Choo Choose the Train Slang Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hogger

Back in the day, steam engines were called "hogs"; one story is that they were called hogs because the old steam locomotives made snorting sounds, while another alluded to the idea that the front view of a locomotive with the headlights looks like the snout of a hog. The engineer, as head of the hog, was called the "hogshead", or hogger for short!

Answer: Hostlers

Back in the day (around 1386), a hostler was a groom who took care of the horses at an inn. In railroad lingo, a hostler is an engine driver or train operator who moves the engines around the train yard, but does not take them out on the track. The members of the yard crew are an important part of the railway operation, as they repair the different train vehicles, the track, and actually assemble the vehicles to make the needed train.

Answer: Power

The locomotive, also called the engine, does not carry a load of its own; its job is to move a train along the tracks. During the Industrial Revolution, the steam engine was invented, which powered the train by burning combustible substances, such as coal or wood in order to produce steam in a boiler.

Therefore, the locomotive "powers" the entire train. Typically the locomotive is the first vehicle of the train; however, some trains may put the locomotive in the back - which is called a push-pull operation - or may even have one in front and one in back.

Answer: Gandy Dancers

Back in the day, gandy dancers laid and maintained the track for the first trains; today this work is done by machines. In U.S. history, this hard work was typically done by immigrants who needed jobs and would work for low pay. The origin of this term is unknown.

Some sources believe it is derived from an English or Irish term because many Irish immigrants worked on the railroad. Others believe that the workers were outfitted with tools from the Gandy Manufacturing Company in Chicago. It has been difficult, however, to find any concrete information regarding the company.

Answer: The Brains

While some may see the train's conductor as the person who simply collects the passengers' tickets and fares, the truth of the matter is that he has a long list of responsibilities that include insuring that the train runs safely. Among the many duties on his list is to signal the engineer to start and stop moving, making sure the train stays on schedule, and keep a log of the journey.

While this member of the train crew is called a conductor in the U.S., in Commonwealth nations, he is called a guard; the conductor only sells tickets.

Answer: Peeps

No, the passengers don't have anything to do with marshmallow treats! Peeps is just short for people, plain and simple! This term can also refer to close associates and friends, or other people in general.

Answer: Crummy

Known by many names, such as a brain box, clown wagon, bobber, and monkey box, the caboose was apparently a car with few creature comforts - hence the nickname crummy (crummie), which was used by the railroad crew. According to a general consensus, it was not a comfortable car to be in. Known to be too hot or too cold, dirty, and inelegant, it provided accommodations for the crew, but they were not the best!

Answer: Goat

The switcher engine is used not for transporting train vehicles or cars over long distances; it is used to assemble the different types of cars that are needed for a train. This is called switching or shunting. Likewise, a switcher engine is also used to disassemble trains that have completed their route. Why is it called a goat? It butts the other cars around!

Answer: High Iron

The term mainline on a train refers to the route that is commonly used between towns. More highly traveled, mainlines usually have a double track, or many parallel tracks. Trains traveling on a mainline are typically operated at a faster speed, and the tracks may be better maintained than secondary routes that connect to suburbs or other areas. Because the rails are heavier and taller on a mainline than those of a secondary line, they are called "high iron".

Answer: Flimsy

Back in the day, before the use of more sophisticated direct communication devices (can you imagine a time?), trains had predetermined time tables. A train order, however, could be issued by a dispatcher which would change the operation schedule. The order was written on very lightweight paper, at first on onionskin, so that many carbon copies could be made - hence the name flimsy!