100 years ago - APRIL, 1903 in Railway Age - Brief Article - Column

Railway Age, April, 2003

(APRIL, 1903)

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Mr. J. Snowden Bell writes that he would be glad to see this journal raise its voice against the misuse of language and attempted slur on locomotive engineers implied in the description of the latter class of employes as engine drivers. There is no objection to doing so, though the subject does not arouse intense enthusiasm. There is no such similarity between the whip and spur on the one hand and the oil can of course that the users of each should bear the same descriptive title. As to the desirability of calling enginemen engineers, we cannot agree with the opinion which Mr. Bell seems to hold. For some time The Railway Age has adhered as closely as possible to the practice of calling enginemen enginemen and not engineers.