Swedish Rail Firm Approves Trainy McTrainface As Name Following Online Poll (theguardian.com) 88
Those disappointed when Britain rejected the name Boaty McBoatface for a polar research ship should find joy in the name of a new train in Sweden. After a public vote, a Swedish rail operator has vowed to name one of its trains Trainy McTrainface. The Guardian reports: Trainy McTrainface won 49% of the votes in the naming competition, conducted online by train operator MTR Express and Swedish newspaper Metro, beating choices such as Hakan, Miriam and Poseidon. The train will run between the Swedish capital Stockholm and Gothenburg, the country's second-biggest city. MTR said another train had been voted to be named "Glenn," an apparent tribute to an IFK Gothenburg soccer team of the 1980s that featured four players of that name -- uncommon in Sweden -- including Glenn Hysen, who later captained Liverpool.
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I think they mean "locomotive", rather than train. A bad translation.
We have been naming locomotives ever since Rocket [wikipedia.org].
It follows the precedent of naming ships.
No, train (Score:2)
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Yeah, it's an "electric multiple unit trainset" if you want to be specific, but that can be shortened to "EMU train" or just "EMU", and it's still a "trainset" or "train" if you don't want to specify the type.
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How can you name a train? A train is an ephemeral object - they come and go as carriages are added and removed.
Ah, googling I see they may mean "train route" names:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
These are specific regular journeys identified by a special name in the timetable, not to be confused with the names of engines or individual physical train rakes. One-off charter or sporadic special trains are not included.
Is Sweden the same?
So these are names that go on a timetable or station departure board, not on a brass plaque on the physical locomotive?
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How can you name a train?
Some modern trains are more integrated than the old model of an engine plus carriages. This allows them to have larger, flexible connections between the rigid carriages than the narrow corridors which can be more easily decoupled. The cost is that these wider connections are more permanent. I expect that they could be disconnected in a major service but certainly not on a day-to-day basis. Hence a 'train' is far less ephemeral than it used to be especially when the article mentions they only have four of t
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How can you name a train? A train is an ephemeral object - they come and go as carriages are added and removed.
The first know writing of your concern is 2000 years old. [wikipedia.org]
As the Wikipedia article points out this comes down to the definition of "same".
It is a pretty interesting subject because once you dive down into it you will find that philosophy is a much more "serious" subject than you (probably) believe.
What you know as mathematics is only applied philosophy and the foundation it rests on, like commutation and equality is something defined in philosophy.
Another take on it:
How can you name a person?
During its lifet
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A less hoity-toity example would be Trigger's broom.
Re:No, train (Score:5, Informative)
How can you name a train? A train is an ephemeral object - they come and go as carriages are added and removed.
There appears to be a more limited use of the word "train" for US readers. In British English, you can use train to refer either to the whole locomotive-plus-carriages, or just the locomotive.
Here in the UK, most people would say that (for instance) the "Flying Scotsman" was a train.
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The overwhelming majority of passenger trains consist of a fixed and integrated set of carriages.
You'll have to excuse me: I'm Australian. That only applies to suburban commuter trains on electric lines here. Our few intercity trains still uses diesel-electric locomotives. (Like Americans, we prefer to drive or fly.)
And of course, most trains are freight trains. I think you will find similar applies to much of the world outside Europe. Are all European intercity rail lines electrified?
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In Stockholm, each subway car is individually named--the name is painted on the exterior of the car. Can't recall off the top of my head whether they do the same for cross-country trains, or whether they just name the locomotives.
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A train needn't be a specific piece of hardware, whether it be a locomotive or the whole thing.
"The Flying Scotsman" was the name of a daily train that ran for many years in Britain from London to Edinburgh.
Or at least everyone called it a train; but in reality, it was the name of a timetable entry.
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Trains hate it when you anthropomorphize them.
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A really _useful_ engine.
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Trains hate it when you anthropomorphize them.
Only when you're;
Drivin' that train
High on cocaine
Casey Jones you better watch your speed
Trouble ahead, trouble behind
And you know that notion just crossed my mind
-- 'Casey Jones' by Grateful Dead
Strat
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Trains hate it when you anthropomorphize them.
If I was a train, I would hate that, too. At least after seeing "Starlight Express"
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This is the sort of thing that /. thinks is essential news nowadays.
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Do we actually need to name trains? Also do we need articles on Train names? On slashdot?
There are a lot of things we dont need on public transport... but being able to call it Trainy McTrainface is a lot nicer than British Rail Class 458. This makes for nicer journies in Europe where intercity trains are a common form of transport.
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It illustrates the broader effects of the internet age - silly names for public infrastructure are the tip of the iceberg. You could also argue that extremism (of varying types) is a symptom of the internet age, for the same reason: society behaves very differently in aggregate when we don't have to put our faces to our opinions. So yes this article belongs on slashdot.
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Philistine!
# Good morning, America, how are you?
Don't you know me, I'm your native son...
Ok, yes, that's funny (Score:2)
especially since the Brits didn't go with the winning "Boat McBoatface". In this instance, Sweden beats Britain :)
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Re:Ok, yes, that's funny (Score:4, Funny)
where did this whole "Xy McXface" meme begin?
This rich tradition goes all the way back to the ancient Greeks, who commonly called one of their mathematicians Archimedey McArchimedesface. Ever since then, it's been applied to all kinds of things, including the well known Augustus Ceasary McCeasarface, and Alexander Graham Belly McBellface.
And who could forget the much talked about European Uniony McUnionface? Then to lead into your question, the subject of our story Trainy McTrainface is a humorous take-off on the beloved John Coltraney McColtraneface.
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I've tried to search (go ahead and call me a Googletard, but I don't think that's it), but where did this whole "Xy McXface" meme begin? It predates the boaty thing, doesn't it?
However it started, it needs to end. It's like speaking baby gibberish as an adult. Every time I see or hear this meme I think of Idiocracy...
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I think people are reacting at societies being run all too seriously, to harsh and they a looking for the lighter side of life. I would take that vote as being a canary in a mine, government better lighten the fuck up on the people or the people will harden the fuck up on government https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]. Don't whine about government, work to change it.
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Glenn (Score:3, Insightful)
Glenn is more likely also a gag name, since it's a stereotypical name of men from Gothenburg.
Re: Glenn (Score:2)
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Say what? "Glenn" isn't even a Swedish name. You're probably thinking of the 4 Glenns Era of the Gothenburg football club.
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People like to name things. (Score:5, Insightful)
Planes, trains, automobiles.
Titanic, Enola Gay, Hindenburg, Atlantis, General Lee.........
I thought Boaty McBoatface was a really good name actually. It really does look like a scaled up children's toy.
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Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a 1987 American comedy film written, produced and directed by John Hughes. [wikipedia.org]
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With Steve Martin and John Candy. Good holiday viewing.
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Just the concept makes me laugh: "a traveling salesman who sells shower curtain rings".
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"Before the Internet" was a very different world.
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I thought it pretty hilarious, too. And, can you imagine the interest that research ship would have garnered on its missions.
Fwiw, I can't remember what they ended up calling the ship, something grand like "Intrepid" or whatever. I don't remember the name, and I don't know where it is, and I don't know what it's doing.
OTOH, we have a somewhat run-of-the-mill submersible. I know more about that craft than the research ship. I know more about what it is doing.
I think the institution that ran the survey, then
Another bold step... (Score:1)
...towards democracy :D
Things could escalate quickly! (Score:4, Funny)
Posted on Slashdottyy McSlashdotface
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Muhammad McAllahFace more likely...
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The Mcassheads [youtube.com]
Sense of Humor (Score:1)
This just goes to show that the Swedes have a sense of humor that is lacking in Britain.
Cooperation (Score:2)
I'm glad peoples in different countries can show signs of unity on such important topics. /s
This is awesome. This is exactly what the Internet should be :)