The Club is currently working with three linguists to establish information
regarding local slang and aboriginal Victorian languages.
If you have any specifically Victorian references or phrases to contribute,
please email : alex@blackicesystems.com
Every contribution is gratefully welcomed!
- Bat Phone - Train to base radio
- Blocko -Safeworking inspector.
- Gumby -Railway staff during the 1980s and early 90s
when they had green uniforms. After the cartoon character. This term was
used by the general public, notably graffiti artists. See also: Kermit.
- Hogaphone- Megaphone used by the late Eldon Hogan,
long time tour organiser with Steamrail Victoria and the Association of
Railway Enthusiasts. Originally applied to any megaphone he was holding, but
a at one time megaphone was painted gold with the word HOGAPHONE on the
side.
- Kermit- Railway staff during the 1980s and early 90s
when they had green uniforms. After the muppet of the same name. This term
was also used by the general public. See also: Gumby.
- Silly Circular- S Circular, the Victorian equivalent
of a Special Train Notice.
- Stick- Orig. a Victorian Railways 2 position home
signal cleared by an Armstrong lever, and latched clear with an electric
latch. A train entering the track circuit would release the latch, causing
the signal to reset to stop.
- Stalerail- Newsrail, a railfan magazine
notorious for publishing news several months after the event.
- Wally- Idiot. In use in the general population, but
in railway slang has similar connotations to the original meaning of gunzel.
From a television commercial featuring a foolish person who wastes water.
- 'Alf an Offie - Half a Hoffman's Brick, which were
made in Bruswick from local clay. Used as a gang weapon.
- B.A.N.A.N.A. which is an acronym stemming from
Victoria, which stands for Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone