Etymology of Railways

A few will be aware I have been known to speak on various subjects over the years. Fundamentally these all revolve around my favourite subject of etymology. Have always enjoyed bringing this fascinating subject to others. It’s not for me to say whether the audiences have, although many have asked me to return.

Thought it might be worthwhile sharing a snippet or two from these etymological presentations, continuing with Etymology of Railways. Not the normal look at railways past or present. Here we look at the engineering but through the eyes of the etymologist. Discover how an engine became known as such. Hear how the boiler, the gasket, the valve, the station and even the train have origins further back in history than you could ever imagine - and with rather different meanings

Gasket – in modern times this is a rather antiquated item, although this piece of equipment is by no means obsolete. A gasket is essentially a seal, one which originally would have provided the seal between two castings and one which, when oiled and crushed between the two halves, created a seal which was essentially both air-tight and water-tight. The early gasket was little more than a length of oiled rope, Flexible enough to be adjusted to fit whatever shape was required, the use meant these were not going to be overly thick pieces and also not very long. The approximate length likened to pieces of rope already in use, these were used to secure the furled sails on sailing ships, giving them the instantly recognisable curves of the sail. These pieces of rope were also known as gaskets, derived from a term which was originally the feminine form of the French garcon ‘boy’. However it did not refer to just any girl, but to a girl who wore her hair in a plait, a plait coming from the side of the head and secured with a short length of rope – another gasket. However, just as a chain around the ankle once signified something here, this also marked out a lady of the night. Several completely different uses and yet all marked by a short length of rope.

Train – the verb, meaning ‘to instruct’, came from the noun. Originally looking at the ‘drawing out’ of a trailing part of a skirt, gown or cloak. This is all from the Latin tragere ‘to pull’ and shares a root with ‘tract’.

Station – seen in a railway sense from 1830, the noun had existed in English since the 13th century in the sense ‘place normally occupied’ and is related to the Latin stare ‘to stand’, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sta ‘to stand, make firm’.

Express – the railway noun is from the early use of the noun (1610s) to mean ‘a special messenger’ – one assumes no special messenger would be slower or the same speed as an ordinary messenger. Now the use of ‘express’ to mean ‘state explicitly’ is derived from the ‘rapid’ and is easier to see as ‘ex-press’, two words suggesting something seen having been pressed and that is how the word developed. These, and other senses, are all from the Latin premere meaning ‘to press, push’ and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European per ‘to strike’.

If you think you know someone who would like to hear me speak on this subject, drop me a line.

Lost Lines

A few will be aware I have been known to speak on various subjects over the years. Fundamentally these all revolve around my favourite subject of etymology. Have always enjoyed bringing this fascinating subject to others. It’s not for me to say whether the audiences have, although many have asked me to return.

Thought it might be worthwhile sharing a snippet or two from these etymological presentations, continuing with Lost Lines. In 1963 the infamous Beeching Report saw the closure of more than 2,500 railway stations and the lifting of 5,000 miles of track. This released a large amount of land that has since been put to an amazing array of uses. The gentle gradients that were once perfect for trains are in turn perfect as footpaths and cycleways. Stations have become refreshment stops or cycle hire premises on leisure routes. Yards now serve as recreation sites, grassland, retail parks or housing developments. And there are the unusual and quirky: signal boxes used as greenhouses, hen coops and art studios; railway sheds housing mechanics, youth groups and dance studios; and, of course, much has simply become overgrown. There is a PowerPoint presentation to accompany this talk if required.

One route where the rails have been removed is the 21-mile long Cinder Track from Scarborough to Whitby. I use this example simply because I enjoyed this walking/cycling route and the views it affords. Being a former railway track, the gradients are very easy – certainly another plus.

Starting at Scarborough the first sign of a stop comes at Hayburn Wyke Station after around 7 miles. Opening on 16 July 1885 on the up side of the line, it was quickly moved to the down side on the request of the North Eastern Railway. Rebuilt in 1893 it closed temporarily between 1 March 1917 and 2 May 1921. Reduced to an unstaffed halt in 1955, it closed permanently on 8 March 1965. The former stationmaster’s house is still a private residence and the platform very evident.

Ravenscar, the resort that never was, is around the halfway point. Planned as a Victorian resort, the streets were laid out, along with the sewers and drainage, but none of the planned buildings appeared. Approaching from either direction it is the steepest part of the route, and that was the problem. The path down to the beach was a long descent and climb, but the real end came when the company went bust.

Flying Hall Station is three miles further along. It only ever served a population of around 200, and today little evidence can be seen as the platform is very much overgrown.

Robin Hood’s Bay station is 15 miles along, where the station building survives, the stationmaster’s house is now holiday accommodation, and the goods shed is now the village hall.

Hawsker station has only ever been a small intermediate stop, ticket sales reflect this. Indeed, as the headquarters of Trailways Cycle Hire, it likely has more ‘paying customers’ annually today than before it closed in 1965.

Larpool Viaduct, also known as the Esk Valley Viaduct, is among the highlights of the journey. With excellent views over the valley it also crosses the North Yorkshire Moors Railway shortly after it leaves Whitby.

Whitby marks the end, where both the modern railways services, the heritage steam line, and the Cinder Track all terminate.

If you think you know someone who would like to hear me speak on this subject, drop me a line.

Going Underground: Birmingham

Thanks to Robert Deloyde roving around with his camera, I am able to add more to the information contained in the book. I am indebted to Robert for the information.

Near to the corner of Hill St and Station St was a Gentlemen's Toilet, it was just below the roadway, at some point it was closed down and filled in, when New St Station had a refurb, guess what was uncovered?

Robert was surprised I did not mention the Bus/Coach station that was built but never used under Birmingham's former Central Library.

Robert also pointed me in the direction of the service area of the Big Top, (entrance is opposite Moor St Station). This not built with articulated lorry's in mind in the 1950s, with the exit in New St. Never built because of the cost.

Woolworths in New St had it own service area in Stephenson Street. A loading bay had spaces for the managers cars, the area dark and dingy. Possibly you can still see the slope to the loading bay from Stephenson Street next door to two large lifts still visible in Stephenson Street that go down one floor to an underground car park with room for about twenty cars.

When Rackhams was a going concern at the top of the slope there was a turntable so that you could drive onto the turntable and push the van/lorry around so that you could back onto a loading bay, but what used to happen was that van/lorry's would hit the turntable at speed causing it to turn around until the driver would reverse to the loading bay, thereby stopping the rotation. This turntable lifted many years ago when the vehicles grew too big.

In the book I spoke of working in Digbeth and the problems when the River Rea flooded. Just before the Ironmonger's closed for the last time (Gregory Pank's) after trading for some five decades - Robert took a few shots inside the shop, and with their permission I took a few in their cellar. Full of stuff, including boxes, a table and, in one corner, a pump used to empty the cellar when the river flooded it. Previously this had been a baker and also a pub. The only light into the cellar from a number of glass panes in the ceiling.

Tramways still have some rails in situ, never having been raised.

When work started of HS2 in Curzon Street, on removing the concrete and soil, now covered over, this brick work was revealed and Robert wonders if it belonged to the earlier railway buildings.

South Idioms

Several words have become part of the language in being used in phrases. Last time we looked at ‘ship’ and now look at ‘south’.

South Sea has had several meanings over the years and obviously so as some parts of the world hadn’t been discovered. From the late 14th century the South Sea was the Mediterranean, and in the early 15th century used for what is now known as the English Channel. Today it is normally used to refer to the Pacific Ocean in the southern hemisphere, as it has since the 1520s.

Go south, as in ‘vanish’ or ‘abscond’, has been in use since the 1920s.

South Africa has been used generally for the southern part of the continent since 1815, and for the nation since 1910.

Southern Cross is a constellation not visible in much of the northern hemisphere. It was named such by the English in 1756.

Nothing was described as Southern Fried, as a cooking style, until 1972.

Southwester when referring to a wind, gale, or storm is seen from 1833, and three years later pronounced as sou’wester to refer to the nautical coat protecting the wearer from any inclement weather.

Southeaster is first found rather earlier, first seen from 1797. This is not to say one was in use for more than three decades before the other, likely they were used concurrently and only seen as being from slightly different ages as there are no surviving records from earlier.

Southbound originally referred solely to the railways, although not seen until 1872.

Several familiar place names from around the globe have origins speaking of them as being seen as in the south. Australia, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Vietnam, Hunan (a province of China), Soweto (a community outside Johannesburg), Suffolk, Nanking (city in China),

A Walk Around the Former Local Mines (in Staffordshire and Warwickshire)

As part of the research for a forthcoming book, I recently walked a route looking at some of the industrial heritage between Tamworth and Atherstone. This is a long circular walk but could easily be made shorter or turned into a linear walk by using the canal or railway to begin at Atherstone. I shall start at any point on the Coventry Canal from Fazeley Junction to Amington Green and head east towards Coventry, aided by Ordnance Survey Map 220.
No matter where you begin note when you cross under bridge 63 and the signs for Hodge Lane Nature Reserve, for we will catch up with this later. Other than the canal itself, the first sign of coal comes at Alvecote, with its marina and the Samuel Barlow pub, named after a haulier who will have moved tons of coal. Pass under Robeys Lane and opposite the ruins of Alvecote Priory, to the left is the Alvecote Pools beyond the railway, created when the ground subsided post-mining and subsequently flooded. This is part of Pooley Hall Nature Reserve, also known as Canal Pool. Note the adjacent spoil heap offers excellent views if you wish to climb it.
Soon you will hear the M42 and as we approach the canal narrows – here the railway once crossed the canal, the arch on the opposite side from the tow path is modern strengthening but on the towpath side the brickwork of the bridge support is typical railway architecture. Beyond note there is a marker post, it has a blue arrow and indicates we are walking the Miner’s Way. Just before where the M42 crosses is bridge 56, leading to Pooley Country Park, take this bridge and follow the metalled road – noting the images steniclled on the support of the motorway bridge. When you see the parking for disabled signposted, take a slight detour and take in the visitor centre and the former winding wheel for Pooley Hall.
Continue and alongside a straight stretch, note the war memorial erected by the colliery to those who fell in the Great War who had previously worked the mine. There are good views across to the left of the canal and countryside. At the bottom of this path is the B5000, turn left, cross the canal bridge, then at the crossroads go straight on and cross the canal again along Grendon Road. Ignore Common Road and take the second right, St Helena Road. Just past Rowena Gardens there is a field gate on the left, here a stone marks the site of the Little Jim’s Cottage miners’ cottage. Look on the right and the first of three stiles heading off to the right where it takes you to a gate, almost invisible until quite near. Turn left here, then at the top at Hollies Cottage, take the path to the right around the cottage, through a kissing gate, and then up a well-trodden grassy path to the top corner of the field and another kissing gate. Walk through, turn left, and take the left path across the stile.

Keep the hedge on your right and walk on until reaching the metal gate, and stile. Cross the road, the meeting of Dunns Lane and Church Road, and follow the footpath waymarked straight ahead through the small wood. Here another stile points us straight ahead, this field passes between the site of the former pit to the right, beyond the woodland, and on the left is the remains of a spoil heap. Follow the hedgerow to a gap, then take a short detour through this gate to see said spoil heap not yet reclaimed by nature. Come back through the gate and turn left and head for the corner of the field. Across the stile and take the drive on the right. This brings you to the A5 Watling Street.
Here head downhill along the bust A5, crossing after the island until reaching the houses lying back from the road on the right. Turn in and find Waste Lane, which we follow south along here along a broad and well-made track. After a while reach Folly Lane and turn right. The aptly-named Waste Hill is to the right and in a while you reach the summit of this road where you will find a metal gate on the left. Pause and look across to see Merevale Hall on the top of the hill in the distance. Shortly we reach the junction with The Common, turn right along this road using the footpath on the opposite side as we skirt Baddesley Common. Eventually reaching Baddesley, take the third road on the left which is New Street, note the monument in the form of the winding wheel dedicated to the miners on the corner.

Walk down New Street until just before the end where it turn sharply left there is a footpath waymarked to the right, follow this gravel path to Watery Lane at the bottom where we turn right. Follow this until we reach the first waymarked path on the left. Through the kissing gate and head to the right across the field to the gap in the hedge ahead. Continue on and come to a crossing over a brook. Cross here and turn left. Pause to see the major railway viaduct above, we will be following the path of the disused railway for a while. Pass under the viaduct and straight ahead to a gate. Go through the gate and turn right. Now keep the hedgerow on the right to parallel the former railway. Occasionally there is the opportunity to pop in to see and even walk the former track bed, but don’t follow it too far as it does not give access to the rest of the walk, although once it did take coal away from the mines here.

Keep going until you have seen the embankment become a cutting and shortly there is a waymarker pointing diagonally across the latter part of the field to a stile. Cross the stile and turn right keeping the hedge on the right and soon come to a gap in the hedge and another stile. Emerge on the road and turn left, take the second footpath on the right and follow the markers taking you around the field keeping the hedgerow on your right. At the far corner is a kissing gate, go through and skirt the single property there by a narrow path. Follow this and along the drive away from the house come to another gate. Go through and keep the woodland on your left and walk between it and the fence until reaching a plank bridge which we cross and come to a kissing gate opposite, go through and at cross the field to the gap where two footpaths form a crossroads, turn right here. Ahead is a kissing gate and you can see further evidence of the dismantled railway to the right as we near. Ascend the steps and then turn left and quickly right across the remains of the disused railway. Now we see a tunnel (albeit effectively a large pipe) which we will go through to emerge between two green fences. On the right is the freight terminal, on the left the railway lines still run with rolling stock here. At the end the path funnels and takes us down to another tunnel, emerging and turning left along the gravel path where the spoil heap is visible to the left. As the path runs out, take the gate on the right and cross the railway track. Turn immediately right and then left when this track terminates at the gate. Soon we come to the modern industrial estate with roads named after former collieries. Cross over and turn left. Follow this through three traffic islands to emerge at Watling Street via Danny Morson Way. Cross at the pedestrian crossing and turn right. Opposite a large old building is an ungated gap which we follow.
Along this track to the top of the rise and turn right through a narrow pathway and eventually come out on Green Lane and a dog leg to the right on to Cockspur Street, turn left at the junction and after the junction of the left, Cockspur Street becomes Hermitage Lane as you leave Birchmoor. At the end of Hermitage Lane we reach the B5000 again. Turn left and we can now choose between Robeys Lane on the right, this a metalled road with no pathway and nothing of interest until we reach the ruins of the priory and the marina again, when we can follow the canal back west to our chosen starting point. Perhaps of more interest would be to continue and turn right at the second traffic island. This is Mercian Way and passes an industrial estate and new housing until, after another two traffic islands, a grassy area to the right heralds the start of Hodge Lane Nature Reserve which we can follow through to the canal and then back west to our chosen starting point on the Coventry Canal.
Altogether this is a walk of more than ten miles (depending upon the starting point). No great climbs but gently rolling landscape with an excellent mix of former industry and modern countryside. As stated at the beginning there is ample opportunity to cut the route short at several points.

Level Crossing Tragedy

Saturday 3rd January 1885 and blacksmith Francis Clay, aged 62, left home for work at 6:30am. He walked with a stick and was decidedly deaf, both undoubtedly factors in what was to follow. This day, as many other days, he was touring the local farms for work to help support his wife Emma and their seven children, ranging from a babe in arms to a 17-year-old. One hour after least seeing her husband she received the news he was dead. He had been hit by a train at Hademore Crossing. The signalman gave evidence at the enquiry on Wednesday 7th saying he was to another signalman at 7am that morning, when the 6:20 from Stafford to Rugby passed at about 45mph. They heard a thump and went to investigate. Evidence was also given by a policeman. Together these witnesses painted a most gruesome picture.

The body appears to have been thrown against the crossing gates, the gate post taking most of the impact. They also found his toolbox, coming to rest some 60 yards down the line. The gates were locked, the wicket gate unlockable, although people would often cross after the gates were locked. Despite the dark mornings there was plenty of light to see by. His body was found on one side of the gate, flesh removed from one hand, his clothes thrown up over his face. The post was covered in blood and brains. When they uncovered the face they discovered part of the head was missing, this they found on the other side of the gate on the turnpike road. Before the inquest on the Wednesday, his wife had been allowed to wash all the blood from the post and around the scene. Such was the force of the body hitting the post, it had broken. It was common to cross on foot when gates were closed, usually under supervision from the signalmen(!), no whistle was noted but, once again(!), this was not unusual.

Runaway

Wednesday 6th June 1900 and railway guard Harry Cliff is in his van as the engine is detached for shunting. The train travelling to Walsall stopped at Hammerwich.

With no brake applied, the train began to roll down the incline. Telegraph message sent from Hammerwich to Lichfield City and points turned for the now hurtling wagons and vans sending them into a siding where they impacted with empty cattle trucks. Piled on top, littered all over, Harry Cliff's body was found in the very middle. He was just 40 years of age and lived at Stafford. The runaway train comprised 21 loaded wagons and 9 empties and was travelling at least 50mph. During the search they first spotted his feet and a part of his leg enabling rescuers to find the body fairly quickly.

Kosovo Place Names Explained

Having blogged samples of my books on English place names and also examined the etymologies of the nations of the world and their respective capitals I thought it time I cast my net a little wider. As English place names share some links to other tongues it would be interesting to see if any of the elements contributing to our place names could be found elsewhere. Continuing an alphabetical tour of the world and a look at the largest Kosovo cities.

Pristina is the capital of Kosovo, the origins of its name not entirely certain. Most often said to be from a Proto-Slavic pryscina 'spring of water'. A second possibility is a personal name, there being a few possibilities. However, the idea it comes from the Serbian prist meaning 'ulcer' or 'tumour' is impossible as this would never bring about a suffix of -ina.

Gjilan has a disputed etymology, ideas differ depending on the view of neighbouring countries and peoples. For example Albanians maintain it comes from the original settlers here, these led by Bahti Beg Gjinolli of Gjinaj and arriving in the middle of the 18th century. This seems very late for a record which is not documented and there is evidence of earlier inhabitants. Serbians claim it comes from the Serbian word gnjio, which is something of a derogatory description for it means 'putrid, rotten' and, while certainly not unheard of in place names, seems unlikely to be retained by the current nation.

Pec is a Serbian word meaning 'furnace' or 'cave' depending on the context. This would refer to the caves in Rugova Canyon which were home to Serbian Orthodox hermit monks.

Mitrovica comes from the Greek Demetrius and named after the 8th century Byzantine church and dedicated to St Demetrius of Thessaloniki, the patron saint of agriculture, peasants and shepherds.

Ferizaj was known as Ferizovik when under the Ottoman Empire, changing soon after the railway came through here in 1873, sparking a period of growth. It then took the name of the hotel, one already standing when the railway arrived, named after the owner Feriz Shasivari.

Gjakova is the Albanian name, Serbians refer to it as Dakovica. Several theories as to the origin, including a personal name Jakov, a minor lord who once held the town but at least managed to get his name on coinage; the Serbian dak'pupil' and a reference to the Serbian schools here; or, for reasons unclear, the Albanian word gjak 'blood'.

Vucitrn has two possible origins. First settled in the time of the Illyrian Empire some 2,500 years ago, the Illyrian could have name meant 'the side of the calves'; alternatively the Serbian Vucitrn is the name of the plant ononis spinosa, which is abundant in the area but could well have been named by the place. Incidentally ononis spinosa is commonly known as spiny restharrow and is found throughout much of Europe. Russians used an extract in the manufacture of bulat steel. The finished weapon dipped in a mixture containing the restharrow extract and then held aloft while on a galloping horse, thus allowing it to dry and harden. Not difficult to see why such a process was brought to Europe by the nomadic armies of the Mongolian Empire under Genghis Khan.

Kosovo Polje is takes the name of the nation and adds the Serbian polje or 'field'.

Orahovac is from the Serbo-Croatian orah meaning 'walnut'.

Suva Reka is the Serbian for 'dry river'.

Kacanik is likely from the Turkish Kacanlar, a reference to the Albanian bandits operating in this area who used the town as their base.

Note the spellings of the places are English as the piece is written in English.

Train Crash

August 8th 1861 and near the canal bridge at Slade Heath the driver of a locomotive shut off steam as they approached Four Ashes. As they slowed the driver felt his engine riding roughly and thought they had broken an axle. Moments later the engine and tender left the track and came down the embankment, bringing with it tons of earth which buried stoker Richard Barnwell to the waist. Luckily the engine, which toppled over on to its right side, missed him by inches. Furthermore, another miraculous stroke of luck saw driver James Harrison thrown clear of the footplate and the remainder of the train, the coaches and passengers, remained on the line.

The driver went to retrieve the lamp and sent two men, including coroner Mr Collins, ahead to stop the mail train from Scotland at the station and prevent a crash. Meanwhile he and men from Standeford Mill, who had come to offer assistance, set about releasing the trapped stoker and convey him quickly to the infirmary. His injuries were severe and both legs had to be amputated, he had been scalded, with bruising and lacerations. Three weeks later, while seemingly on the road to recovery, he died.

At the subsequent inquest the coroner heard how two large pieces of timber, over twelve feet in length and three feet wide, showed wheel marks and splintering and revealed they were the cause of the crash. Evidence from the railway company told how this timber had been part of a load coming from Wolverhampton earlier that afternoon. As usual, they had been tied to the truck with an empty truck behind to catch any which worked loose.

The coroner suggested such practice was completely inadequate and an urgent review necessary.

Dog Problem

It is May 1861 and in the town of Stafford a large dog, the property of a Mr Bostock, leaps out and grabs at the nose of a passing horse crossing the railway bridge in Rickerscote Lane. Unfortunately the horse is pulling a trap driven by Mr Price of Gaol Square, he having hired the vehicle from a Mr Bishop. Worse still, Mr Price had his wife's sister and her child as passengers.

The horse, somewhat understandably, plunged and reared for some thirty yards before it finally managed to free itself from the jaws of the offending canine. It continued on, still kicking and thrashing violently, resulting in the occupants of the trap being thrown out. While the woman and her child escaped with a few bruises, Mr Price landed on his head.

The next report on the incident spoke of how Mr Price was still in hospital and had yet to speak adding that the horse was probably going to be shot. Nothing could be traced regarding any prosecution of Mr Bostock or of the fate of his mutt.

Don't Pull the Communication Cord

July 1st 1907 and at 2pm the London and North West Railway's express from Liverpool stops at Tamworth after someone had pulled the communication cord. When the guard investigated he found it had been pulled by Mrs Higham, none other than the wife of the MP for Sowerby in Yorkshire. She claimed her son of 3.1/2 had fallen from the train. Quickly all stations and signalmen on the line between Tamworth and Stafford were alerted and all traffic stopped as the search began.

By 4:30pm news filtered through that the child had been found near Hademore Crossing and was being treated by a district nurse at the cottage of a Mrs Smith near Whittington Bridge. In Tamworth the stationmaster, a Mr Matthews, stopped the down train and accompanied Mrs Higham as she went to check on her son. They arrived at the same time as Dr Homan who reported the child to have been badly hurt but would live. He had been discovered by a platelayer ganger working on the line. Noticing movement at the side of the line he investigated and found the young boy. He had carried the child to the cottage after sending his colleague for the district nurse whom he had seen cycling past just moments earlier.

How the door came open on a train travelling at 60mph was never explained, although he was a large child for his age and perhaps he had done something to contribute to the accident. Indeed, his bulk will have helped protect him as an examination of the trackside revealed he had collided with and broken a number of large stones as he bounced along for some 40 yards before coming to rest alongside the line used by traffic in the opposite direction. Although conscious he had not attempted to move which was fortunate indeed as the down express had passed him two minutes after he came to rest here. The driver of the down train had seen the body of the child but surmised he must have hit the mother, hence stopping at Lichfield to raise the alert.

Later that evening Mr Higham MP arrived from London Euston. He made a statement in the House the following day, thanking all those who had had a hand in the rescue and informing them his son was "progressing nicely".

Perhaps the oddest part of this potentially tragic tale came in the form of the newspaper headline, for the Lichfield Mercury led with the odd choice of EXCITEMENT ON THE TRAIN LINE NEAR LICHFIELD.

The Mail Train

Postman William Windridge lived in Dean's Croft, Lichfield with his uncle. On the last day of 1894 he had not been to work due to illness but the next morning had left home at 4:50am, telling his uncle he was going for a walk.

At 10:30am that morning his Uncle William learned how a postman had been killed on the line and, not having seen his nephew for some hours, went along to see find his worst fears realised. Identified by the tobacco pouch he had seen him fill that very morning, for the mutilated remains were hardly recognisable. His skull shattered leaving the contents scattered along the line, one leg severed and missing. His remaining shoe, hat and marks on the body had also confirmed that New Years Day 1895 was the last for 27-year-old Postman Windridge.

At the subsequent inquest further details were revealed. While it had been his job to bring the mail bags to Lichfield Trent Valley Station, he had been suspended some six weeks earlier after the station master found him walking unsteadily and deemed him to have been at risk. While his uncle maintained this was due to illness, the landlord of the Blue Bell Inn, one John Oakley, stated he had been drinking heavily at his establishment the previous day. Indeed he had walked him home that day as he had been the worse for drink and had even been forced to wrestle him into bed and force him to stay there to sleep.

A thorough search did not reveal any blood an any of the engines to have passed through the station that morning. Nor did they ever find the missing limb anywhere near where the impact occurred, at the level crossing here used solely by the farm and not by the public in general.

The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death but strongly suspected this may well have been suicide.

Republic of Congo Place Names Explained

Having blogged samples of my books on English place names and also examined the etymologies of the nations of the world and their respective capitals I thought it time to cast my net a little wider. This time the Republic of Congo and a look at some of its largest settlements and most interesting names and starting with the capital. Confusion with the previous look at the cities of the Democratic Republic of Congo is understandable, the two are separated by the river common to both names, said river also all that divides the two capital cities - albeit a very wide river.

Brazzaville was founded on September 10th 1880 by the explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, who clearly gave his name to the place. There had been a Bateke village named Nkuna here previously but the French Empire wanted this site as a statement to defy the Belgian-occupied Leopoldville across the river., today known as Kinshasa.

Pointe-Noire is also clearly French and means 'black point'. However the name already existed, named by Portuguese navigators who used the headland of black rocks as a maritime marker and knew it as Ponta Negra.

Dolisie was founded to function as a link between the ocean and the railway, indeed initially this had been little more than a station, albeit an important one. It is named after a lieutenant of Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, one Albert Dolisie.

Nkayi was the original name of the settlement which became Jacob in 1887, this the French engineer who surveyed the route for the Congo-Ocean Railway. It changed back to its native name in 1975. This may well share an origin with the district of Nkayi in Matebeleland, in which case this could mean 'where are you going'. However a question for a place name would be most unusual, possibly unique, and thus perhaps this is a misinterpretation and should be 'where you are going'.

Pool is a department named after the Pool Malebo, at 14 miles across a very wide stretch of the Congo. It had previously been known as the Stanley Pool after explorer Henry Morton Stanley. Note the spellings of the places are English as the piece is written in English.

Atmospheric Railway

The idea of an atmospheric railway is not unique to South Devon. Trial routes were tried out in Dublin and in London but the most famous is Brunel’s which it was hoped would take passengers the twenty miles from Exeter to Newton Abbot at up to 70mph.

The idea is ridiculously simple. Rather than have the pump on the rails, which is effectively what a steam engine is, position several large pumps along the length of track to evacuate the air from in front of the piston in the pipe, drawing the piston along the pipe and the carriage, which is attached to the piston, is pulled along.

Two advantages over the traditional locomotive were evident to everyone. Firstly travel on the atmospheric railway is almost silent by comparison, while the lack of clouds of smoke, except at the pumping stations, would have made a refreshing change. A third advantage was not so apparent but probably even more important for these trains could not collide despite there being no on-board driver. That the air refilled the vacuum behind each carriage reduced potential motive power to a degree where it was insufficient to move it until the previous carriage had passed the next pumping station. Practical problems beset the project which could not be overcome with the technologies of the day and Brunel abandoned the idea in 1848 after only a year.

Little remains of the route today, save for a pumping station near Torquay and the more obvious building at Starcross. The latter stands alongside the modern railway and is now home to the local yacht club. On the opposite side of the road we find the pub named the Atmospheric Railway. Here the sign-painter has produced an image which some may liken to a GWR King class locomotive or similar. Clearly this individual never took the slightest trouble to ascertain just what the atmospheric railway was.

Beeching 50 Years On

March 2013 marks fifty years since the Beeching Axe fell upon the nation’s railway system. The recommendations made by the infamous report were greeted with horror and indignation then and the furore is rekindled simply at the mention of Beeching’s name.

Dr Richard Beeching was a businessman; he had no connection with the railways. Thus any decisions that were made were based solely upon the logic of profit margins, efficiency and reinvestment, never to be swayed by sentiment. Yet still his name is remembered in an almost Quisling-esque light as the man who decimated the railways. Even British situation comedy used his infamy: thirty years after its publication, writers David Croft and Richard Spendlove, in conjunction with the BBC, produced twenty episodes in a series entitled Oh, Doctor Beeching!

Five decades have passed and, with hindsight, we now see that the report did more than any other factor to preserve the nation’s railway heritage. Without it the buildings, disused lines, locomotives, rolling stock, signalling systems and signs would simply have been removed and tucked into a corner to be forgotten, or even rotted away.

In this book we shall look at the positive effects the report has had, not on the railways themselves – that has been done many times – but on the opportunities which would never have arisen otherwise. We shall look at the gentle gradients of old lines, perfect for walkers and cyclists alike. Buildings, no longer used as stations and sheds, are now private residences, small businesses, holiday homes and public meeting places.

Memorabilia, often described as railwayana, which would otherwise have rusted away, now command prices at collectors’ auctions which would astound those who lovingly painted and polished them. And, of course, we shall look at the heritage railways which attract many thousands each year. They not only allow volunteers to enjoy railways at a level they could otherwise never have imagined, they have also provided employment for others as engineers, station staff, and so on.

Maybe by the end of the book Dr Beeching will be seen in a slightly different light by the reader: not as the saviour of Britain’s railways, but as someone whose name should be associated with a whole new area of leisure for all and indeed pleasure for those who can swap 00 gauge for 4ft 8in (1.44m).

As part of the launch The History Press will be at the West Somerset Railway Spring Gala 2013 between Friday 22nd and Sunday 24th March at the Railway Literary Festival.

As usual I would welcome any suggestions for themes or subjects, or even specific words to examine the origins, meanings and etymologies. I’d be delighted to hear from you.

The Etymology of the Most Famous Steam Locomotives in History

Flying Scotsman was named such for it was chosen to haul the non-stop London to Edinburgh run. Indeed the engine was at the head of the inaugural service on May 1st 1928.

Golden Arrow is the train as much as the engine. It refers to the express service between London and the ferry to Europe from Dover, where the engine pulling it would be emblazoned with a diagonal golden arrow on the front, which copies the symbol shown on advertising posters, effectively showing the southeast direction taken to reach the boats.

The London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific serial number 1870 was built at Doncaster in 1938 and, as any railway enthusiast will be aware, was named Mallard. It was in service until 1963 during which time the 165 ton locomotive covered almost two and a half million miles.

The distinctive shape and garter blue with red wjeels and rims mark Mallard out as a special engine. Sir Nigel Gresley designed and built this A4, which was later tested in a wind tunnel to prove its streamlining. Made to exceed a sustained speed of over 100mph on a regular basis, it was the night of 3rd July 1938 when this vehicle ensured a permanent place in the record books. On a slight downslope south of Grantham the engine reached a speed of 125.88mph, a world record speed for a steam engine which will undoubtedly never be broken.

Sir Nigel Gresley takes the name of arguably the most famous of steam locomotive engineers who worked for the London and North Eastern Railway. His designs were marked by their elegance, both aesthetically and mechanically and many of the best known engines in British history can be attributed to him.

City of Truro was built at Swindon in 1903 and most often cited as the first steam locomotive to exceed a speed of one hundred miles per hour. This happened in May 1904 when hauling the Ocean Mails special from Plymouth to London Paddington. This was one of ten City Class engines built at the Great Western Railway works at Swindon and named after cities on the GWR routes.

I would welcome any suggestions for themes or subjects, or even specific words to examine the origins, meanings and etymologies. I’d be delighted to hear from you.

London Underground (Part 4)

I still find I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, now broadcasting series fifty-something, one of the most amusing of radio programmes. Astonishingly, one of the rounds which continues to endure is the delightfully entitled Mornington Crescent. For those who are unaware, the teams spoof strategy games as they alternately name London Underground Stations, the object of the game being to end with Mornington Crescent.
While listening to the list of names, my toponymist's mind began to contemplate the origins of the place names. Here is the result of a little 'digging', the final part of a list given in alphabetical order and which is certainly not complete.

Ravenscourt Park - when the manor house of the estate was rebuilt after being purchased by Thomas Corbett in 1747, it was renamed Ravenscourt, probably to reflect the raven appearing in the new owner's coat of arms.

Rayners Lane - is on land purchased by the Rayner family in the early years of the nineteenth century.

Redbridge - named for an old bridge across the River Roding, recorded as such for the first time in 1777.

Regents Park - named after the Prince Regent, later George IV.

Richmond - a transferred name, brought here by Henry VIII when he built his palace here. The original Richmond is in Yorkshire, an Old French name meaning 'the strong hill'.

Rickmansworth - 'the enclosure of a man called Ricmaer'.

Roding Valley - is not strictly named from the River Roding, for that was named by a process known as back-formation from the place names, of which there are several, telling of 'the settlement of the family or followers of a man called Hrotha'.

Rotherhithe - 'the landing place for cattle'.

Royal Albert - the dock was named after Queen Victoria's consort.

Royal Oak - takes the second most common pub name in the land, derived from a famous episode in English history when Charles II and his aide Colonel Carless hid in the Boscobel Oak to evade Parliamentarian soldiers following defeat at the Battle of Worcester.

Royal Victoria - as with the Royal Albert, is named after the monarchy of the day.

Ruislip, Ruislip Gardens, South Ruislip, West Ruislip and Ruislip Manor - an unusual place name describing 'the leaping place where the rushes grow', that place being the river here.

Russell Square - the Russell family, dukes of Bedford, held land here.

Seven Sisters - named from the seven elms which were planted in a cirlce on what was previously known as Page Green.

Shadwell - 'the shallow stream' was previously known as Shadfleet 'the shallow tidal stream'.

Shepherds Bush - exactly what it says 'the bush marking the place of the shepherd'.

Shoreditch - a place name meaning 'the ditch by a bank or slope'.

South Ealing - the 'southern settlement of the family or followers of a man called Gilla'.

South Harrow - from hearg 'the southern heathen place of worship'.

South Kensington - the 'southern place associated with a man called Cynesige'.

South Kenton - 'the southern estate associated with a man called Cena'.

South Quay - is self-explanatory

South Wimbledon - a basic name meaning 'the hill of a man called Wynnmanmn'

South Woodford - 'the ford by a wood'.

Southfields - is 'the southern open lands'.

Southgate - refers to the way to Enfield Chase in 'the southern entranceway'.

Southwark - the 'southern defensive feature'.

St. Johns Wood - was named for it was held by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem.

St. Pauls - is named after the famous cathedral, one of London's best known landmarks.

Stamford Brook - is 'the hill by the sandy ford'.

Stanmore - refers to its location at 'the stony pool'.

Stepney Green - began life as 'the landing place of a man called Stybba'.

Stockwell - tells us it was 'the spring marked by a tree stump'.

Stonebridge Park - is self-explanatory.

Stratford - a common place name always from straet ford 'the ford on a Roman road'.

Sudbury Hill and Sudbury Town - share a name which describes 'the southern fortified place'.

Swiss Cottage - is named from a nearby pub built in 1803, originally called the Swiss Tavern and later the Swiss Cottage.

Temple - the name comes from the Knights Templar, who once held this land.

Theydon Bois - from 'the valley where thatching materials are obtained', with the addition of the de Bosco or de Boys family, lords of this manor by the twelfth century.

Tooting Bec - what began as the 'settlement of the family or followers of a man called Tota' saw the later addition of the landholders, the Norman Abbey of Bec-Hellouin.

Tottenham Court Road - 'the nook of land of a man called Tota'.

Totteridge & Whetstone - respectively 'the ridge of land of a man called Tata' and 'the place where whetstones are obtained'.

Tower Gateway and Tower Hill - both refer to the nearby Tower of London.

Tufnell Park - named after William Tufnell, lord of the manor of Barnsbury by 1753.

Upminster Bridge - refers to 'the higher minster or church'.

Upton Park - 'the higher farmstead', here 'higher' is probably used to indicate it was of greater importance.

Uxbridge - 'the bridge of the tribe called Wixan'.

Vauxhall - 'the manor of a man called Falkes'.

Victoria - officially it is named after Victoria Street, although the latter was named after the nation's longest reiging monarch.

Walthamstow Central - a place name where the meaning has never been agreed - suggestions include 'the place where guests are welcome' and 'the holy place of a woman called Wilcume'.

Wanstead - a name meaning 'the place by the tumour-shaped hill'.

Wapping - tells of 'the settlement of the family or followers of a man called Wappa'.

Waterloo - named from the mainline station, itself after the famous battle.

Watford - is found in several places, always referring to 'the ford used when hunting'.

Wembley Central and Wembley Park - share a name coming from 'the woodland clearing of a man called Wemba'.

West Acton - the 'westerly farmstead by the oak trees'.

West Brompton - the westerly farmstead where broom trees grow'.

West Finchley - which tells of 'the westerly woodland clearing frequented by finches'.

West Ham - 'the westerly homestead'.

West Hampstead - despite the difference from the previous name is also 'the westerly homestead'.

West Harrow - from hearg 'the western heathen place of worship'.

West India Quay - was named after the dock which was almost exclusively used to berth vessels from the West Indies.

West Kensington - 'the western place associated with a man called Cynesige'.

Westbourne Park - 'the western stream'.

Westferry - speaks for itself.

Westminster - again, a self-explanatory name.

White City - takes the name given to the stadium and exhibition centre built in 1908.

Whitechapel - 'the white church', indicating it was built of stone rather than the usual wood thus appearing bright in colour.

Willesden Green and Willesden Junction - is 'the hill with a spring'.

Wimbledon and Wimbledon Park - 'the hill of a man called Wynnmanmn'.

Wood Green - not 'the green wood' but 'the wood by a village green'.

Woodford - speaks for itself as 'the ford by the woodland'.

Incidentally, Mornington Crescent was originally to be called Seymour Street (the surname of William Portman's grandmother, Portman having developed the area) would make a terrible name for a round of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue.