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Author Topic: Cucumbers  (Read 4676 times)
grahame
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« on: February 20, 2019, 10:40:22 »

Nicknames for trains .... we've come across the Nodding Donkeys, the Doodlebugs and the Coffin Nails ... just seen a reference to "Cucumbers".  Anyone else heard that one?
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JayMac
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« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2019, 10:49:32 »

GWR (Great Western Railway) green IETs (Intercity Express Train)?
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johnneyw
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« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2019, 10:54:53 »

Just had to google this, slightly unlikely results:

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eightonedee
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« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2019, 10:57:54 »

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GWR (Great Western Railway) green IETs (Intercity Express Train)?

Especially any vinyl wrapped ones! (Is there a barcode which can be read which gives you the leasing cost?)
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Bmblbzzz
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« Reply #4 on: February 20, 2019, 10:59:30 »

There's an old bus known as a cucumber in Poland. It wasn't green nor especially cucumber shaped.
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jelcz_043

I haven't head the name used for a train but it makes more sense (for colour and pointy ends) than the bus.
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« Reply #5 on: February 20, 2019, 11:00:36 »

Nicknames for trains .... we've come across the Nodding Donkeys, the Doodlebugs and the Coffin Nails ... just seen a reference to "Cucumbers".  Anyone else heard that one?

Are you sure that this isn't what you saw ??

https://www.wikihow.com/Train-Cucumbers
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stuving
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« Reply #6 on: February 20, 2019, 11:57:00 »

I've referred to X73500s as bananas, but they have other names (in French, obviously) that include cucumbers, sausages, shells/bullets, blue whales (liveries vary), and (very Frenchly) suppositories...

(Image from http://transportrail.canalblog.com/pages/x73500---digne-successeur-de-l-x2800/27614277.html)
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Adelante_CCT
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« Reply #7 on: February 20, 2019, 12:48:01 »

Don't forget Network Rails 'Flying Banana'
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eightonedee
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« Reply #8 on: February 20, 2019, 13:49:26 »

I'm warming even more to BNM's idea-

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GWR (Great Western Railway) green IETs (Intercity Express Train)?

The five car units could become "half cucumbers"

And if GWR would take the idea on, perhaps they could replace the rather dull and worthy names they are using with names like - "The Cornish Cucumber", "The Cardiff Cucumber" and the "Cotswold Cucumber" Grin
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stuving
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« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2019, 14:43:24 »

I'm warming even more to BNM's idea-

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GWR (Great Western Railway) green IETs (Intercity Express Train)?

The five car units could become "half cucumbers"

And if GWR would take the idea on, perhaps they could replace the rather dull and worthy names they are using with names like - "The Cornish Cucumber", "The Cardiff Cucumber" and the "Cotswold Cucumber" Grin


Would that make short-formed but busy services "cucumber sandwiches"?
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grahame
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« Reply #10 on: February 20, 2019, 14:57:02 »

The five car units could become "half cucumbers"

Courgettes??
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eightonedee
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« Reply #11 on: February 20, 2019, 16:57:33 »

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Courgettes??

from what we read in this forum, perhaps "Squashes" maybe more appropriate!
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patch38
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« Reply #12 on: February 20, 2019, 17:11:30 »

They are fairly straight cucumbers. Does this mean they'll be allowed through the Tunnel?
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Umberleigh
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« Reply #13 on: February 20, 2019, 17:33:25 »

I've referred to X73500s as bananas, but they have other names (in French, obviously) that include cucumbers, sausages, shells/bullets, blue whales (liveries vary), and (very Frenchly) suppositories...

(Image from http://transportrail.canalblog.com/pages/x73500---digne-successeur-de-l-x2800/27614277.html)

My name for them is “Better than 142, 143, 150 and 153”
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PhilWakely
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« Reply #14 on: February 20, 2019, 22:00:35 »

Nicknames for trains .... we've come across the Nodding Donkeys, the Doodlebugs and the Coffin Nails ... just seen a reference to "Cucumbers".  Anyone else heard that one?

I've also heard that GWR (Great Western Railway)'s 2+4 HST (High Speed Train) GTi is commonly called a 'Chalet' rather than the completely innappropriate 'Castle' nomenclature. I am sure this doesn't need an explanation, but [apparently], if a 2+8 is a 'full house', then a 2+4 is a 'half house', aka 'chalet'.
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