A story in Sunday's (August 26) Sunday Oklahoman travel
section telling about the PRR-air-Santa Fe service that
operated for a few months, with Charles Lindbergh as one
of the pilots, noted that the air portion ran with "Ford
Trimotors". (Waynoka, Oklahoma, was a rail-air transfer
point, and the story told about the museum in Waynoka
which tells the story of the railroad and the rail-air-rail
service.)
I know you're correct in the distinction between
motors and engines, but I think it's a losing battle.
Wes Leatherock
wleath@s...
On Mon, 27 Aug 2001 drale99@a... wrote:
> Speaking of "motors" -- this is one of the most misunderstood and misused
> words I know of. The railroad use was proper, because the gas-electrics and
> diesel-electrics actually had "motors". Automobiles and trucks do not have
> "motors", they have "engines". Airplanes do not have motors, they have
> "engines". "Ford Motor Company" and "General Motors" are both misnomers
> (believe it or not). Steam locomotives, which I recall were referred to as
> "engines" on the Burlington, actually were "engines".
> My recollection of the use of the word "motor" was specifically in reference
> to gas-electrics. I have vivid memories of my dad, who was an agent-operator
> in the 20's, 30's, 40's, and early 50's, calling them "motors", not "motor
> cars".
> DRale Reeves
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