A recent topic by Jim S. prompts me to ask, what is the correct gender of a locomotive?
All of the eight wheelers I have seen pix of were named in honor of male generals and dignitaries. So it would seem calling a steam locy, ‘she’ would create an identity crisis for poor Gen. Haupt and E.M. Stanton. But I believe, in the German language, ‘the locomotive’ uses the feminine definitive article ‘die’.
Just asking. 
All mine are “it’s”…or Number such and such…but that’s just me…
I think the gender or any appellation will rest upon the current situation the loco is in - behaving, running well, troublesome or whatever.
This reminds me of the late Generale Charles de Gaulle. Apparently when watching French tv which pleased him he referred to it as MY television. Displeasure was shown by saying it was THEIR television.
Hmm. My german is too childish to distinguish locomotive from train, but it’s “Der Zug,” so a train is masculine.
My little locos are she. Lucy, Gertrude and Annie. My Mallet seems to be a he, and seems to be “Mr. Mallet.”
I have one European LGB steam loco with a name.
So, (die) Dampflok is named after (der) Spreewald…
When the World Speed Record Steam loco , Mallard , passed 120 or so mph , the Driver said…
“Come on old girl , you can do better than this” . She did . 126 and a bit .
I bow to his intimate knowledge .
Anyway , I love engines , and would not therefore wish to think of them as blokes .
I think that we admire the beauty of locos , ships , planes and so on , hence the"she" bit . Especially because “she” can be contrary , awkward , pretty , desirable and costs a packet to acquire and maintain .
Mike
I don’t realy name my loco’s other them 1. My Mallet that everyone calls big Britha. I do how ever refer to some of them as “She”. Ex. My 2-8-0 SPC . She is a great runner and very beatiful. Then there is my LGB track cleaner loco that gets refered to as a “He”. Ex. He is cleaning the track for me. So I guess its how it looks and what job it is doing as to how I call them.
Referring to mechanical objects as being of the feminine gender has a long tradition going back to the days of sailing ships and probably beyond. Many will tell you this has to do with their unpredictable nature. It might also have to do with the fact that if you treat them well and take care of them, they’ll be with you a long, long time. If you mistreat them, or simply ignore them, they are apt to suddenly up and quit, stranding you when it hurts the most.
My climax is the ole’ girl and the 0-4-0 is the goat. The rest are jus numbers until they break down, then they are worthless good fer nuthin whores…
A steam locomotive is most definately a SHE…petticoat in front and a tender behind…
An old railroad man once told me that locomotives were all “She” as a function of how difficult it is to weigh one. Most railroaders who were “for real” on steam engines refer to them as “she” … and most non-museum diesels the less personal “it.” Museum Diesels seem to be the bailiwick of the same kind of people who love steam engines, or modern diesel guys with a love of history, so it’s a coin flip.
Or … so I thought. It seems to be geographical. Russia and Eastern Europe you seem to hear a lot about “Him” while Germany (as has already been pointed out) uses the feminine. I cannot imagine thinking of some of the more famous British engines named for various lords and generals in the female… (and then, of course there’s Thomas, James, and the lot who would be most upset!)
Guess it depends on where you stand, and who you love… whether your machine is your mistress or your comerade… and whether your job is your work or your passion (or a bit of both.)
Matthew (OV)
Female in German, French, Italian and Romansch. It’s official!
"Guess it depends on where you stand, and who you love… whether your machine is your mistress or your comerade… and whether your job is your work or your passion (or a bit of both.)
Matthew (OV)"
I like that
Auf Deutsch: “die Lokomotive”
She. I’ll quit calling my Mallet “Mr.”
But then, I’m not sure I’d trust German to know, as a little girl is “das,” or no gender ;))
Tom,
“the” is quite neuter(ed), too. Do you know the explanation for that? 
Probably to make things easy, since there are enough mistakes made when spelling the rest. 
I have to think there is masculine and feminine genders to locomotives and diesel engines. “she has sweet lines” - “he pulls like a team of horses”. “He has sweet lines” sounds real weird in my part of the World. Southern Illinois is not California.
Ric Golding said:Hay hay hay now Ric be careful there. Some of use are only here because we have to work to pay for our hobby.
I have to think there is masculine and feminine genders to locomotives and diesel engines. "she has sweet lines" - "he pulls like a team of horses". "He has sweet lines" sounds real weird in my part of the World. Southern Illinois is not California.
My word usage comes from being a Navy brat. Dad was on destroyers and even though they were named for people, usually guys, when referring to the ship it was always “she”. When using “he” in reference to the other ship it was understood to be the Captain specifically referred to.
That’s what I grew up with and by now it’s likely too ingrained to be altered!
Forrest Scott Wood said:Naval ships are called "she" because it is so damned expensive to keep her in powder and paint. :lol:
My word usage comes from being a Navy brat. Dad was on destroyers and even though they were named for people, usually guys, when referring to the ship it was always "she". When using "he" in reference to the other ship it was understood to be the Captain specifically referred to. That's what I grew up with and by now it's likely too ingrained to be altered!