Re: [CBQ] Frate vs. Freight

["Leo Phillipp via groups.io" <qutlx1=aol.com@groups.io>]



Well David I can’t explain the Chicago Tribunes’ use of the word frate. AI 
defines it as Italian for brother,monk or friar. 
As to caboose and waycar they are not regional terms for the thing at the end 
of a freight train back in the day. Each RR had its own term for that car, 
there were many variations. But on the Burlington and on the BN at least on the 
Chicago and Aurora divisions the term was waycar. If as a new hire you said 
“caboose” everyone knew you were a new man and a “pigeon”. “Pigeon” will 
defined in part 2 of the new series “Not in the rule book”that premiered last 
night in Zephyr #103  for BRHS members. 

For those interested part 2 will be about that first call in “emergency” to 
work as a Conductor while still a brakeman. It will discuss what happened top 
you if you said “no I'm not going”. Also what life was like for a brand new 
qualified,examined man who didn’t yet have the seniority to hold a regular 
Conductors position.

Leo Phillipp


> On Aug 14, 2026, at 5:32 PM, David Pease via groups.io 
> <david_f_pease=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:
> I noticed in newspaper article of the Chicago Tribune on page 30 and 31 in 
> Burlington Bulletin no. 78 on the wreck of 1947 any spelling of the word 
> Freight was spelled Frate. I found six examples, "roadgrader fallen from a 
> frate car", "A long frate of more than 100 cars was rolling westward", "far 
> back from the frate engine", "any of the frate train crew knew of the 
> accident", "the grader fell from the frate car near Foster av", "and the 
> frate train was quickly stopped".
> 
> Is this a regional spelling of the word freight? Like caboose vs. waycar?
> 
> I tried asking Google but it kept changing frate back to freight like I was 
> some kind nut job, which of course I am.
> 
> David
> 
> 
> 



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