abbreviations

Steve A W · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2015 11:01 pm

There was a post down the line where the post was started with the abbreviation of the organization.
Is there a way We could have a "Sticky" or whatever You call the permanent post at the top that list's abbreviations and their meanings ?
I have a hard time remembering names and numbers,don't know why, just a glitch in the noggin.
It would be nice to click on a list right here and know who is being referenced.
Just a thought.

Steve A W

Jim Vaitkunas · **Posted:** Mon Jan 12, 2015 12:12 am

There is a simple solution to this whole problem of someone using an obscure (or not so obscure) acronym for their organization/railway/museum group, etc.

Simply spell it out to begin with!! Quick, easy to understand, no muss or fuss. No need for a multi-page dictionary. Avoids confusion and annoyance on the part of geezers-uh-guys like me.

Thanks!

wilkinsd · **Posted:** Mon Jan 12, 2015 10:35 am

A sticky wouldn't be a bad idea, but also we should encourage posts to use the proper name of the organization at least once, so the reader can figure it out.

In my profession, for example, if I were talking about the Illinois Railway Museum ("IRM"), I would define the shorthand term after the first mention. I try to do this in posts, but it's hard to remember sometimes.

Steve A W · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2015 10:03 pm

I'm not talking about the recent post, I need help with all abbreviations.
Past Railroads and well known museums will slip My memory, and be hard to bring up.
I just think a sticky here would be easier than having to google it whenever I have
a brain f-rt.

Steve A W

Rainier Rails · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2015 10:13 pm

Steve A W wrote:

I'm not talking about the recent post, I need help with all abbreviations. Past Railroads and well known museums will slip My memory, and be hard to bring up. I just think a sticky here would be easier than having to google it whenever I have a brain f-rt.

Steve and the forum--

I could write up such a list and post it in a new thread, if this is something that we want to add to the top of the Interchange, either as a "Sticky" or as an "Announcement".

The difference between the 2 is that Announcements are the 4 that are currently permanently located at the top of the Interchange; the Sticky option has been used here occasionally for threads which became very popular with frequent posts, such as the "Getting to Know Our Fellow RYPNers" thread in the Summer of 2013.

Ryan Andrews · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2015 11:13 pm

I would say that the list of abbreviations should be in the announcement section as it would be about announcing what the abbreviations actually mean and stand for.

Rainier Rails · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2015 11:19 pm

Okay, so the question is how comprehensive should the list be?

Should it contain just railroad museums, historical organizations, and excursion lines, or should it also include fallen flags and the like? If that's the case, should there be different subsections? Such as "Museums & Excursion Lines", "Fallen Flags", "Transit & Interurbans", "Manufacturers & Rebuilders", "Private Owners, Leasing Companies, Charter Groups & Land Cruise Operators", etc.

Al Stangenberger · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:59 pm **Posts:** 650

For railroad reporting marks, why not just provide a link to an existing list, such as

Piedmont & Western Railroad Club's list

(it also includes some railroad museums)

Alternatively, people can just bookmark it themselves if it is useful.

Bob Davis · **Joined:** Sat Aug 28, 2004 3:25 am **Posts:** 1025

Although to most Southern Californians (like me), "PE" means Pacific Electric, but I usually spell it out just to be on the safe side. "LA" could mean Los Angeles or Louisiana; sometimes it's obvious from the context, but it's better to spell it out and remove all doubt. "OERM" could mean Orange Empire Ry. Museum or Oregon Electric Ry. Museum. There are several Portsmouths and Springfields around the US, so the first mention should include the state. Some things are common knowledge to preservationists and railfans from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon, but a message is more effective if it doesn't involve a guessing game.