Okay so if you go to a locomotive history/roster page like this one: http://www.wsorrailroad.com/fan/roster.html let's say we're talking about MP15AC 1501 (third loco on the list) it says ex SOO 1557, which I understand SOO Lines used to own it, or were leased to it by a leasing company. Where it says nee MILW 491, does that mean it was used by Milwaukee Road prior to SOO using it?? I'm confused, help explaining it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Ben
[video=youtube_share;zIV4poUZAQo]http://youtu.be/zIV4poUZAQo[/video] yes, the "Nee" is the first owner
Yes. That is what it means. Essentially the same as saying "formerly." Technically "nee" denotes the maiden name of a now married female. So we are mis-using nee to designate the original company. But all through the years, railroaders and fans have referred to motive power as being female in nature... So, to be somewhat correct, with so many engines changing hands numerous times these days, you'd have to say "ex", "ex", "ex", until you got to the original owner then state "nee". I once spoke about using these, with a friend who is a retired instructor from the english department of a good sized midwestern university. She is familiar with my hobby, so I explained how we applied these prefixes, and she told me she didn't care much for how we used either one. Hmmm. I guess railfans might not have graded very well in her classes.
Yes, it does sound like I am talking about a woman who was been married and divorced a few times, and I thought about it when I said nee haha. But thanks guys!
fine...We are no longer the railfans that say nee! [video=youtube_share;bQwBq0PcZQA]http://youtu.be/bQwBq0PcZQA?t=1m50s[/video]
"Nee" is a French word meaning "born," so a locomotive described as "nee ABC 1234" means it was built ("born") as "ABC RR 1234." Dieter Zakas
