Garden sheds My beloved Class 37s universally known as "Tractors" Class 58 heavy haul Co-Cos "Bones" Class 44, 45 and 46 1-Co-Co-1 diesel electrics all known as "Peaks" even though only the first ten were named after mountains Class 20 Bo-Bos " Choppers" The classic LMS Stanier 4-6-0 rated as 6P 5F class became known as the "Jubilees" More soon Kev
On July 18, 1917, the U. S. Government ordered 150 2-8-0s from the Baldwin Locomotive Works for service in France during WW I. These were nicknamed General Pershings after the commander of the American Expeditionary Force in France. This one never made it to France but served the U. S. Army on the home front.
When these units bot the white paint above the windshield, it earned them the not so flattering nickname Unibrows
Of course just about any lease unit like this in the late 90's early 2000's were generically called Rent-A-Wrecks
Any Southern Railway Bulleid Pacific still in streamlined condition " Spam Can" Class 47s " Duffs" Class 90 A.C Electrics " Skodas" Class 57/3 s fitted with Delner Couplings "Thunderbirds" Class 67 "Skips". Skips in the U.k are what you in the USA would call dumpsters More soon Kev
Any of General Electric's many U-Series diesel locomotives are nicknamed "U-Boats" like this Delaware & Hudson U33C. [Colonie, NY, July 1983] U-Series locomotives are mostly retired from U.S. railways today.
Certain Baldwin cab units were nicknamed "Babyface" units because of their large windows and low noses. These are all long, long gone from U.S. rosters. [Not my photo]
ATSF 5000, the one and only Madam Queen. Ricardo, New Mexico. March 1943. Jack Delano Photo, Library of Congress collection.
During World War I, Imperial Russia ordered approximately 1,200 2-10-0s from American builders. When the Bolshevik revolution occurred in 1917, 857 had already been delivered, but more than 200 were either awaiting shipment or were in the process of construction. These stranded locomotives were adopted by the United States Railroad Administration (USRA), converted to American standards, and put to use on American railroads. They were known as Russian Decs or Decapods. This one is at the North Carolina Transportation Museum. This is one that did make it to Russia.
For a period of time, when they were new the CSX AC traction locomotives were collectively called 'Bolts' account the lightning bolt that was painted underneath the cab windows. Subsequently they were further refined into 'Steerable' and 'Heavy' as some were ordered with steerable trucks and others had added weight and special software applied to be able to increase the amount of tonnage those engines were able to move. Bolts without steerable trucks were restricted from operating on specific tracks as the long wheelbase of the three axle trucks were able to damage track in sharp curvature.
Class 56 Co-Co heavy haul . Paxman powered 'Grids' G.E did not cover themselves in glory with the Class 70 supplied to a a couple of U.K freight operators.The styling, with the assymetric fronts, soon led to a plethora of nicknames.SUBOs, Fuglies, Ugly Betties. Since they stopped sponteaneously bursting into flames the ' Firestarters, Bonfires etc seems to have died away kev
Oh, sure. Limit the thread to steam and diesel, then type into it something like that. Well, whether you know it or not, you begged for a straight electric in your thread. And here it is, the New Haven's EP-5 electric. They had ignitron rectifiers and very loud and powerful blowers to cool them, earning them the nickname "Jets". They were built by GE. Generally they worked well, but those blowers couldn't pull enough air to keep them cool when in confined spaces. So, over time, two of them caught fire under New York City in the Park Ave. tunnel.
The Hughes designed LMS 2-6-0 'Crabs'. originaly deisgned for the L&Y but not built until after the grouping. The new LMS Chief mechanical engineer , HenryFowler, insisted on fitting a Midland railway standard tender to them with the result that there was a 9 inch gap either side as they were so narrow Lancashire and Yorkshire Rail way 0-4-0ST 'Pugs' a preserved one at Barrow hill one of Dads pics back in the day at Goole Docks Class 205 DEMU 'Thumper' Me and Brooklyn will be riding this one tomorrow Kev
