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Contents: Top · 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

B

• Baobab: (PRR only): an oversize load. From the telegraph code-word used. A baobab tree is a very large tropical tree.
• Basketball: Nickname for the Pan Am Railways logo.
• Blowdryer: Nickname for dynamic brakes.
• Brick: GE E44 electric engines used by Pennsylvania, Penn Central and Conrail (called this because the road-switcher style engines were as ugly as a brick compared to the classic PRR GG1s that they worked alongside of)
• Bulldog: Nickname for the EMD GP30.
• Butthead: Switching locomotive with the operating cab located at the rear end of the carbody.

C

• Chicken Bone: Amtrak's City of New Orleans
• Crap-9: Another term of derision for Dash-9 engines.
• Crash 8: A term for CSX's C40-8Ws that are starting to show their age.

D

• Diet Pepsi: An Amtrak GE Dash 8-32BWH wearing the Phase IV paint scheme. (See Pepsi Can)
• Dirt Dauber: Loaded phosphate train.
• Douche-9: Another term of derision for Dash-9 engines.
• Dress Blues: Former Conrail unit, nostalgic.
• Dump Truck: a GE AC6000CW, based at least partially on the fact that these units are almost always covered with dirt and grime.

E

• Ex-Con: Former Conrail unit or former Conrail employee

F

• Fatheads: Wide-nose (North American Cab) locomotives.
• Firework Show: Nickname for the sparks that shoot out from the electrified third rail when a train passes over it when the rail is damp.
• Foamite: Far-Out And Mentally Incompetent Train Enthusiast. One who foams at the mouth at the sight of anything connected with railroads. Also a railfan who uses no common sense and completely disregards safety considerations and right-of-way restrictions.
• Ford Edsel: Amtrak GE Genesis locomotives.
• Furball/Furbie: Locomotive owned by First Union Rail (FURX).

G

• Green Giant: A term used to refer to former BN locomotives, which were almost entirely green.
• Greenie Weenie: Leased locomotive, typically of Burlington Northern heritage.

H

• Hertz: A locomotive leasing company.
• Honorary steam engine: Affectionate term for Alcos, because of the large amount of smoke they produce when experiencing turbo lag. Becoming a general term for any diesel locomotive considered rare or unique.

I

J

• Jenny (also Jimmy): A 24 ft (7.3 m) or 25 ft long ore car. Also refers to mine gondolas, as well as gondolas and hoppers from the early days of railroading.
• Jet: New Haven EP-5 electric locomotive, named for its loud cooling air blower equipment.
• Juice jack: Electric locomotive.
• Junk box: see Rent-a-Wreck.

K

L

M

• Mate: See Mother.
• Monobrow: The second version of Norfolk Southern's "Horsehead" paint scheme

N

• Nuetered Stallion: A term given by Norfolk Southern's employees for the new horsehead logo.

O

• Orange: One of Tropicana Orange Juice Company's Bright Orange boxcars.

P

Q

R

• Racks: Nickname for autorack cars
• Railfan Window: The window in the end door of the lead or last car on a subway train or commuter train without a full-width cab.
• Royal Toaster: Nickname for the Amtrak AEM-7 #946 that led a train carrying Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
• RV: Winnebago: Nickname for Amtrak or VIA Rail GE Genesis locomotives

S

• Shower Caps: Canvas coverings which protect the mouths of locomotive air horns on most freight units. Usually blue in color, and easily deteriorated by exposure to the elements.
• Silver Snake: Name given to Norfolk Southern's PPLX hopper trains which have only silver Bethgon hoppers
• Slushbucket: SD26 locomotive. So named for their muffled-sounding turbochargers.
• Snow Cones: Stainless steel coverings which protect the mouths of locomotive air horns, particularly on passenger units such as those used on Amtrak. So called due to their shape, which helps to deflect debris while at speed.
• Space Age Noodle: Another name for the current Canadian National logo.
• Speedo: a track speed restriction (slow order).
• Spin Cycle: derogatory name for the compressor noises made by GE D9-40CW locomotives when idling.
• Susie-Q: Nickname for the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad.

T

• Tomato Can: M2 (railcar) operated by Metro-North Railroad.
• Top Hats: Nickname given to conventional cab Dash-9s (GE Dash 9-40C) because of the roof-top mounted air conditioning units.
• Tri-Color: type of signal which features red, yellow, and green in a triangle shape

U

V

W

• Window train: a passenger train.
• Worms In Love: Nickname for Penn Central's herald. Commonly known as "mating worms."

X

Y

Z

References