AGE or WHISKERS Seniority, length of service.

BABY LIFTER A trainman or conductor.

BAGGAGE SMASHER Baggageman.

BIRD CAGE, BUG TORCH or SHINER Lantern used by train crew.

BRAIN PLATE Badge attached to the conductor’s hat.

CAPTAIN or CAP’T Name for conductor dating from the earliest railroading, probably derived from the sea—master of the ship, master of the train. (Sometimes mistakenly said to come from the Civil War era when some trains were run by the U.S. Army.)

CHASING THE RED Flagman going back with red flag or lantern to protect
the train.

COMPANY JEWELRY Badge, ticket punch, switch and car keys signed out by the conductor or other trainmen.

CUSHIONS Passenger coaches.

DRUM or BIG OX A mean conductor.

HOT-FOOTER, KINGPIN, SKIPPER, SWELLHEAD, BIG O More nicknames for conductors. Hot-footer also used for engineers in a hurry. Big O comes from the first letter of Order of Railway Conductors.

SNOOZER Pullman sleeping car. The Pullman Co. had its own fleet of conductors to handle on-board tickets, including upgrades from coach to sleeping-car space, oversee the discharge of passengers, and supervise porters.