A question for you train afficionados if I may:
I sing songs in folk clubs and I like to find out if I can the meaning of the words of the songs.
One song I do is In the Sidings written in the 1960s by Cyril Tawney in response to the Beeching cuts, I believe. The song is from the point of view of a station master made redundant. It contains the line "my bogie fires are burning low". Usually pronounced 'boggy'.
What are these bogie fires?
I wonder if he is using 'bogie' to mean engine? (Interestingly, 'boggi' is the Swedish word for 'bogie', but I doubt that's relevant here).
That's a possibility, I guess, but it's an odd word to use...
Mind you, a singer could substitute 'engine' for 'bogie', and it would fit.
I appreciate you folks engaging with this mystery. I'm wondering if 'bogie fires' might refer to something like 'spirit' or life-force rather than a real fire but I'll report back if my research comes up with anything!
I appreciate you folks engaging with this mystery. I'm wondering if 'bogie fires' might refer to something like 'spirit' or life-force rather than a real fire but I'll report back if my research comes up with anything!
I’m not certain, but I believe the grease used to lubricate railway axles and bearings was flammable. It probably still is, but to a lesser extent.
I appreciate you folks engaging with this mystery. I'm wondering if 'bogie fires' might refer to something like 'spirit' or life-force rather than a real fire but I'll report back if my research comes up with anything!
I’m not certain, but I believe the grease used to lubricate railway axles and bearings was flammable. It probably still is, but to a lesser extent.
Given that I am once again at tbe guacamole mine stage of a stinking cold the last thing I need is flammable bogies! The ordinary kind are quite bad enough, thank you.
Comments
That's a possibility, I guess, but it's an odd word to use...
Mind you, a singer could substitute 'engine' for 'bogie', and it would fit.
Yes, although that doesn't explain the reference to a 'fire'. Alas! Cyril Tawney died in 2005, so we can't ask him what he meant...
An interesting use of the word, but not, I think quite what Mr Tawney was referring to.
The mystery deepens...
I’m not certain, but I believe the grease used to lubricate railway axles and bearings was flammable. It probably still is, but to a lesser extent.