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Diesel/Electric Nicknames

Discussion in 'Diesel & Electric Traction' started by domeyhead, Jul 29, 2019.

  1. DR73202

    DR73202 New Member

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  2. simon

    simon Resident of Nat Pres

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    "Flying Banana" applies only to the HST set used as a measurement train and which is painted all over yellow.
     
  3. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I don't think so when the HST's first came into use with the wrap round yellow and blue livery I've know n enthusiasts refer to them as 'flying bananas'.
    The WR hydraulics are sometimes referred to by their number series IE the 800, the thousand etc Ive always known class 50's as either Vac's or Hoovers.
     
  4. simon

    simon Resident of Nat Pres

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    wiki agrees with you, but its not something I ever heard them called 125s or HSTs were how they were referred to amongst people I knew
     
  5. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Not forgetting "[Plastic] Pigs" for the 442s.
     
  6. Victor

    Victor Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Now c'mon lads, we're looking for a nickname for a..........wait for it...............a Pacer.:)
     
  7. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Razor?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  8. Fred Kerr

    Fred Kerr Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Have to disagree ! The monicker was first used within the Diesel & Electric Group when the trainsets began working on 4th October 1976 so I'm afraid you're 40+ years out of date. Its origin was a phrase from Michael Oakley, the group's then magazine editor, who declared - after travelling on the first high speed service to Swansea - Fly Me ! I'm Bananas !! This comment was printed in the magazine and picked up by group members who subsequently referred to HSTs as "Flying Bananas".

    Given the livery changes since then, the monicker may be restricted in today's parlance to the Network Rail trainsets but to those of a certain age it applies to ALL HST sets.
     
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  9. LesterBrown

    LesterBrown Member

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    I remember them as flying bananas but I also recall some BR staff referring to them as clockwork mice.
     
  10. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    .... preferably not one folks might confuse with with Mr.Marsh's I1 class. :Wideyed:
     
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  11. simon

    simon Resident of Nat Pres

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    According to Wiki "The rough ride which can result has led to the units being nicknamed (along with the related Class 143s) Nodding Donkey. The 142s were officially known as "Skippers" when they were briefly allocated to Cornwall in the mid-1980s. "
     
  12. guycarr360

    guycarr360 Part of the furniture

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    I agree with the Nodding Donkey moniker for us up north.
     
  13. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Amazingly that nickname appeared in the 1948 Combined Volume.
     
  14. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    03s and 04s were known as Drewries.
    37 were also known as Syphons in some parts. And the 22s as Baby Warships.
    60s are more commonly known as Tugs IMO
    Never heard the 77s referred to as Tommies though, only the 76s.
     
  15. 33 beantin/can
    47 leaky swiss tat, spoons,duffs,
     
  16. 22A

    22A Well-Known Member

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    I have also heard 60s being referred to as Politicians - you can see right through 'em!
    66s as grey squirrels as they are an import from North America that has devastated the local species.
     
  17. 22A

    22A Well-Known Member

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    Dreadnoughts.
     
  18. oldmrheath

    oldmrheath Well-Known Member

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    Around the time of the first Gulf War the 60's were fairly new and having some reliability issues. I heard them referred to as 'scuds' at the time as they never reached their target,

    Jon
     
  19. Fred Kerr

    Fred Kerr Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Wiki - as usual needs refining as the epithet "Skipper" was applied ONLY to the batch of 13 units (142015 - 142027) that were painted in GWR chocolate / cream livery and allocated to Laira for use on branch lines in Cornwall and Devon; the name was adopted as part of the GWR policy of the time to encourage local travel by using local name associations.
     
  20. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    That's a new one on me. Always heard them referred to mostly as Sheds - and variations on that name - or Yings.
     

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