Engine nicknames - formerly Re: 1950's N&W Steam excursions

[NW Mailing List]

Most of the railroaders I've met on any or all roads usually refer to engines by number series. I remember asking an engineer about a certain engine like a GP-9 or GP-30 and they would look at you kinda blank and say things like, "I like those 6900 units but they're sort of slippery" or "those EMD's are smooth to operate". Engine crews are more interested in how much they weigh since that controls their checks or how much they can pull than the model number, builder or nickname. In the early diesel days I spent following the N&W, engineers often referred to them as EMD's or Alco's rather than GP-9's or RS-11's. Maybe that was just the guys I was familiar with in the Roanoke area. The guys that knew steam called the steamers by class designation or number series and I can't remember anyone using any names like "Mollie".
 
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
 

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 From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> 
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 8:44 PM
Subject: Re: Engine nicknames -  formerly Re: 1950's N&W Steam excursions
  


Aubrey,
 
I used to vacation in Roanoke with my grandparents from 1956-1969. During that time I would hang around the station and, with permission from Mr. White the Stationmaster, usually would ride the station switcher. During those years I can remember riding with different engineers adding and removing cars from the various passenger trains and I can remember at least a few of them would say "here comes train 4 with them Redbirds on the front" and things similar to that. I remember other railroaders working the station area calling them Redbirds. I always figured it was a "standard N&W" name for them and not just something railfans bestowed on the gorgeous GP-9s. These guys were calling them that way before I ever saw the railfan or modeling magazines use the term. One of the highlights of my Roanoke Summers was getting a ride in the cab of the 516/518 duo at they slipped down the west yard area to clear the head end for the switcher to remove some mail cars
 and the engineer letting me run her.
 
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
 

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 From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org 
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 12:37 PM
Subject: Engine nicknames -  formerly Re: 1950's N&W Steam excursions
  


Do any of you other old guys remember hearing N&W's passenger Geep's called a nickname during their time on N&W passenger trains?  "Red Birds" was new to me when I started hearing it and reading it a couple decades ago.  
Aubrey Wiley 

You are invited to  visit these blogs:
VIRGINIAN RAILWAY Heritage Trail: http://virginianrailwayheritagetrail.blogspot.com/
Wiley Railroad Relic Garden:http://junkmanwiley.blogspot.com/ 
    
  
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