Steam & Excursion > He or She?

In light of Jim Baker's brief narrative on his latest 3985 video--I note that he refers to 3985 as HE--I've long  pondered this question.   Can we truly call these gigantic machines  SHE?  I know from  hearing  the crews of steamers talk,  that these behemoths can be delicate and require much careful touch and coaxing--thus being referred to as SHE.  However their  sheer power, size,  and occasional stubborness remind me more of the male  species. 

How do you refer , in pronoun form , to these great locomotives?  

I don't think, in the year 2017, that you are permitted to ask that question anymore.  You would be using gender stereotypes, don't you know.  I think we have to assume that steam locomotives are "gender neutral".  : ) 

Like what was said by an old French engineer in the movie "The Train", "The locomotives is like a woman. If you don't treat her right she'll make your life miserable."

Topfuel---thanks for the response---please note I tried to be "gender neutral" in my question, seeking to tip toe around current accusations of indelicate or offensive language.  However, when IT comes around the bend we generally say  "here SHE comes",   but I frequently reject calling one of these giants SHE when I am close to  IT--it becomes " HE's a powerful machine, isnt HE?"

Still wondering if I'm the only one who  ponders this concern.

Let's see a HE carry a child and go through giving birth and see how "powerful" they become. Males often pass out or are no where to be found during child birth.

A female will fight to the death to defend their child. Many males run...specially from an angry female.

A female will work till they drop to raise a her brood....Males can barely survive on their own in the wild without their mothers survival education, and in the human world, give 8 hours a day and drop when they get home.

Pretty sure SHE is a proper term for a workhorse such as a locomotive.

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Oh gawd!?!

Out

As the great steam machines were created and perfected before our culture was infected with the PC epidemic there's zero debate about why they were always referred to in the female gender. Anyone who has ever worked with/on one clearly understands.

  They are unpredictable, moody, demanding of tlc, and when all conditions are right can be immensely rewarding. That's the very definition of female.

   IMHO-Ross Rowland

I'm feeling unpredictable, moody, and demanding of TLC.

(My dry wit doesn't often translate to print)

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/17 09:24 by MaryMcPherson.

dougd ---
Very interesting question, sir!   I always call all steam
locomotvies "SHE" as a term of affection, because "IT"
is so cold as a term.  But I DO call all Big Boys "HE"!
I mean -- how on earth can anyone call a boy ":SHE"?
But I never considered your excellent point.  Hmmmmm....
Yiou DO have a valid point,m IMO.  Call then what you
want to.

Mary McPherson ---
LOLOL!!!

ANd yeah, gemder stereotyping is always inaccurate, but even
I, as an ardent feminist (What?  Women are PEOPLE?  And we
rarely fit gender stereotypes.) will still call all locomotives "SHE" --
except for BigtBoys.  About needing to call the giant and very
powerful ones "HE": ever seen a woman who looks like a Valkyrie? 
Or a large Samoan lady?  I rest my case.

Strength and power do not always correlate with gender and size.

In Berkeley California, a steam locomotive which identifies itself as a diesel is legally protected from persecution should it choose to use the diesel servicing track instead. :)
(just a little fun before the thread moderator does his/her/its job)

Desmond Praetzel, "4451 Puff"

I believe that the stalls in the Cheyenne Roundhouse and back shop are transgender so one can use either in referring to the locos and equipment.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

i aways heard "she" because they have pettycoats, skirts and a tender behind!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/17 12:26 by Kimball.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammatical_gender#Animate_and_inanimate

"The pronoun "she" is sometimes used to refer to things which can contain people such as countries, ships, or vehicles, or when referring to certain other machines. This, however, is considered a stylistically marked, optional figure of speech. This usage is furthermore in decline and advised against by most journalistic style guides such as the Chicago Manual of Style.[9] If used, the terms she, her, and hers are always used, regardless of the entity's name - for example, "The U.S.S. John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) was laid down October 22, 1964. She was launched on April 1, 1967..."

I vote with Ross.

I,ve had it with PC.

My kids alond time ago named my 1" scale 0-6-0 locomotive "Puffy"

Is it a he or a she?

I like Ross's definition, as in the scale model world, well maybe in all steam worlds, "4 hours of cussing or repair, 1 hour of pleasure"

I agree with Ross and second tomstp's comment. I've had it with PC as well.

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tomstp Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I vote with Ross.
>
> I,ve had it with PC.

I had it with PC, too.  That's why I was glad when Conrail was formed.

When I refer to Cedar Points two steam locomotives like this- Judy K as she and Myron H as he.  

Being as PC as I am... My pet name for the 3985 was "Old Black Betty". But she was a Class Act!

Topfuel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't think, in the year 2017, that you are
> permitted to ask that question anymore.  You
> would be using gender stereotypes, don't
> you know.  I think we have to assume that steam
> locomotives are "gender neutral".  : ) 


Careful you might offend someone by assuming an inanimate objects gender

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