Here are more of the slang words that railroaders have made up:

BALLING THE JACK—this is what they say when they mean a train is going very fast. Highballing means the same thing.

BOOMER—a railroad worker who moves from place to place without sticking very long at any one job. There are still a few boomers, but in the old days there were thousands.

BUCKLE THE BALONIES—this means fasten together the air brake hoses which run underneath all the cars.

CHASE THE RED—this is what the flagman says he does when he goes back with a red flag or lantern to protect a stalled train.

CRACKER BOX—a Diesel streamliner. Glowworm means the same thing.

CRADLE—a gondola or hopper car.

DOODLEBUG—a little railroad motor car that the section crew uses.

DOPE—the oily waste that is packed in journal boxes.

GARDEN—a freight yard.

GIVE HER THE GRIT—squirt sand onto a slippery track.

GREASE THE PIG—oil the engine.

HIGH IRON—the track that makes up the main line of a railroad, not switching track or station track.

PULL THE CALF’S TAIL—jerk the cord that blows the whistle.

RATTLER—a freight train.

SHOO-FLY—a track that is used only until regular track can be laid or repaired.

STRING OF VARNISH—a passenger train. High wheeler is another nickname.